Golden Corridor LIVING Spring 2022

Golden Corridor

SPRING 2022

The Voice of the Community

The Medical,

Health & Wellness Issue THE ROX INTERVIEW: SEN. TJ SHOPE

ARIZONA CITY • CASA GRANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • MARICOPA

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FEATURES

THE

Medical, Health & Wellness ISSUE

HOME & GARDEN

The ROX Interview 4

G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

26

Don’t Forget the Importance of Annual Checkups

30

Sun Life Health OB-GYN Staff Committed to Patients First

42

Great Posture Supports Great Health

70

Take your Home Fire Outdoors

74

Brighten Bathrooms with Splashes of Creativity

80

Bring Nature Inside to Balance your Well-Being

16

Sen. TJ Shope S P RI NG 2022

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CONTENTS BIZ

50

Q&A Jeremy Waters

52

Living Trust vs. Last Will & Testament

58

Out & About

YOU

62

Strengthening Youth by Building Resilience

66

My Pet Needs Drugs: Rules Same When Comes to Pet, Human Prescriptions

FUN

86 92

The Barony of Arizola CG Resident Publishes First Book at 94

Golden Corridor

SPRING 2022

The Voice of the Community

About the Cover: The Medical, Health & Wellness Issue

Kelly Herrington, Sales Manager / Realtor® at Coldwell Banker ROX Realty staying active with her children.

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

THE ROX INTERVIEW: SEN. TJ SHOPE

ARIZONA CITY • CASA GRANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • MARICOPA

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G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

S P RI NG 2022

Golden Corridor

The Voice of the Community

Golden Corridor

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SPRING 2022

The Voice of the Community

The Medical,

Health & Wellness Issue THE ROX INTERVIEW: SEN. TJ SHOPE

ICOP A • ELOY • FLOR ENC E • MAR GRA NDE • COO LIDG E ARIZ ONA CITY • CAS A

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2, 9

Cypress Point Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Dreamstyle Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Fitzgibbons Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Elaine M. Earle, CPA

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Bea Lueck

SALES & MARKETING Laurie Fisher

Director of Sales & Marketing

Julie Turetzky

Director of Public Relations

Jenna Leatherman

Sales & Marketing Assistant

John Stapleton

Contributing Editor

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Shannon Price Art Director

Keith Dobie

Social Media Coordinator

EDITORIAL

Glover Court Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Christia Gibbons

Grande Innovation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Blake Herzog

Hospice of the Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Hunter Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Iron City Polaris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Jenkins Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Just Water Heaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Lifted High Garage Door Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Maricopa Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 McDill Insurance PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Norris RV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Senior Editor Staff Writer

Comments and ideas: editor@roxco.com Subscriptions: info@roxco.com goldencorridorliving.com/copies Advertising Inquiries: info@roxco.com goldencorridorliving.com/advertise Corporate Office: 442 W. Kortsen Road., Suite 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520.426.2074

Pinal County Fairgrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Raymond Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Rush Air Conditioning & Refrigeration LLC . . . . . . . . . 56 Seeds of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Sun Life Family Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Live it Well Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The Roost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Title Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Two Brothers Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Water And Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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Golden Corridor LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations. © 2022. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including but not limited to editorial content, illustrations, graphics and photographic images, may be republished, reproduced or reprinted without the prior express written consent of the publisher. The publishers of Golden Corridor LIVING assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. In no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. Golden Corridor LIVING shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from the use of information contained herein. Submitted articles do not reflect the opinions of the owners or management of Golden Corridor LIVING Information contained within submitted articles had not been verified for accuracy and readers are responsible for forming their own opinions. Real estate information is as of 7-1-20 and is subject to current availability and pricing.

S P RI NG 2022

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Hello We're

Elaine Earle Executive Publisher

Bea Lueck Associate Publisher

SALES & MARKETING

Laurie Fisher Director of Sales & Marketing

Julie Turetzky Director Public Relations

Jenna Leatherman Sales & Marketing Assistant

John Stapleton Contributing Editor

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Shannon Price Art Director ROX Team Members Not Pictured:

Keith Dobie Social Media Coordinator Blake Herzog Staff Writer

Christia Gibbons Senior Editor

ROXMediaGroup.net 10

G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

S P RI NG 2022

Associate Publisher’s Letter

Let’s Spring to New Heights O

ur annual medical, health and wellness issue arrives during the most glorious season to be in the desert.

It’s the perfect time to go outside for a walk or run, play sports with friends and family, hike beautiful trails, watch charming birds and enjoy nutritious food on the patio or at the park. There are (or will be) vibrant wildflowers on Picacho Peak and fresh flowers and veggies and fruits in our gardens.

It’s a great time to go outside and celebrate the simple joys of living in Pinal County at our county fair March 16 to March 20 where we show off all our crafts, animals and crops to our friends and neighbors while indulging in a lot of family-friendly fun.

We see a wacky reimagining of the distant past at the Arizona Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon, car boot sales and night markets in Maricopa, the Classics and Customs Car Show in San Tan Valley, Country Thunder in Florence, Casa Grande’s Catfish Rodeo and many more springtime festivities — large and small.

While we celebrate our noncity life here, our rapid expansion has sparked some growing pains that leaders like our ROX Interview subject State Sen. TJ Shope are working to alleviate by bringing the Interstate 10 widening between Casa Grande and Phoenix closer than ever to reality and attracting employers committed to bringing higher-paying, tech-based jobs to our area.

Shope is a lifelong Coolidge resident, who in many ways has grown up with Pinal County, developing his political skills as our population and economy have grown in size and clout. The rest of us are also growing into our new status as a hub for emerging technologies and not just “driveover” territory between Tucson and Phoenix.

It’s spring, and it’s a great time to be a part of Pinal County.

Bea Lueck

Associate Publisher, Golden Corridor LIVING

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 11

VOICES

OF THE GOLDEN CORRIDOR

At Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine, our slogan is “The Voice of the Community” because we believe the stories in our local region are best told by the people, companies, nonprofits and governments that comprise our community. Here are the “voices” who helped make this issue possible!

Angela Askey

Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

Mila Besich

Mayor, Town of Superior

Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT

Donna McBride Councilwoman, City of Casa Grande

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Craig McFarland Mayor, City of Casa Grande

Micah Powell Mayor, City of Eloy

Gigi McWhirter

Resident Animal Whisperer

Bob Shogren

Director, Casa Grande Alliance

Jon Thompson

Mayor, City of Coolidge

See more Voices and full bios at goldencorridorliving.com/voices GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 13

Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

Pinal Prioritized at State of State Speech

Gov. Doug Ducey

P

inal County and its growing population were a prominent part of Gov. Doug Ducey’s State of the State speech at the beginning of the 2022 legislative session as he called on lawmakers to hasten the widening of Interstate 10 and to invest in desalination and other projects that could boost Arizona’s water supplies over the next century.

In the televised address Jan. 10, Ducey made an example of the state’s commitment to widening Interstate 17 north of Phoenix between Anthem and Sunset Point and urged the legislators to turn their attention to the congested and dangerous four-lane section of freeway connecting Casa Grande to the metro area.

“A few years ago we got together and prioritized expansion of the I-17.

Then, thanks to the leadership of Sen. T.J. Shope and Gov. Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community, we paved the way for a wider I-10, to improve movement and commerce between Tucson and Phoenix,” he said.

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G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

He added, “But that project is still scheduled several years out from now, and 94 visits as governor to southern Arizona will remind you how important this issue is. So, let’s finish the job.

Our budget will invest more dollars to get the I-10 completion leap-frogged to the front of the priority list, ahead of schedule, connecting our entire state, north to south.”

The 26-mile stretch of I-10 is the only one between the Phoenix and Tucson areas that doesn’t have at least three lanes traveling in each direction and crosses the Gila River Indian Community’s reservation. It is used by some 50,000 vehicles every day, which frequently have to travel well below the speed limit or come to a screeching halt due to a collision.

Ducey’s budget proposal includes putting $400 million into widening 20 miles, which positions the state to be more competitive for federal grants that would complete funding for the project, according to the Governor’s Office.

The replacement and widening of the segment’s bridge across the Gila River is now fully funded in the state’s five-year transportation plan at $85.6 million (including $80 million in federal grants), with construction scheduled to begin in 2023.

“The completion of the I-10 highway expansion is a major priority that will substantially impact the residents and businesses of the City of Casa Grande,” said Mayor Craig McFarland. “With a fast-tracked project, safety will be improved and our economy will continue to grow.”

Continued on page 84…

CONTINUED

1st Copa Cultural Night Market is March 25

T

he City of Maricopa is debuting a new special event this spring featuring the performing and visual arts and local culture, along with food and vendors.

The Copa Cultural Night Market is scheduled 6 to 10 p.m.

March 25 at Copper Sky Regional Park, site of the Copa Glow Night Market and Balloon Festival and the Salsa Night Market.

The lineup of the multicultural community celebration will include artisans, cultural groups, a Native Grill & Wings Beer Garden, food trucks, vendors and shopping, along with demonstrations from Maricopa Friends of the Arts, which will also sponsor a separate art gallery.

The event’s Culture Row and time on the community stage will be devoted to local organizations, clubs, arts and performances that demonstrate something unique or educational with regard to their culture.

Prepaid parking tickets are available online for $7; parking is $10 on day of event. Free shuttles will be available from Maricopa High School, Maricopa Wells Middle School and Maricopa Elementary School.

For parking passes and more information visit www. copanightmarket.com.

S P RI NG 2022

Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

CONTINUED

Sun Life Rebrands, Expands to Maricopa County S

un Life Family Health Center, the largest primary care provider in Pinal County, is transitioning its brand and website to Sun Life Health as it expands into its first Maricopa County locations.

“As we transition to our new brand over the next two years, we plan to continuously innovate our health care, expand our footprint, and above all else, focus on our patients’ health,” said Dr. Eddie Estrada, CEO of Sun Life Health.

Since its founding in 1976, Sun Life has evolved from a small practice of two physicians to serving 49,000 patients annually, 25% of them children.

The nonprofit community health

center now provides coordinated primary and walk-in care, pediatrics, dentistry, obstetrics and gynecology, integrated behavioral health care, in-house laboratories, X-ray and pharmacy services. It is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Sun Life Health maintains 16 locations, now including a Family Health Center and Women’s Center co-located in Chandler on Dobson Road north of Pecos Road.

The organization is based in Casa Grande and has five locations there, plus a walk-in care office scheduled to open this spring. There are two

locations each in the City of Maricopa and Apache Junction and one each in Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, Oracle and San Manuel. It also has a mobile health unit and offers telehealth appointments.

For more information, visit www. sunlifehealth.org.

Seeds of Hope Hires New Director Executive Director Aaron A. Anaya

C

asa Grande faith-based service organization Seeds of Hope has named as its new executive director Aaron A. Anaya, the son of one of its key early supporters and a corporate logistics professional.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

“For me, this is a homecoming filled with gratitude and anticipation,” Anaya wrote in an open letter to the community upon his arrival in February.

“I grew up in CG and attended the University of Arizona. And while my career took me to a few far-off places, a piece of me was always here in Arizona.

“I never dreamed God would direct my path in such a way that I would have the privilege of coming home and investing in the very community that raised me.”

He attended Cholla Elementary, Casa

Grande Junior High and Casa Grande Union High School. His father was Armando “Mondo” Anaya, a former president of the Seeds of Hope board who is the namesake of its community center at 1497 N. Crane St. It was his dream to open a multicultural and multigenerational hub for the city’s west side, but he did not live to see it become a reality.

Aaron Anaya’s most recent jobs were at Austin, Texas-based snack brands

Continued on page 85…

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 15

The ROX Interview

Sen. TJ Shope Interview by Bea Lueck

GC LIVING: Welcome, Sen. Shope.

Now, is that a strange title? It started as representative.

TJ SHOPE: Yeah. It has taken a little bit of getting used to, for sure.

And I think that for some of my colleagues who served with me in the House, we still revert back to what we were when we first started serving together. So it does happen every once in a while, you’ll misspeak and say representative. But it rolls off the tongue a little easier, I feel like, Sen. Shope.

GC LIVING: Well, let’s start a little bit farther back in your history. You were born in Florence.

TJ SHOPE: I was born at Florence General Hospital on Adamsville Road, which doesn’t exist as a hospital anymore. And lived in Coolidge almost my whole life. I graduated from Coolidge High School, went to Central Arizona College where I continued to live at home and work at my family’s grocery business, Shope’s IGA. And spent three years in Tempe while I was attending Arizona State University.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

Then I moved back to Coolidge, bought a home when I thought that the market had completely tanked in late 2008. And then who knew there was a bottom after that? But the good news is that with all the positive things going on, those of us who may have bought at that time are feeling pretty good about ourselves right now, because if you stayed in your place, you’re ahead of the game.

There’s really no training school for being a legislator. You kind of just go in with what knowledge you have and you start leaning on people.

And that was a very good educational process as well.

GC LIVING: What made you go from growing up in Coolidge, going to school at ASU, to deciding to get into politics? You started with the school board.

TJ SHOPE: At ASU, I had led the College Republicans group and was a state chair for College Republicans in Arizona. And then came home and decided to run for school board for Coolidge Unified School District. There were, I think, three seats open and five of us ran. I ended up getting elected and did that for 12 years. And I’ll tell you, between that and growing up in a grocery store, I think, were the two best things to prepare me for either angry, irate customers, or angry, irate parents. Because you either spell the kid’s birthday cake wrong…

GC LIVING: Did you do that once?

TJ SHOPE: I didn’t do it, but you have to respond to the angry parent, understandably so. So you go back in to fix it. And then the school board setting, I think if you ask any person, it’s a thankless job, really. I mean, I feel for everybody that does it.

And I didn’t have kids. Some people would be like, “Oh, why are you on there?” I said, “Well, you know what? Not every person who resides in this community GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 17

The ROX Interview has children, but they pay taxes as well. And somebody’s got to be representing the entire global community.” So it was a good experience for me. That ended, let’s see here, 2020. So, December of 2019 would’ve been my last year on the board. And I did that while serving in the House, too.

I was glad I was done when I was, because obviously COVID has completely changed a lot of dynamics about how people feel about education and their children, whether they wanted to mask or not or how they want inperson school or online.

Luckily in Coolidge, about five years ago, we had decided to purchase iPads for every student.

And in one sense, we were a little bit ahead of the game. We just kind of lucked out in that respect, I suppose. I learned how a government budget works. It’s not necessarily how your home budget works, because of the numerous funding sources and things like that. So it was a really good experience.

GC LIVING: What positive take do you get from this school board experience? What really stands out in your mind after your tenure?

TJ SHOPE: I mentioned the iPads, for example. In a community like Coolidge where you’re at 80% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, some of those things are unattainable for a lot of families. For a school district to go ahead and make that investment because we know that the jobs of the future are going to be done pretty heavily on devices of any kind, I take a lot of pride in.

And I’ll tell you what, my favorite night every year was always the same, it’s graduation night.

Whenever you get to shake hands with these students that, in my case anyway, four years earlier, I had shaken their hand at maybe a promotion event or something like that, and they get their diploma and you see them ecstatic about what’s next in their life.

GC LIVING: What made you decide to run for the House of Representatives?

TJ SHOPE: In 2012, we were kind of in the same situation we are now; redistricting had just happened.

Casa Grande had grown, and it seems that we compact ourselves every 10 years into a smaller district. And Frank Pratt was there and there was no other incumbent on the House side. I decided after talking to him to go ahead and throw my hat in the ring. And it was as a Republican anyway, in a district where I was outnumbered by 9 1/2 percentage points.

So nobody really expected me to win out of the four candidates. We worked hard, scored the biggest upset victory of the night and the Legislature that evening. Frank, of course, won pretty easily.

But it was really exciting. I mean, as a 27-year-old, to know that I was walking in as the second-youngest member of the Legislature that term. And it was really, really great. I won by 740-ish votes out of 75,000 cast.

So less than 1% of the total. So I went from nobody thinking I can win, to that night, I’m getting a phone call congratulating me from the Speaker of the House and the governor calling me to congratulate me and this and that.

There’s really no training school for being a legislator. You kind of just go in with what knowledge you have and you start leaning on people. And that was a very good educational process as well.

You realize that you know very little about a lot of things. Most candidates, whether they’re Democrat or Republican, use usually about three or four themes that each side campaigns on and it’s low taxes, strong economy, or things for the workers and such. And you realize when you get in office, that’s

18

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S P RI NG 2022

The ROX Interview

about 5% of what you actually do.

There’s so much of what we do is just not discussed at all.

I think my first two weeks I was there I was on the Land and Agriculture Committee and we had a discussion on egg dates and whether or not Arizona should join the rest of the country and have a three-week expiration date instead of two weeks like Arizona did. Those are the things that nobody campaigns on, but those are the issues that average everyday citizens are called in to go ahead and decide for the state.

And a lot of the things you end up educating yourself on depend on what committees you find yourself on. My first year, I was on the Commerce Committee, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Land and Agriculture.

GC LIVING: In 2012 the economy was terrible.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

TJ SHOPE: We’re trying anything, just like any other state is trying anything, to lure employers here.

Because I think at that point, we had a very good come-to-Jesus moment at that period of time that you can’t build an economy on just one or two sectors.

And for so long, construction and land had been the basis of an Arizona economy. And when things are great, that’s fantastic. But when things happen in that sector, especially in finance, that make it so people can’t gain and attain, it made it very difficult for us. And we had the largest budget deficit per capita in the United States.

I think that you’ve seen since then, when you see a Lucid opening, when you see a Taiwan Semiconductor, or you see these other entities choosing Arizona, that’s based on decisions and that kind of revelation that Continued on page 57

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 19

CITY SPEAK

City of Casa Grande

CG Health Care Just Getting Better and Better

by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, Casa Grande

Community health is everyone’s business.

Another great health care partner in Casa Grande, and really all of Pinal County, is Sun Life Health.

The City of Casa Grande continues to collaborate with our local service organization. Please remember to use the City’s website and our “Community Resource” link to access service and help from all over the county, www.casagrandeaz. gov/community-health.

This local organization has grown and expanded over the past 40plus years to become the largest health care provider in Pinal County. Offering services like their women’s health, pediatrics, dental, pharmacy and primary health care.

One of Casa Grande’s largest employers, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center (BCGMC), is also one of the City’s biggest supporters.

Banner has remodeled and doubled the size of its Casa Grande Emergency Room. These new/ modernizations are underway: ❚

Adding a state-of-the-art MRI unit

❚

Updating, upgrading cardiac heart catheterization lab

❚

Building new endoscopy suite

❚

Expanding Banner Urgent Care (again)

❚

Opening a second location for Banner Primary Health Clinic in Casa Grande

❚

Beginning a multiyear expansion/ modernization of surgical suites

❚

I recently received these updates showing growth from 2018 to 2021:

❚

Salaries/benefits — increased 50% from $52.9 million to $76.7 million

❚

Urgent care visits — 22,505 to 37,643

❚

Surgeries — 3,500 to 5,305

❚

Patient admissions — 5,300 to 6,100

❚

Employees — 642 to 900

❚

Charity care — $19.5 million to $22.6 million

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Collaboration between Sun Life Health and Banner Casa Grande has been amazing. One example is that Sun Life doctors deliver all the babies at Banner CG. A second example is Sun Life Health and BCGMC along with New York University Langone have created a soon-to-be active pediatric, dental residency program in Casa Grande and will be hosting the residents’ rotations in emergency services at BCGMC. Our secret plan is to encourage locally trained health care workers to stay in Casa Grande.

Craig McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande Collaboration like this only happens when like-minded organizations prioritize the bettering of the communities and people they serve, therefore the beneficiaries are the children and the families of our region to make emergent health care more responsive, easier and make all our lives better.

Learning from the past is the best way to prepare for the future.

Remember where you’ve been, but always keep looking forward!

S P RI NG 2022

Are you ready?

24 HOURS OF GIVING. A LIFETIME OF IMPACT. APRIL 5-6, 2022

AZGIVES.ORG/SEEDSOFHOPEAZ

CITY SPEAK

City of Coolidge

All Welcome to Come Recreate in Coolidge

by Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

I

n this issue I’d like to talk about our great parks and recreation programs available to the community.

Coolidge is proud to offer quality classes and leagues that help our youth, teens and adults build friendships and teamwork.

We’ve been fortunate to offer these programs again this year, as many were put on hold due to the pandemic. Coolidge wants to make sure the community has access to a wide assortment of activities for all to enjoy.

In addition to our recreation programs, our newly constructed Coolidge Aquatics Center will be open again this coming summer. This will be the second season celebrating the fantastic citizen support we received to build such a facility.

Some of the highlights of the center include a splash pad, waterslide, championship pool and large covered spaces for the community to stay cool. Our local support of this project, along with a newly reconstructed roadway along the center, make this a focal piece for summer fun!

I’d like to highlight some of the upcoming programs for the community to enjoy.

You don’t need to be a resident to sign up for our programs. We encourage everyone to participate to build friendships and stay active.

Take a moment to review the activities below or feel free to visit our website to learn more about these fantastic opportunities: www.coolidgeaz.com/parks.

You also may call for updated information at 520.723.4551.

Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

ADULT LEAGUES ❚

Men’s and co-ed softball offered spring and winter. Spring leagues begin late February

❚

Pickleball available year round Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. by appointment.

YOUTH SPORTS ❚

Kids open basketball; Coolidge Youth Center offers open gym basketball year round, seasonal hours

❚

T-ball/Coach Pitch, early April

❚

Flag Football League, late September

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Soccer, late October

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Basketball League, early January

AQUATIC CENTER

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❚

Pool party rental; reserve the pool for minimum 2 hours.

Reservations begin in May.

❚

Open swim, late May

❚

Children’s swim team, early June

❚

Water aerobics, early June

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CITY SPEAK

City of Eloy

Get Healthy Hiking Picacho Peak State Park

by Micah Powell, Mayor, City of Eloy

W

elcome to another beautiful spring season in Eloy and Pinal County.

As this Golden Corridor Living edition focuses on medical, health and wellness, I want to talk about getting outside and enjoying the spring weather, flowers and trail system in the Picacho Mountains including Newman Peak that rises from the desert floor to over 4,500 feet in elevation.

Although it can be a more challenging hike than the betterknown Picacho Peak, you will find ancient petroglyphs and unique Sonoran desert plants and animals.

For the best way to begin your Picacho Mountains adventure, check out www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/ newman-peak-southeast-face or www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/ picacho-mountains-petroglyph-sites.

by the Anza Expedition as it passed through the area. Many hiking trails traverse the desert landscape and offer hikers both scenic and challenging hikes. Enjoy the beauty of the desert and the amazing views.”

In the spring, Picacho Peak is world renown for the magnificent display of wildflowers that truly is nature at its best. For more info about visiting Picacho Peak check out Picacho Peak Arizona State Park at www.azstateparks.com/picacho.

If those adventures seem too physical or you’re more interested in history and culture, plan a visit to the Sunland Visitor Center in Eloy at 3725 N. Camelot St. This lovingly restored school is the centerpiece of a visitor center that houses the Santa Cruz Valley Historic Museum.

Micah Powell, Mayor, City of Eloy Learn about how the indigenous people lived off the land, when the Spanish first explored the region, when cotton was king and the current transition to manufacturing and now electric vehicle manufacturing.

Get out and explore. The Sonoran desert is beautiful and has a wonderful history. What a great way to stay healthy!

See you on the trail.

A more familiar setting is Picacho Peak, home of Picacho Peak State Park and the only Civil War site in Arizona. According to the Arizona State Parks website: “Visitors traveling along I-10 in southern Arizona can’t miss the prominent 1,500-foot peak of Picacho Peak State Park. Enjoy the view as you hike the trails that wind up the peak and, often in the spring, overlook a sea of wildflowers. The park and surrounding area is well known for its unique geological significance, outstanding and varied desert growth, and historical importance.

The unique shape of Picacho Peak has been used as a landmark by travelers since prehistoric times. One of the first recordings was in the 1700s 24

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 25

SPECIAL FEATURE MEDICAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

DON’T FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF

ANNUAL CHECKUPS

The gift you can give yourself — and by extension the ones who love and care for you — is the assurance that you’re watching your health through annual checkups.

B

ravo to you if your yearly exam is behind you, but get going now in making appointments in the new year as needed.

Men and women differ, of course, but both need a yearly physical examination and blood test. This is a time to discuss your medical history and lifestyle with your doctor or physician’s assistant; a time to get on top of any concerns that have arisen since your last exam. Women and men need to have their diabetes risk assessed, as well as their eyes if they have a family history of glaucoma.

Women need to zero in on cardiovascular health, bone density, breast and bowel cancer and sexual and reproductive health.

Men need checks on cholesterol, blood pressure, prostate and colorectal cancer and sexual health.

Age makes a difference, so research a bit what might apply to you. This website out of Columbia University Irving Medical Center is

comprehensive (www.columbianps. org/healthy-life-blog/guide-toannual-health-screenings-by-age).

Here are some highlights: 18-to 39-year-old men and women ❚

Skin screening for lesions or moles that look suspicious (both)

❚

Depression screening (both)

❚

Pap smears every three years (women)

❚

Testicular exam (men) 40-to 64-year-old men and women

❚

Shingles vaccine — 2 doses separated by 2 to 6 months given at age 50 and older (both)

❚

Flu shot — annually (both)

❚

Colorectal screening — age 50 and older unless other risk factors are present (both)

❚

Lung cancer screening — annually if a past smoker (both) 27

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

❚

Depression screening — mental health assessment (both)

❚

Mammogram — annually or bi-annually depending on risk factors (women)

❚

This is a time to discuss your medical history and lifestyle with your doctor or physician’s assistant; a time to get on top of any concerns that have arisen since your last exam.

Prostate exam — age 50 and older depending on risk factors (men) 65 years and older men and women

❚

Fall prevention screening (both)

❚

High dose flu vaccine (both)

❚

Osteoporosis screening (both)

Many people get nervous just sitting in a doctor’s office, so you might want to write down these questions ahead of time and record the answers: ❚

How do I get my results?

❚

Is this normal?

❚

Does my family history put me at risk?

❚

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Am I old enough for that?

G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

❚

Is stress impacting my health?

❚

How is my weight?

❚

Are my habits harmful?

❚

Are my prescriptions still relevant?

❚

What are my numbers?

❚

Do I need any additional screenings or tests?

❚

Do I need any immunizations?

❚

What’s next?

As for those of you with flexible spending accounts, max out your pre-tax dollars before the end of the benefit year (although some employers allow rollovers). These dollars can be used not only for standard care but also for acupuncture, chiropractic care, mental health, over-the-counter medical supplies and more.

As for limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA), if you have a health savings account (HSA) make sure to use up your LPFSA dollars on vision and dental so you can keep more funds available in your HSA accounts for medical expenses.

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FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Sun Life Health OB-GYN Staff Committed to Patients First

by Staff Reports

Sun Life Health, a medical group with roots in Pinal County and the East Valley, has five doctors specializing in obstetrics, including Dr. Jonathan Willms, Dr. Susan Stein, Dr. Ryan Schmidt; Dr. Pavel Petkov and Dr. Logan Walter, who have a combined 53 years of experience.

30

S

electing the right obstetrician early on in your pregnancy can make a huge difference in your health and that of your newborn.

Fortunately, finding that connection in Pinal County is easier than you might think.

Sun Life Health, a medical group with roots in Pinal County and the East Valley, has five doctors specializing in obstetrics, including Dr. Jonathan Willms, Dr. Susan Stein, Dr. Ryan Schmidt; Dr. Pavel Petkov and Dr. Logan Walter, who have a combined 53 years of experience.

Those five are the doctors on call at the maternity center at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, which was recently recognized by Newsweek as one of the nation’s premier maternity hospitals.

Newsweek partnered with The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that reports on the safety and quality performance of U.S. health care facilities, to highlight the Best Maternity Hospitals of 2021.

To earn recognition from Newsweek, several benchmarks had to be met. An important one is the rate of primary cesarean sections versus vaginal births.

Most hospitals aim to keep the rate of primary C-sections at 25%. To be considered for the award, the rate had to be less than 23.9%. The rate for Sun Life Health is 12%.

Willms, who also serves as the director of maternity care at Sun Life, says that

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avoiding C-sections is the healthier way to go for the mother.

“Once you’ve had that first C-section, most of the time you’re going to end up with a C-section next time,” Willms says.

“And with each additional C-section, there are higher risks such as increased risk of infection or damage to the bladder or the intestines.”

Four years ago, Willms was instrumental in helping to elevate the care of infants in Casa Grande. Under his watch, the facility attained and maintained approval to operate a level 2 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which means that the facility can care for infants 32 weeks and older.

Most community hospitals have a Level 1 NICU, which means they can only care for infants 36 weeks and older.

“It’s a real achievement that a hospital of this size has a level 2 NICU,” Willms says.

“There aren’t a lot of community hospitals out there with that ability. It has to be S P RI NG 2022

a relief for parents to not have to drive 40 minutes to spend time with their infants. Instead, for most, it’s only a 15-minute drive. That’s a big difference in a lot of parents’ lives.”

Samantha Reinhard, the Director of Community Outreach at Sun Life Health, says that a successful delivery starts in the early phases of a pregnancy.

“It’s a testament to our education level and our patients being able to reach out to us and feel comfortable about where they stand,” Reinhard says. “Unfortunate circumstances can happen quick, and if you have that communication established with your provider, you’re more likely to call and get the help you need.”

The team at Sun Life Health is big enough to be there when you need them, but small enough to know your name, Reinhard says.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

“The fact is that they are, really, the only people you might encounter when you go to Banner Casa Grande Medical Center,” she says. “Unlike other hospitals, you don’t get lost in the shuffle of whoever’s just on call that day, because it is us!”

Sun Life also offers gynecological care.

Willms says Sun Life strives to offer the highest level of evidence-based medicine and practice backed up by proven guidelines.

Part of that approach is to opt for the least invasive form of treatment when possible.

“Ninety percent of our surgeries are performed in a minimally invasive manner,” Willms says.

“Our practice has a very high commitment to minimally invasive surgery.”

To achieve this goal, the staff avoids putting a patient under the knife and, for example, opts for performing a hysterectomy with a robotic arm, known as the Da Vinci robot.

“My patients go home that day,” Willms says. “Whereas if we operated and used the larger incision, they might have to stay in the hospital for two to three days.”

“There’s still some pain, but with the recovery is much faster.”

Regardless of whether a woman’s pregnant or in another phase of her life, Willms says the staff at Sun Life Health are there to help.

“We want them to leave our offices healthier and to have a better quality of life as a result of interacting with us. Our commitment to our patients comes first and foremost.”

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 31

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

IPL Photofacial May Improve your Skin

by Kristina Fonnay, FNP-C

I

ntense pulsed light (IPL) treatments have been around for more than 20 years and are effective in treating a range of cosmetic issues.

An IPL is a type of laser using intense pulsed light.

Maricopa Wellness Center in Casa Grande uses Lumecca

by InMode, the gold standard in this technology.

Broken blood vessels. Also known as spider veins, these broken blood vessels are networks of red lines that spread across the skin and can appear on the face and other body parts. This therapy closes off flow of blood to the visible red lines, diverting it to intact vessels below the skin’s surface.

WHAT SKIN ISSUES CAN AN IPL PHOTOFACIAL IMPROVE?

Rosacea: Rosacea is a common condition that causes the skin to redden; often around the nose, cheeks, chin or forehead. The condition can grow worse and pimple like bumps can form and blood vessels become visible. Treatment will close off surface blood vessels, while breaking up discolored skin cells, stimulating the development of healthy collagen rich skin.

Sun damage: Sun damaged skin can be rough, dry and have irregular coloring. Skin can lose its resilience and develop lines and wrinkles.

Age, liver spots: Age spots, often a direct result of sun damage, can be improved through heating and correcting dermal tissue with excessive concentrations of melanin (age spots).

Freckles: Sun exposure can cause freckles to darken over time, as well as create new ones. IPL therapy breaks up the dermal cells in freckles that have excessive melanin and reduces or eliminates their appearance.

Acne: IPL penetrates deep into clogged pores, eliminating bacteria that causes infection and inflammation.

Skin texture: Rough skin is caused by a myriad of issues from sun damage to inflammation. This treatment stimulates collagen production in the dermal layer, rejuvenating the surface tissue below.

Redness: No matter if skin redness is caused by pigmentation problems or excessive blood flow near the surface, IPL therapy can close blood vessels near the surface and break up cells with excess pigmentation.

WINTER BEST TIME FOR IPL

With reduced sun exposure, your skin has time to heal, regenerate and repair from IPL therapy. Most people require one to three treatments. There is minimal down time; most clients can go about their day or back to work in 24 hours. The IPL treatment is comfortable and takes less than an hour.

More information and free consultation is available calling 520.464.6193.

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FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Auto Collisions Can Plant Time Bombs for Back Pain, Arthritis

by Dr. Sean Paul Jenkins, Owner, Jenkins Chiropractic

I

have been a practicing chiropractor since 1998 and in Casa Grande since 2006. I see on average about 10,000 people a year, so you can imagine I have seen a lot of different kinds of conditions over the years.

There are a few that are more challenging than others, like disc bulges, scoliosis, sciatic pain and advanced arthritis. The majority of patients come to see me for a flare up of a chronic pain disorder that was never treated or treated improperly.

There is one condition I have seen over the years where most people underestimate the severity of the trauma and that is injury from auto accidents. I wish I had a dollar for every time I asked one of my patients if they have ever been in a car accident and they would say. Yes, but I was not hurt.

An auto collision injury is devastating to the spine. It changes the structure of the spine, causing

Normal 34

G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

you to lose the natural curves which affect the nervous system.

It damages ligaments, tendons, muscles and can set you up for a lifetime of chronic pain if not treated properly. A lot of the time after a car accident you may not feel pain right away due to a release of adrenaline and endorphins, but over the next 10 to 14 days your body will begin to relax and pain does increase.

The other factor is that the body will begin to heal and fibrotic adhesion will develop, which could lead to scar tissue. That is a huge problem. Scar tissue will restrict the natural motion of the vertebrae.

Since the discs do not have their own blood supply they begin to dry out, causing disc desiccation and then premature arthritis in the spine, which develops in about two to five years.

There are countless studies showing that you can be in a car accident going 5 miles an hour

After Car Accident

with minimal property damage to the car and still sustain injury to the body. Hopefully you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member is, please go get checked out by a health care professional right away and make sure X-rays are taken. If there is pain radiating from the spine to the arms or legs, an MRI is warranted to rule out disc injury.

Our first priority is to turn the pain off and much of that will be muscular, so ice, electric stimulation and laser therapy will resolve most of it. But it is imperative to restore the normal curvature of the spine and break up the fibrotic adhesions that will form around the vertebrae. Physical therapy helps, but we need to address more than just the muscle.

An auto injury is a neurophysiological disorder, and the spine needs to be adjusted by someone who went to school for it. A lot of the time, the problem is ligaments take months to heal, and it is important that the structure is stable before the patient is released from care.

So now you can see how not being treated for a car accident can cause you no pain at the time of the injury but more later as arthritis forms in the spine.

And if you are one of my patients and you have been in a car accident and have not come to see me, you better call me ASAP. If you’ve been in an accident come in and see me at 520.836.2969 www.chiropractorcasagrande.com

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Jenkins Chiropractic is now offering NON-SURGICAL DECOMPRESSION If you have advanced arthritis, disc bulges, spinal stenosis, chronic neck or low back pain, sciatic pain, pain or numbing in your arms, hands or fingers, you could benefit from decompression.

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 35

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Armando Lucio (right) spars with a student at Cobra Fight Club. photo Mark Icmat

Armando Lucio’s Cobra Fight Club Training for Competition

by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor

Cobra Fight Club is a nonprofit organization with a mission of keeping atrisk youth out of trouble by giving them not only a positive environment, but also a place where they can channel their energy.

36

A

rmando Lucio was born into the fight game. Hearing the sound of punches making contact, the grunts of pain, the dull thuds from someone hitting the mat, the voices pushing for better effort or to ‘get back up’— are a natural soundtrack for him.

His family owns the Rodriguez and the Madison Boxing Clubs in Phoenix, the Taz Boxing Club in Eloy and Pinal Martial Arts in Eloy.

Lucio was raised in Eloy and Casa Grande with his mother Alvina and father Armando Sr., along with his two sisters. Lucio says at 9 he began combat sports, eventually competing locally and nationally in Chinese Kenpo, then later on jujitsu and mixed martial arts.

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“I began training MMA in Eloy with Richie Reyes at the Devil’s Den, then with Gabe Rivas and Carlos Ortega at Arizona Jiu Jitsu Academy,” Lucio says. “I trained any time I could between work and college classes. I went 2-1 as an amateur and 0-1 as a pro. At that point I realized I enjoyed coaching more than fighting.”

In 2011, Lucio began helping his cousin Ronnie Rodriguez at the Taz Boxing Gym while also starting to teach his own children the fundamentals. Five years later he started the Cobra Fight Club in Arizona City before moving it to Casa Grande.

“As a parent I wanted to be able to give back to the kids and young adults in the community, while sharing my love of the sport,” Lucio says. “Cobra Fight Club

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FEATURE was established for this purpose, to give the youth and young adults in our community a place to come and learn a new skill, keep busy off the streets and away from the temptations of gangs and drugs.”

Cobra Fight Club is a nonprofit organization with a mission of keeping at-risk youth out of trouble by giving them not only a positive environment, but also a place where they can channel their energy.

“Our club was established six years ago in Arizona City to give the kids something fun to do in a small town with no sports or parks and to help those who were starting to take the wrong path,” Lucio says. “MMA teaches discipline and a sense of self-worth — you become a part of a family and build self-confidence.

You are able to defend yourself and stand up for yourself and others who are not able to for themselves.”

“MMA teaches discipline and a sense of self-worth — you become a part of a family and build self-confidence.

As a nonprofit, Lucio and the other coaches have volunteer their time. They all have 9-to-5 jobs.

Lucio starts his day at the gym then heads in to work at Lucid Motors.

After work, he returns to the gym to continue training the fighters.

Since the inception of the gym, the staff would dedicate their free time coaching students and their weekends were filled with competitions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

Cobra Fight Club coaching staff Armando Lucio, Justin ”Wilburto” McCain, Deran Martinez and our fighter Collette Santiago GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

The volunteer staff has been limited and the club forced to halt classes to the public, now keeping the focus on fighters currently training for competitive matches.

This recently included Lucio’s own return to the MMA octagon in Las Vegas at age 40. While he had to tap out on his match, Lucio says it was “great fun.”

Lucio says the club is training six fighters to compete. He is using his favorite saying of “always push forward and believe in yourself” as extra motivation on the next part of the journey.

“Cobra Fight Club is forever,” Lucio says. “We have had a lot of big opportunities this past year and made some new great connections in the fight game. So we are looking forward to the change and are going to go all out this year and try to bring home some titles.”

Cobra Fight Club photo by Mark Icmat

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 37

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Self-Care+Volunteering is a Healthy Combination

by Donna McBride, Program Administrator/Public Information Officer, CASA Unit of Pinal County Juvenile Court

O

ne powerful method of self-care is giving ourselves to others.

Spending time with others, focusing on the needs of those we care about and causes that benefit the community can help us gain new perspectives on life while doing something positive that matters.

But none of that comes without a price if we don’t take care of ourselves.

The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program made it a priority to support the mental and emotional health of our advocates during the COVID pandemic.

Our volunteers help children overcoming severe challenges in the foster care system. They are involved in some of the worst cases of child abuse. As they get to know the child and what they’ve gone through, it’s important for the volunteers to stay grounded in healthy thought processes, too.

Instead of court hearings in person during the pandemic, they were held virtually or by phone. Volunteers still checked in on their child by telephone, Zoom video chat or simply driving by and waving from their car.

They met in the park, stood in the front yard or dropped off care packages on the child’s doorstep.

CASA of Pinal County hosted

dozens of peer support groups virtually. Not only to discuss cases, but to find out how people were juggling the challenges of family, work and volunteering during isolation.

During one evening zoom call, we hosted a “Yappy Hour” where volunteers introduced their furry friends. We found volunteers were balancing their lives with self-care options like meditation, exercising, reading or taking up a new hobby.

As you explore opportunities to volunteer in your community, take time to ask the organization how they encourage self-care — there must be a balance to your life, not a burden.

Consider CASA as an organization that can help you find that balance and fulfillment. Find out how you can promote your own self-care by joining the CASA of Pinal County volunteer team, check out www. azcourts.gov/casaofpinalcounty or call 520.866.7076.

Volunteering can provide fun, challenging opportunities and a change of pace from our daily responsibilities. Volunteering: • Reduces stress, anxiety • Reduces social isolation • Empowers us to make new friends and practice social skills • Increases self-confidence by providing a sense of accomplishment

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• Helps us stay physically and mentally healthy • Instills new skills and provides new experiences

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FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

GAME CHANGER One peek at the plans for Maricopa’s newest hospital, and you begin to understand why residents are so excited.

The first phase alone of S3 BioTech’s medical campus will span nearly 14 acres, with a series of facilities that will transform the area surrounding the Copper Sky Recreational Complex.

The design calls for a specialty ER hospital, surgery center and catherization lab. It also includes plans for a world-class sports science and technology academy, behavioral health (in-patient and out-patient), a new hotel, restaurant and retail space, smart parking structure, luxury condominiums and office space.

The additions will join this campus to a commercial corridor on the south side of the city that will become a new focal point of commerce in Maricopa for years to come.

“It quickly became clear to our development team that Maricopa has the perfect blend of community healthcare needs and Citywide leadership to make our project successful.

We look forward to serving the community.”

- Dr Ed Johnson, Board Member and Advisor, S3 Biotech, Lead Developer

MARICOPA IS GROWING UP FAST With a population rapidly approaching 70,000 people, the need for high quality and accessible healthcare is greater than ever. With a clear vision and Proud History, we’re better positioned than ever to usher in our Prosperous Future.

Follow the progress on this project and others around the city by visiting www.WhatsNewMaricopa.com

* Images are conceptual only

For any who dream, imagine, create, innovate, and take initiative, we invite you to come build a city with us.

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G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

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A legacy of caring legacy of caring AA legacy caring • Chronic illness, dementia and hospice caredementia • Chronic illness, • Chronic illness, dementia • Music pet therapy and and hospice care and hospice care • Military • Musicveteran and pettributes therapy • Music and pet therapy • Volunteer opportunities • Military veteran tributes • Military veteran tributes • Volunteer opportunities • Volunteer opportunities

• Call 24/7 to speak with a nurse • •No one is turned away regardless a nurse •Call Call24/7 24/7totospeak speakwith with a nurse of insurance status or financial means • No one is turned away regardless • No one is turned away regardless of insurance status or financial means of insurance status or financial means

(602) 530-6900 hov.org (602) 530-6900 (602) 530-6900 hov.org hov.org Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement

Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement

Campus helps our community live well with dementia live well with dementia ByCampus Maribeth Gallagher,helps DNP, FAAN •our Hospicecommunity of the Valley Dementia Program Director

By Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, FAANour • Hospicecommunity of the Valley Dementia Programlive Director well with dementia Campus helps It’s astonishing to think that right this y A small Assisted Living Center that serves awards for its innovative approaches to

Bymoment, Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, FAAN Valley Dementia Program Director there are million Americans living with any stage of dementia. dementia care.

She is a psychiatric It’s astonishing to 5.8 think that right this• Hospice yofresidents Athe small Assisted Living Center that serves awards for its innovative approaches nurse to living with there dementia. practitioner with a doctorate degree in moment, are 5.8Arizona millioncurrently Americans residents living with any stage of dementia. dementia care.

She is a psychiatric nurse y A Hospice Inpatient Care Home for It’shas astonishing tohighest think Arizona that right this y A small Assisted Living Center that serves practitioner awardsHer for itsainnovative approaches to the nation’s growth rate for the nursing. commitment to improving living with dementia. currently with doctorate degree in with more advanced stages. y patients A Hospice Inpatient Care Home for moment, 5.8 than million Americans residents living with any stage of dementia. nursing. dementia care. is atopsychiatric condition, withare more 200,000 dementia care wasShe initially inspired bynurse her has thethere nation’s highest growth ratecases for the Her commitment improving with more advanced stages. y Apatients Community Education Center that living with by dementia.

Arizona currently practitioner with doctorate degree condition, with more than 200,000 cases dementia care was initially inspired by herin predicted 2025.

Unfortunately, there own experiences as aafamily caregiver. y A Hospice Inpatient Care Home for y A Community Education Center that offers workshops and interactive skills labs ownnursing. predicted by 2025.

Unfortunately, experiences as a family caregiver. has the highest growth ratethere for the Her commitment to improving are notnation’s enough healthcare workers trained patients with more stages. offers workshops andadvanced interactive for both professionals and familyskills labs not enough healthcare workers trained inare dementia care.

Andthan family members condition, with more 200,000 cases dementia care was initially inspired by her forCommunity both professionals and family y caregivers.

A Education Center that in dementia care.thrust And family members who are suddenly into the “caregiver predicted by 2025.

Unfortunately, there own experiences as a family caregiver. caregivers. who arenot suddenly thrust the “caregiver workshops and interactive role” prepared for ainto condition that are notare enough healthcare workers trained y Aoffers Memory Café, where people withskills labs role” are not prepared for a condition that forMemory both professionals and family years and becomes more challenging. y dementia A Café, where with inlasts dementia care.

And family members and their carepeople partners can relax lasts years and becomes more challenging. caregivers.

There has never been a more critical dementia their care partners can relax who are suddenly thrust into the “caregiver and share and experiences. has never been critical timeThere to not expand services care for and share experiences. role” are prepared fortoaa more condition that y A Memorystruggle, Café, where people Caregivers in large part,with because time to expand services to care for people living with dementia and support lasts years and becomes more challenging.

Caregivers struggle, in large part, because dementia and their dementia care partners can relax they don’t understand — and people living with dementia and support their stressed family caregivers.

This There has never been a more critical they don’t understand dementia Our — and and share experiences. they feel alone and abandoned. their stressed family caregivers.

This spring, Hospiceservices of the Valley is for opening time to expand to care they feel alone and Our Supportive Care forabandoned.

Dementia program spring, Hospice of the Valley is opening a Dementia Care and Education Campus Caregivers struggle, in large part, because Supportive Care for Dementia program people living with dementia and support isthey a no-cost, in-home program that— and aCentral Dementia Care and Education Campus in Phoenix to enhance quality don’t understand dementia a no-cost, in-home program that their stressed family caregivers.

This Central Phoenix enhanceinspire quality isis open to anyone in the community ofinlife for patients andtofamilies, they feel alone and abandoned.

Our is open to anyone in the community spring, Hospice of the Valley is opening of life for patients and families, inspire caring for a loved one at any stage of careers in dementia care, and help build Supportive Care for Dementia program caring for a loved one at any stage of a Dementia and Education Campus careers inCare dementia care, and help build dementia. Our skilled dementia educators a workforce for the future.

This campus is a no-cost, in-home program that dementia.

Our skilled dementia educators in Central Phoenix tofuture. enhance a workforce for the Thisquality campus answer questions and provide valuable brings comprehensive care and vital is openquestions to anyoneand in provide the community answer valuable brings care andinspire vital of life for comprehensive patients and families, insight to educate, empower and support resources together in one place. It features: insight to educate, empower and support caring for a loved one at any stage of resources togethercare, in one place. features: careers in dementia and helpItbuild caregivers on this very difficult journey. caregivers on this very difficult journey. dementia.

Our skilled dementia educators y An Adult Day Club that provides a workforce forDay theClub future. campus We want people to know it’s possible to y An Adult thatThis provides We want people to know it’s possible to answer and provide stimulating programs forand those living with brings comprehensive care vital live well questions with dementia and still valuable experience stimulating programs for those living with live well with dementia and stilland experience insight to educate, empower support early and moderate stage dementia; and joy.

We want to teach families to celebrate resources in one place.

It features: early together and moderate stage dementia; and joy. We want tothis teach families to celebrate caregivers on very difficult journey. spurs rewarding interaction with the loved one who is present present now, now,along along spurs with theWe loved onepeople who is y An Adultrewarding Day Clubinteraction that provides preschoolers want toexisted know in it’sthe possible with the person who past. to preschoolersininthe theadjoining adjoiningChild Child with the person who existed in the past. stimulating programs for those living with Center.

The program also gives muchlive well with dementia and still experience For about the the Center. The program also gives muchFor more more information information about early and moderate stage dementia; and needed joy. We want toand teach familiesCampus to celebrate Dementia Care Education neededrespite respitetotocaregivers. caregivers.

Dementia Care and Education Campus spurs rewarding interaction with the loved one who is present now, or Hospice of the Valley’s Supportive or Hospice of the Valley’s Supportivealong preschoolers in the adjoining Child with theDementia person who existedcall in the past.

Care Program, call Care for for Dementia Program, Center. The program also gives muchFor more information about the (602) 636-6363 or visit hov.org/dementia.

(602) 636-6363 or visit hov.org/dementia. needed respite to caregivers.

Dementia Care and Education Campus Dr. Maribeth Gallagher directs Hospice Dr. Maribeth Gallagher directs Hospice of Valley’s Program, which or Hospice ofDementia the Valley’s Supportive of the the Valley’s Dementia Program, which has nationalProgram, and international international Care for Dementia call has received received and (602) 636-6363 or visit hov.org/dementia.

Dr. Maribeth Gallagher directs Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Program, which has received national and international

Visit or call call (602) (602)636-6363 636-6363 Visithov.org hov.org for for more more information or

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Great Posture Supports Great Health The link between poor posture and back and neck pain is well-known, but posture also is tied to other aspects of health and wellness.

F

irst of all, “perfect” posture is all about You’ll breathe easier — When you slouch your keeping your body over your center of lungs are compressed inside your rib cage, gravity and the three natural curves of your and they won’t be able to expand to their full back are in alignment, also known as neutral capacity. Chest-opening exercises can help spine. It’s generally defined as: you give them the room they need to get you a Standing straight and tall with your head level, good oxygen supply. shoulders back, stomach pulled in, knees slightly bent and your feet about shoulder’s width apart.

Your circulation will improve — Twisting your When seated, especially while working in body into unnatural positions (no matter front of a computer, your feet should be flat on how natural they feel) also throws your blood the floor or on a footrest, your knees bent at a vessels, veins and arteries out of whack.

90-degree angle, elbows also This forces your heart to at a 90- to 120-degree angle, work harder to pump out shoulders relaxed, back fully an adequate supply and Proper alignment supported and your head contributes to high blood of your neck and level. Take walking breaks pressure. spine distributes away from your desk every 30 minutes or so if possible — Nerve pain will be alleviated more weight to keeping that kind of posture is — Incorrectly positioned your bones and hard work! bones and muscles can put Now that we have that out additional strain on nerves, away from joints, of the way, let’s get into a few as well. Pinched nerves in ligaments and of the positives you reap from the neck causes pain and tendons not meant maintaining good posture. headaches and in the chest can send pain radiating for that job Less neck, back and knee down your arms. Many of pain — This is the best-known these can be avoided. benefit and what drives many people to work on correcting it. Proper alignment Fortifies your core — Core strength and posture of your neck and spine distributes more weight to are a two-way street: maintaining good posture your bones and away from joints, ligaments and is key to strengthening your back muscles, abs, tendons not meant for that job, which together obliques, glutes, diaphragm and pelvic floor. help protect these crucial areas of your body And core-focused workouts help you maintain from injury and inflammation. good posture.

Your digestion will improve — Slouching, or letting your shoulders fall forward, throws your entire body out of alignment and increases the likelihood of acid reflux, bloating and other digestive issues. It can also lead to constipation or problems with bladder control including leakage and frequent need to urinate.

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G OL D E N COR R I DO R LIVIN G

You’ll be more energetic — Because poor posture adds weight to your muscles that they shouldn’t always be carrying around, it can lead to fatigue that’s felt throughout your body.

Getting your alignment back will allow you to be more active and likely will elevate your mood along with it.

FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Let Me Introduce you to One of My Inspirations

by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT

“Until you spread your wings wide open, you have no idea how far you can fly.” — Deborah McEvoy

W

here do I start? I have been writing for Golden Corridor Living for quite a few years now. I have been a fitness professional for a whole lot longer. I have been so blessed to have made so many friends and people I consider family along the way.

Deborah McEvoy

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Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie

I thought it would be way too cool to let you all get to know some of the amazing and local women who have changed my life.

Deborah McEvoy has lived in Casa Grande for over 40 years. And while most of us know her as an amazing yoga instructor, there is so much more than meets the eye.

Deb taught yoga for 11 years through Central Arizona College. In addition she owns Dare To Soar Yoga and actually used to teach in the same building we currently are in. Deb started training with me in 2016, and she has never stopped impressing me. She is so incredibly strong both mentally and physically.

Even though she is not currently teaching, she stays super busy. She has been married to the love of her life John (JR) since 2006. They have two daughters, Kirsten and Karyn, six grandchildren and three greatgrandchilden.

OK, bragging time. Deb is a very talented mixed-media artist, specializing in abstract art. Her subjects may include nature, houses or the human form. Primarily selftaught, Deb has taken several classes and courses in various aspects of art, which attribute to the vastness of her concepts in her art.

Her art will be featured in the spring issue of Art Journaling magazine online at www.stampington.com/ art-journaling. We are so proud and excited for her. Take a moment a take a look.

Deb is such an inspiration to all of us. She has overcome many physical setbacks and is no stranger to pain. That doesn’t stop her or even slow her down.

With a smile on her face, she always has something supportive and positive to say. Deb brings a wonderful calming, positive energy every single time she walks through that door. I can honestly say she motivates me to do better and be better.

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FEATURE

Know Nutritional Needs Before/After Workout You’re working out for its amazing benefits for your body and mind.

Giving yourself the proper fuel before and after will make sure you get the most out of the time and money you’re putting into this amazing process.

M

any people, especially those relatively new to the active life, don’t prioritize pre- and post-training food, either for time limitations or they’re concerned it could conflict with weight loss goals.

But working out on an empty stomach can be counterproductive because your body may go into “survival” gear and draw energy from the very muscles you’re trying to build and maintain.

Meanwhile, eating the right foods just after your workout speeds your recovery from the beating you just took.

Because your body has different needs before and after you train, the best foods to round out a session vary. But don’t forget to hydrate well before, during and after your workout.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

BEFORE YOU EXERCISE

You’ll want to have a snack 90 to 30 minutes before you start that combines protein with a simple carbohydrate so you can have a slow and steady supply of energy throughout your workout.

Some good examples include: ❚

An apple with 2 tablespoons of almond butter.

❚

A half-cup of black beans with a half-cup of brown rice.

❚

One slice of whole wheat toast with a hard-boiled egg or some lean turkey.

❚

Greek yogurt (6-12 ounces) with a quarter-cup of trail mix.

❚

A packet of instant oatmeal with sliced banana and fruit.

❚

Grilled chicken breast with a small sweet potato and a cup of steamed broccoli with olive oil (this is more of a meal, but a great one if you’re hitting a circuit or building up muscle).

AFTER YOU EXERCISE

Once you’re done it’s time to speed up your recovery by refueling — the sooner the better, ideally 30 to 60 minutes later. Once you get to two hours post-workout your ability to refill your muscle stores drops by 50%, studies have shown. This can be more of a meal if it works with your schedule; still with some simple carbs but with more protein. ❚

A salad with light olive oil, vinegar and a half-cup of roasted chickpeas.

❚

One cup of chocolate milk.

❚

Protein shake with almond milk, a banana, scoop of protein powder and hemp seeds.

❚

An omelet (egg whites or two eggs) with at least half a cup of veggies and a quarter-cup of avocado.

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FEATURE

HEALTH & WELLNESS — RECIPES

Barbecue Shredded Chicken

by Bailey Zygutis, Nutritionist, Vitruvian Fitness For a sleep-supporting meal, try this high protein, full-flavor meat dish paired with veggies!

Ingredients 2 lg

Chicken breasts

2 tbs

Avocado oil

1 cup

Chicken stock

½ cup

Sugar-free barbecue sauce Pink Salt

1.

Heat Instant Pot* to simmer.

2.

Salt meat, then brown (1-2 minutes each side).

3.

Add chicken stock, switch to pressure cook mode, cover, and heat for 40 minutes.

4.

Once meat is cooked, shred with fork, drain excess stock, then add your favorite sugar-free barbecue sauce (mine’s Primal Kitchen’s).

5.

Enjoy with steamed veggies for a simple low-carb meal or on sourdough bread for a filling chicken sandwich.

*Can also be done in skillet and slow cooker; browning meat in skillet, then slow cooking with broth in crock pot.

Serves 4 | Prep Time 60 mins

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Higher protein intake has been associated with deeper levels of restorative sleep. Protein promotes tissue and organ repair, aiding in recovery and assisting in a restful night’s sleep.

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FEATURE

Baked Sizzling Chicken Fajitas This recipe brings sizzling hot sheet pan chicken fajitas to your table in less than 30 minutes, the best part being that you just throw everything into one sheet pan! No skillets or stirring required.

Fajita seasoning: 1 tsp

Cumin

1 tsp

Paprika

1 tsp ¼ tsp ¼ tsp 1 tsp

¼ tsp

Chili powder Garlic powder

Onion powder Salt

Black pepper, ground

Chicken: 1 lb

Chicken cutlets (about 3-4)

1

Red bell pepper

4 tbs 1 1 1

2

Olive oil, divided

Orange bell pepper Yellow bell pepper Red onion

Limes, cut into wedges

¼ cup Cilantro, fresh 1.

Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, combine cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and black pepper, then stir to combine. Set aside.

2.

Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle fajita seasoning on both sides of chicken, reserving about 1 tablespoon.

3.

Cut the bell peppers and the onion into ½-inch thick slices. Evenly distribute on the baking sheet, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the reserved seasoning.

4.

Cook in preheated oven until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° and the vegetables are slightly charred, about 15-17 minutes.

5.

Serve with lime wedges and fresh cilantro. Serve as is or in tortillas with cheese, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

Serves 4 | Prep Time 35 mins

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BIZ

50

ECONOMY, FINANCE & BUSINESS

G O L D EN C O RRID OR LIVIN G

SP R I NG 2 0 2 2

Jeremy Waters Hunter Pest Control

by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor

How did your business first start, and what was the staff?

HPC was created in 2011 by my partner and myself. For the first few years, I was the only full time technician. Previously, I was the training manager for a large pest control company, where I was employed for 5 years. After a year or so of talking about it, my childhood friend and I pulled the trigger and got Hunter Pest Control going.

Are termites really a problem in the hot Arizona desert?

They absolutely are. There’s a saying: “There are two types of homes in Arizona — those that have termites and those that are going to get them.”

I like to add a third type: “There are homes that have had termites but no longer do because they were treated

by Hunter Pest Control!” We can inspect your home if you are seeing signs of termites.

You just added weed control to your services, tell us about it and what to look out?

Weed products are highly regulated and a company has to be fully licensed to obtain the correct products as well as have the knowhow to apply them correctly. Working with non-certified businesses can result in plants dying that you don’t want dead, and those companies are breaking the law.

Also, our service is guaranteed for six months, and you won’t be receiving any HOA letters in that time.

Do you do rodents?

We have two techs trained on rodent removal and exclusion. Roof rats are a huge problem in the Valley. Our techs not only eliminate the problem, they find and seal off all entry locations the rodents used to get into your home.

Let’s talk pigeons, what does Hunter Pest Control know about them?

HPC has extensive experience with pigeon control. Pigeons are sometimes referred to as flying rats; they carry disease and make as much of a mess, or more, as rats. We have three full-time techs able to rid our customers of the pesky pigeons on their rooftops.

Once pigeons take up residence on a roof they can cause extensive damage with the buildup of their nesting materials and fecal matter.

We have seen a home where these materials caused water to collect on the rooftop, which caused a leak in the roof. The water source then fed an extensive termite problem.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

What are people most freaked out about?

Scorpions, spiders and termites. I’ve had customers tell me they have nightmares of huge termites crawling inside of their walls. If you spot a scorpion, there could definitely be more, same with termites. A spider typically won’t hurt you, but the spider knows there are other pests in the area if they have found a spot.

Let’s talk about community involvement. Can you mention some of the events you sponsor and why you do it?

We are regularly involved in community events, fundraisers, and we host our own at least once a year. We’ve had events such as a charity poker tournament, during which we were able to raise thousands of dollars for the local food bank; we donate services to the local Against Abuse women’s shelter; and we host an annual charity Izzy Calderon softball tournament with our friends to help raise money.

We also were a sponsors for the Central Arizona Car & Bike Show, Central Arizona Food Truck Battle, the Western Pinal County Business and Crafts Expo, and the always fun Chihuahua Festival, which is a great event for pet services, including adoption.

We are also active with Pet Social Worker dog rescue, happy hour fundraisers and have fostered and placed hundreds of dogs in new loving homes.

What is the makeup of your current staff?

We have four fulltime techs, a fulltime service manager, an office assistant, a vice president and of course our President Jeremy Waters. We have plans of growing Valleywide within the next two years and statewide within five years.

Then the world … muhuhaahahaha (menacing laugh)!

What have been the keys to success?

First, our Vice President Julie Rae Applegath has been invaluable to our success. The vision, drive and motivation she has rubs off on all of us. Without her, we would not be where we are today. Additionally, it’s our goal to maintain lifelong relationships with our customers so we have a strong focus on making sure our customers are happy… as soon as possible.

Why should someone give Hunter Pest Control a shot?

Hunter Pest Control was built on the relationships we have with our customers. If we weren’t everything our customers wanted us to be, they would not be so happy to refer us to their friends and family.

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 51

BIZ

Economy, Finance & Business

Living Trust vs. Last Will & Testament

C

ontrary to popular belief, a last will and testament does not avoid probate. The powers vested by a will are only effective after the person dies and the will is filed with probate court. A trust, on the other hand, becomes effective as soon as it is properly executed and assets are transferred into it.

A trust creates a means in which your executor (known as the successor trustee) can transfer assets to your beneficiaries without the supervision of the court.

A trust does not replace a will.

Most trusts deal only with specific assets such as life insurance or a piece of property that have been transferred into the trust. A will governs distribution of nearly everything else in your estate, including any property that remains in your name at the time of death.

One of the biggest advantages to a trust is that your heirs can avoid the court’s probate process, which ultimately saves money, stress and time. A trust also can be used to shield the ownership of a business, protect the inheritance of minor children or special needs beneficiaries, and keep your affairs private.

Contact Glover Court Solutions & Estate Planning for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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The ROX Interview

Continued from page 19 occurred in ‘09, ‘10, even before I got there, and it kind of continued and we keep on building on that.

Of saying, we have to diversify our economy and not just be confined to one thing.

I have a lot of colleagues where they’ll run as a team with other folks, but the reality is that one of the team is always trying to maybe one-up the other and try to see what’s the long game here. There was none of that, Frank or me.

And frankly, that was a massive change for Arizona from statehood because for so long you have a state that’s confined in its economy the “five Cs” — copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate.

And the ‘50s came and you have the Raytheons and the Motorolas of the world, and a lot of that was because Barry Goldwater was the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and a lot of that defense appropriation ended up coming to places like Arizona.

But still, you’re truly in one sector of an economy at that point. And when that begins to fade away, what’s next? And I think that we’re in a better position now.

GC LIVING: When you first got into politics at the state level, you partnered with Frank Pratt. What was the reasoning behind that decision?

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We were always trying to help each other.

TJ SHOPE: Frank and I got along well.

I’d helped him on his previous campaigns. And when it came time for me, he was one of the few people who gave me a shot.

And we were pretty, I guess he’d say it from a campaign sense, inseparable after that. We really meshed well.

He had obvious interest in energy policy and things like that, natural resources and was a long-time person from the area. And for whatever reason, the oldest Republican member and the youngest Republican member of the Legislature really clicked, so we kept it going.

And obviously, like many others, very sad to see him not be with us anymore, but it was a great experience to work with him and learned a lot from him and met a lot of people that I otherwise would’ve probably never met.

I served four terms in the House, the last two terms as a speaker pro tem. Which has me right behind the speaker; in that position you’re the only other person who can preside over calling the House into session.

And that meant I spent probably about 70% of the time in the speaker’s chair, just running the daily business of the House. And that was a great opportunity.

Continued on page 68

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YOU

HEALTH, HAPPINESS & EDUCATION

Out & About

Exciting events and striking scenery in the Golden Corridor area!

Submit your photos to our Facebook page or email to: photos@roxco.com

Casa Grande Roller Derby Photo by Two Steps Ahead Photography

VHS Gets Donation Submitted by Casa Grande RC Flyers

Nancy Friedman and Jeff Lund Submitted by Casa Grande RC Flyers 58

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Indigo Ballroom Maricopa

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DUI Task Force Submitted by Donna McBride

Maria and Jack McDevitt at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch Photo by Katie Mayer

Adam Mayer, 5, at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch Photo by Katie Mayer

Cowboy Days Carnival Submitted by Shannon Price

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YOU

Health, Happiness, & Education

CAC Named Bellwether Award Finalist

by Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing

C

entral Arizona College has been selected as a 2022 Workforce Development category finalist for the highly coveted Bellwether Award.

CAC’s innovative project Education at the Speed of Industry, highlighting the institutions partnership with Wilson Electric, is recognized for creating strategic alliances that promote community and economic development.

In December 2018, Wilson Electric approached CAC to explore a partnership in developing a commercial electrical installation program, mirroring the college’s partnership with Sundt Construction.

The partnership with Sundt led to a 2020 Bellwether Award win.

The Bellwether Awards are regarded as the nation’s most competitive and prestigious recognition for community colleges and the only award evaluated by experts and practitioners in the field. In its 28 years of celebrating community colleges,

the Bellwether College Consortium is proud to identify outstanding and innovative programs or practices that can then be shared and replicated.

The Bellwether Award is proudly sponsored by the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, Texas.

Registration opens March 21

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YOU

Health, Happiness, & Education

Strengthening Youth by Building Resilience

by Leionah Ieremia, Family Engagement Specialist VISTA, Casa Grande Alliance

I

n an article by Gail Belsky, published on understood.org, she encourages us to focus our attention on building resilience in our youth.

Kids can face significant setbacks or go through difficult times, and we hope they’re resilient and can quickly “bounce back.” We worry about their grades, behavior and mental health. Sometimes, we also wonder if their challenges will have a long-term impact.

The good news is that resilience can be taught — at home and in school.

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Talk about lessons learned: Kids who learn and think differently often need to practice finding lessons in situations. Talk through what was difficult and how they tried to handle it. Help them see what they can use from that challenge to make the next one better.

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Encourage them to ask for help: Kids need to know that struggling or failing isn’t a sign of weakness — and asking for help is a strength. Ask what they need to get through a situation or to do better at something.

Talk about who might be able to help, if it’s not you.

WHAT IS RESILIENCE?

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Build confidence that things can improve: Believing things can improve with work — and that you’re not stuck where you are — plays a big role in resilience. Download activities to practice this skill.

Resilience is a trait that lets kids come away from setbacks with something positive. It’s about coping with challenges. Signs of resilience include seeing kids setting new goals for themselves or asking for help with a problem.

HOW CAN WE HELP BUILD RESILIENCE? ❚

Acknowledge their feelings: Dealing with difficulty or disappointment isn’t fun. Telling kids it’s not so bad or that they shouldn’t feel upset doesn’t make them stronger or help them cope. Instead, help kids recognize and talk about their feelings — even negative ones. Selfawareness is an important part of resilience.

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Talk honestly about strengths: It can be hard to look past challenges when you’ve done poorly at something or are struggling. Help kids see and understand their strengths (without overdoing it). Point out how those strengths have helped in the past. Have this conversation regularly, not just during a setback.

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Offer support, but don’t jump in: Kids who are resilient come back and try again.

They look for solutions. Encourage that behavior by offering help — but not jumping in to fix things.

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GREAT STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN YOUR KIDS All children are capable of working through challenges and coping with stress. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. It’s a skill that kids develop as they grow. Resilient kids are more likely to take healthy risks because they don’t fear falling short of expectations. They are curious, brave, and trusting of their instincts. They know their limits and they push themselves to step outside of their comfort zones. This helps them reach for their long-term goals and it helps them solve problems independently.

STRESS AND RESILIENCE All kids encounter stress of varying degrees as they grow. Despite their best efforts, parents can’t protect kids from obstacles. Kids get sick, move to new neighborhoods, encounter bullies and cyberbullies, take tests, cope with grief, lose friends, and deal with divorce, to name a few. These obstacles might seem small in the eyes of an adult, but they feel large and all-consuming to kids.



STRATEGIES TO BUILD RESILIENCE Build a Strong Emotional Connection—Spend one-on-one time with your kids: Kids develop coping skills within the context of caring relationships, so it’s important to spend one-on-one time with them.

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Promote Healthy Risk-Taking—In a world where playgrounds are made “safe” with bouncy floor materials and helicopter parenting, it’s important to encourage kids to take healthy risks.

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Teach Problem-Solving Skills—The goal is not to promote rugged self-reliance. We all need help sometimes, and it’s important for kids to know they have help.

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Demonstrate Coping Skills—Deep breathing exercises help kids relax and calm themselves when they experience stress or frustration.

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Embrace Mistakes— It can be helpful to talk about a mistake you made and how you recovered from it.

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Promote the Bright Side—Every Experience Has One — teach your child to reframe negative

thoughts to find the positive. 

Model Resiliency—Always label your emotions and talk through your problem-solving process.



Go Outside—Exercise helps strengthen the brain and make it more resilient to stress and adversity. https://www.psycom.net/build-resilience-children

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CITY SPEAK

Town of Superior

Many Options for Health, Wellness in Superior

by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior

R

ecently I was running a few errands, one of which involved a visit to the office of one of our local licensed massage therapists.

This quick visit turned into an educational session, and I learned that her particular focus is pathological massage therapy. This type of massage therapy is ideal for those battling a variety of health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

For many, we think of massage, reflexology and aesthetic treatments as luxuries and not necessarily as essential to our overall wellness or treatment for ongoing ailments.

singing, dancing, stretching or practicing yoga poses, can elevate our mindfulness and make a difference in our productivity.

After this visit, I learned we have several massage therapists practicing in Superior that offer everything from reiki and reflexology to traditional massage therapies, as well as aesthetic services such as facials and other skin care treatments.

In addition to the wellness services of our licensed massage therapists, Superior’s magnificent natural beauty, clean fresh air and surrounding mountains with beautiful trails offer the vistas and trails that many seek for wellness.

Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior Just as important is the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, which is a veritable treasure trove for connecting with nature through walks and educational tours. These 15-minute (or longer) respites in Superior will make your week, too.

Learn more about places to find wellness in Superior on our website: www.superiorarizona.com.

I decided to have a 15-minute chair massage, as I had a few minutes to spare between my errands. More importantly, I wanted to support this local business. As it turned out, those 15 minutes helped me realize how much tension and stress I was holding in my neck and lower back. I felt so much better, and this quick moment of relaxation and focused massage therapy genuinely made the difference in my week.

What if we all took 15 minutes once a day for something that focuses on our personal wellness? What a difference that would make for everyone!

Obviously, we cannot always have a chair massage or another type of personal wellness treatment, but maybe 15 minutes reading a book, journaling, taking a walk,

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COMING LATE SUMMER

The EDUCATION Edition Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your business!

For more information on how your business can be featured, please call 520.426.2074 or email info@roxco.com

GOLDEN C ORR ID OR LIV ING. CO M

YOU

Pets

My Pet Needs Drugs:

Rules Same When Comes to Pet, Human Prescriptions by Gigi McWhirter

E

very day at every veterinary office someone from the staff is telling a client that the owner’s pet must be seen before a prescription can be filled.

The staff often hears the reply from the caller who accuses the doctor of just wanting to make money.

And while nobody wants to work for “free,” there is a lot more to having a current exam on record.

Veterinarians follow the same regulations to write prescription medications as do primary care providers who take care of humans: A current client/patient relationship.

During the visit, the doctor will do a physical examination that includes temperature, pulse, respiration rates and a current weight. During the exam, the doctor may discuss any concerns or changes that your pet might be experiencing.

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A hands-on exam should include the doctor checking the eyes, ears, teeth and gums, feeling the neck and throat for swelling, listening to heart and respiratory sounds. The doctor also will check the bones and joints, abdomen and finally, the hind end and a general overview of the skin.

The doctor then may suggest lab work to help determine or monitor a metabolic or infectious illness.

Diagnostic imaging, such as X-ray or ultrasound also may be considered.

Narcotics are strictly governed by the DEA and require a physical exam every six months and lab work at least once a year. Some medications falling into this class are not permitted to have prescriptions written that include refills, so you must contact your vet to authorize every refill request.

When a pet is first diagnosed with a chronic ailment, lab work and follow-up exams may be needed more frequently to monitor and evaluate the condition of your pet. Ask your doctor about followup instructions and monitoring requirements.

One more thing, please do not wait until the last pill to call in your refill request. Not all medications are written with refills and may need a doctor’s approval before they can be filled.

If you have any questions, contact your veterinarian — not Dr. Google!

Happy Tails to you!

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The ROX Interview

Continued from page 57

And I think that position, more than any other, is a trust position between the speaker and the pro tem. The majority leader and the minority leader and the majority and minority whip, those are elected positions within a caucus, but the speaker chooses his own pro tem; kind of think of it, I guess, as your vice president.

I was kind of known as the stickler for the rule book at the House, ran a very tight meeting with lots of gaveling if necessary. But I’m very happy in the fact that I think even at the end of it, Democrats would come to me and tell me they would always like me there because I was fair. And I think that that was the ultimate compliment for something like that.

Now, I was also the chairman of the Rules Committee; every bill goes through Rules. You can hold a bill if it’s based on the constitutionality of it, and that was an interesting time. I also served as the Ethics Committee chairman and I had to lead an investigation against a colleague during that time, and that was not very fun, but also very educational.

GC LIVING: How did you decide to run for the Senate?

TJ SHOPE: Well, I was term-limited in the House, and at 35, I still felt like I had something I needed to do, continue some things. Chief among them has been I-10 and the continued discussion about widening it, so I decided to go ahead and run.

I thought at the time it would be a very tough race, just like my others had been. Shortly after announcing that I was going to run, COVID hits, and it not only changed many of our 68

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lives forever and the way we interact and how we feel about health and things like that, it also changed campaigning completely. Nobody’s going doorto-door anymore. There were no events to go to. And I think if anybody knows me or Mr. Pratt, we used to do a ton of events.

And that was all gone.

And you had to figure out how do you get your message out?

And it’s not just me. I was thinking of the ones who maybe had never been elected before, so they had no name recognition.

They had really no record to point to or anything like that. So how do you reach people who truly can’t be reached? And we have weathered, and continued to weather all of that, but the campaign was totally different.

GC LIVING: So, what are some of the memorable bills you’ve introduced?

TJ SHOPE: I think the one most recent, that people I think are still

talking about either because they enjoy it or are annoyed about it because they hate seeing all the commercials, was sports betting. They asked me to run that bill, and one of the reasons is that I represent a district that has a tribe in it, and it has a significant portion of population that’s obviously not tribal. This was almost symbolic of the fact that we were entering a new time where tribes were not going to have exclusivity over gaming in the state, and we were going to go into this together as an entire state. And I think that was a very difficult thing to do.

Five years ago, I don’t know what I would’ve thought if you would’ve told me that in the governor’s State of the State address he was actually going to mention working with (Gila River Indian Community) Governor Stephen Lewis and me on that expansion of I-10, which I have a bill on for the $400-million appropriation for it.

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The ROX Interview If I can just get that one deal done, I will consider it a pretty darn successful tenure. And I think that it’s one of those things that is going to make so many people’s lives a lot easier.

I think more than anything, I’ve enjoyed the things that I have been able to do to help make people’s lives a little bit easier.

I ran a bill during the height of the COVID pandemic to make it easier for dentists or other medical professionals to dispense vaccines; that was something that we had to do.

You try to bring people together to come up with a commonsense solution. And those are the things that I enjoy doing more than anything.

GC LIVING: But technically, that’s a part-time job for you. Granted it’s 80 hours a week, but it’s a parttime job. Tell us about your real job.

We were able to pick up and open new accounts for people when the others were not, for their PPP loans and things like that, if they could show us that they had a functioning account, they had the cashflow, and things, up until that point in time.

We did a lot, and we’re the No. 1 Small Business Administration lender in Arizona.

It was a mission really, to make sure that you could keep as many of our small businesspeople functioning and going because none of these guys wanted to shut down.

GC LIVING: What’s in your future?

You’ve got another term for the Senate.

TJ SHOPE: At this point I’m running for reelection. If I were to serve through my term limit, which I have every intention of doing and

I think more than anything, I’ve enjoyed the things that I have been able to do to help make people’s lives a little bit easier. respecting, I would have this one coming up and then two more to go. And then I’d be a 43-year-old former legislator with 16 years. I got married a little over a year ago, and we are enjoying life right now.

And the politics is something that’s always a love/hate relationship because you enjoy doing it, but there’s always a roadblock in front of you that you’re trying to get around or navigate through. And Continued on page 94

TJ SHOPE: I work for National Bank of Arizona as the community sales development director for the state.

It’s a very rewarding role because I get to work with businesspeople or people who have a dream to expand a business. And it reminds me a lot of what I grew up in, and the folks that maybe own small businesses all around that want a way to find capital to make their dream come true. And that’s all I do is business banking for the most part.

And it really came, during the Paycheck Protection Program process, during a period when you had a lot of the larger banks looking at their larger accounts and making sure they were taken care of, a lot of small business owners really fell through the cracks.

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FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

Take your Home Fire

Outdoors Fireplaces are magnetic for people wherever you put them. Have you ever thought of putting one in your backyard?

Outside fireplaces offer all the advantages of their indoor brethren, with the added benefit of giving you the chance to enjoy additional outdoor living during the winter, as well as chilly autumn, spring and even summer nights.

L

ike standard fireplaces, they can be built in a variety of styles and use one of a number of different types of fuel; wood, natural gas, charcoal, gel, propane, ethanol, electricity.

These have varied price points, maintenance needs and carbon footprints, so you’ll need to balance your priorities to settle on the right choice to light up your backyard life.

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FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

WOOD-BURNING MASONRY FIREPLACES

These traditional hearths with a chimney to direct smoke upward can be built with bricks or stone on an existing patio or sit as a freestanding unit elsewhere in the yard.

There’s generally more space for this feature outside than inside, so you can go as big as you like, either using a DIY kit or hiring a contractor. They’re among the biggest people magnets, but aren’t clean-burning and stray sparks could be a fire hazard.

GAS-BURNING OUTDOOR FIREPLACES

Built like a traditional masonry fireplace for that homespun feel but with a propane or natural gas fueling source, these can generate more heat than most woodburning versions and can heat a larger area. Both are clean-burning fuels, but propane is more efficient and doesn’t release methane if leaked, as natural gas does.

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SEE-THROUGH FIREPLACES

These have a more modern look and can be placed in an exterior wall to be shared with an outdoor space or used to divide a larger outdoor space while giving equal light and heat to both sections.

FIRE PITS

Whether permanently installed or portable, fire pits recreate the feel of a campfire perfect for roasting marshmallows or other food while telling stories and reminiscing under the stars. They’re vulnerable to gusts of wind that make wood-burning models a potential fire hazard, though some have spark-screen covers that cut way down on the risk.

PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACES

This broad category includes round concrete cylinders or bowls, propane-fueled fire tables, Southwestern-styled chimeneas, lantern-shaped, screened fireplaces and more.

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FEATURE

Brighten Bathrooms with Splashes of

CREATIVITY

by Blake Herzog

While you’re busy staying current with your kitchen, living room and outdoor living space, it’s easy for other spaces to get left behind — particularly the bathrooms.

I

f you haven’t taken the initiative to inject some “spa” vibes into the fixtures or décor, it’s easy to let the years flow by until you’re startled awake by replacing a burned-out bulb or some other jolt that makes you look around and say, “Wow, this is really dull and outdated.” But you just spent a chunk to redo your kitchen; what do you do?

Take a look at these great little refreshers that can take as little as a day to level up your bathroom into something you never thought it would be!

Change up the walls — Possibly the most effective fix you can make is to put something relaxing, fun or even inspirational on your wall space. Get rid of the glaring stark-white colors in favor of a soothing robin’s egg blue or sandy beige to calm the atmosphere or find a wallpaper that evokes the natural, homey and/or spiritual scene you’d most like to care for yourself and those you love in. You can make

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

those intentions as clear as you want them to be by stenciling images, words or verses onto the surface.

Explore the depths of your vanity — If the cabinets and drawers under your sink are what’s pulling the bathroom back to some long-gone decade, you don’t have to replace it to escape its grasp. Again a coat of paint can transform it into something at least approaching beauty. Try trendy colors like a rich green or sunny yellow. Switch out the pulls for something more modern while you’re at it and consider installing some sleek hardware if it doesn’t have any to start with.

Mirror yourself — If you’re tired of the standard-issue mirrored medicine cabinet over the sink, you can take it down and hang one or two mirrors in its place. Find some with personality in a thrift shop or recycled construction material shop like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, or craft your own with a vintage or DIY frame.

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FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

Financial Wellness:

Meet Financial Goals with Mortgage Checkup

by Dawn Svoboda, Branch Manager/Loan Originator, Academy Mortgage Did you know?

Just as getting a yearly checkup is important to maintaining your physical health, getting a home mortgage checkup can be crucial to your financial health.

In light of fluctuating rates, new products or shifts in your life circumstances, your mortgage loan options can change quickly.

At Academy Mortgage, we understand the importance of financial wellness and outstanding service. When you work with us, we commit to providing custom-tailored loan solutions for your unique financial goals throughout the mortgage process and beyond.

That’s why we offer a free yearly mortgage checkup* so you can be sure your loan fits your financial goals.

When we conduct your mortgage checkup, we consider the following:

❚

❚

❚

Your current mortgage: What kind of loan do you currently have? What is your current interest rate and term? Are you paying mortgage insurance? Depending on the current rates, it may be a great time for you to refinance.

Your finances: Have you considered refinancing or explored cash-out refinancing to reduce or eliminate high-interest debt? It’s likely that your financial situation has changed since you got your mortgage. Whether you’re making more money now or you need to lower your monthly bills, we can assess your current needs and determine whether there’s a better loan program out there for you.

Your credit score: Has your credit score changed since you first took on your mortgage? If your credit score has improved, this

may be a great time to explore lowering your monthly payment. ❚

Your life plans: Are you considering selling your home soon? Do you wish to finance a vacation home, investment or bankowned property? Perhaps you’re hoping to start a family, buy a new car or go on your dream vacation. All these factors can affect whether you should seek a different loan program.

We can help you answer all these questions and more. Scheduling a mortgage checkup is quick and simple. Contact us today to get started on your financial wellness journey. *A free yearly mortgage checkup is provided by Academy Mortgage with no obligation to move forward with any of our services. MAC123-1479167

DAWN SVOBODA Branch Manager and Loan Originator | NMLS 177235 442 W Kortsen Rd. #104, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 D: 520.316.1341 | C: 480.221.9826 | O: 520.421.1171 | F: 480.857.1331 Dawn.Svoboda@academymortgage.com | AcademyMortgage.com/dawnsvoboda LO State Lic AZ LO-0913936 | Corp State Lic AZ #BK-0904081 | Corp NMLS #3113 Equal Housing Lender 78

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Academy’s One-Time-Close Construction-to-Permanent Loan

Did you know I offer a 5% down One-Time-Close Conventional Construction Loan and 3.5% down FHA Loan?

Academy’s One-Time-Close (OTC), Construction-to-Permanent Loans are an excellent all-in-one Conventional and FHA financing solution for lot purchase, construction, and permanent mortgage funding.

Dawn Svoboda

Highlights • One loan purchases the land and builds the home — just one loan and one set of closing fees!

• Build on your land or do a land/home purchase.

• The permanent loan is closed before construction begins.

• Custom draw schedule is available.

Branch Manager, Producing NMLS #177235

• Interest-only payments are made during construction.

• Refinancing is not required upon completion of construction.

• 12-month build time from date of closing and funding.

• Minimum credit score of 680.

(520) 316-1341 | (480) 221-9826

dawn.svoboda@academymortgage.com academymortgage.com/DawnSvoboda 442 W Kortsen Road, Suite 104 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Call or email me for details and have a great day!

LO State Lic#: AZ LO-0913936 Corp State Lic#: AZ: BK-0904081 Corp NMLS# 3113 | An Equal Housing Lender

All mortgage products are subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice.

Not all products are available in all states or for all amounts. Additional conditions, qualifications, and restrictions may apply. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. Please contact Academy Mortgage for more information. MAC522-1475110

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FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

Bring Nature Inside to Balance your Well-being

by Christia Gibbons

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

— Frank Lloyd Wright

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A

s the father of organic architecture, which strives to design and build structures in balance with their natural surroundings (think house not on a hill but as part of that hill), some would say Frank Lloyd Wright sparked today’s biophilic design.

This growing architectural trend brings nature inside. It connects humans to the nature they love.

Studies show that even looking at nature can have a calming effect. Biophilic architects take that further by designing buildings — even skyscrapers in the form of vertical gardens — by incorporating elements of nature to impact the way people feel, work and create.

Bringing nature inside has been shown to boost productivity and reduce stress in offices, hospitals, schools and in urban living spaces. It can be restorative physically and emotionally, lowering blood pressure and heart rate.

And since 93% or our time is spent indoors or in our cars, finding a way to bring nature into your living environment may be just what you need.

Consider taking these steps to create your own nature-based nirvana: Blend organic forms (rocks and plant shapes for instance) with water features and outdoor views. Find a way to let in lots of natural light.

Bring in real plants.

Make subtle changes in temperature and air flow through your heating and cooling system.

Use plant oils in a diffuser and surround yourself with calming sounds. Perhaps nature sounds?

Use patterns that mimic nature in curtains, pillows, wall hangings or flooring. Incorporate nature’s colors and textures like wood and stone.

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FEATURE

HOME & GARDEN

Tired of Winter?

Get your House Ready for Summer!

by Blake Herzog

The Golden Corridor provides us with temperate weather this time of year and a great opportunity to start now to ready our yards for the late spring and summer.

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t’s not uncommon to get antsy for a little more warmth to go along with all that winter sunshine, and one good way to deal with that is to prepare your abode for warmer temperatures and the (welcome) changes that come with them as you bring your yard and outdoor supplies back into commission: Plant your garden – Now that spring is here, go ahead and plant those-frost sensitive plants as well as other species like most roses, trees and shrubs. Add in any bulbs you pan to use along with hardier vegetables like asparagus and garlic, too.

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FEATURE

Groom your yard – As it begins to get warmer it will get easier to tell which of your trees and perennial plants may have sustained fatal damage during winter storms and cold and which have sailed through the season unscathed. (As of this writing winter has been pretty mild, so hopefully most everything in your yard has survived.) It’s also a good time to clear out any dead branches and the like.

Get your patio furniture ready – Some of it may be in storage, and if it feels a bit too early to haul it all out at least check it the best you can for any pest or water damage that might have snuck in over the past few months. If your outdoor cushions are made with highquality fabrics, you can put them out so you can gaze at them with anticipation.

Gear up the grill – You can use your gas grill year-round. — and more power to those who do — but if you’re with the majority who’s not so inclined you can still peel the cover off and give the exterior a good cleaning, remove any caked grease residue from the grill and flavorizer bars and check the holes in the burner tubes for any insects.

Make sure there are no gas leaks and figure out where your cold and hot spots are. Fire it up as soon as you like!

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 83

Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

CONTINUED

New County Supervisor, JP Districts Approved T

he Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved revised boundaries for the county’s supervisor districts and Justice of the Peace precincts March 2, based on 2020 Census data and the need to keep all five districts close to equal in terms of population while not splitting recently redrawn voter precincts.

The redistricting process began at the state level with the Independent Redistricting Commission, which adopted new state congressional and legislative districts in January. County officials said all five of the new supervisor districts have around 85,000 residents, and the board can choose to redraw them in as little as two years if those numbers get unbalanced, a real possibility given rapid growth in some areas of the county.

The redrawn districts are in effect for electoral purposes and will be used to elect the next board this fall. They will take effect for county administrative purposes on June 30 and will create major shifts in the current supervisors’ districts for the last six months of 2022, with one supervisor representing a completely different part of the county.

COUNTY SUPERVISORS: DISTRICT 1 With the board’s approval of “map D,” one of three new maps added for consideration in the last week of the process, District 1 moves from the northeast to the west side of the county and combines almost all of the City of Maricopa and the surrounding Hidden Valley area with the Ak-Chin and Gila

River Indian communities and northern Coolidge. This was an outcome favored

by Maricopa officials and residents, who lobbied the board not to put the City’s Tortosa area into Casa Grande’s district.

Current District 1 Supervisor Kevin Cavanaugh was elected from the old District 1, which comprises the Copper Corridor communities on the county’s east side along with the older part of Florence and all of Coolidge. Cavanaugh mentioned that Coolidge Mayor Jon Thompson had just sent a letter protesting that city’s being chopped into three districts, but county officials said there wasn’t time to look at any more options given looming deadlines.

Continued on page 97…

State of State Speech … continued from page 14 Ducey also prioritized buttressing the state’s water supplies as it faces its first-ever year with a shortage declaration on the Colorado River, asking lawmakers to dedicate another $1 billion to the state’s Drought Mitigation Fund over the next three years.

This pool supports grants to water users being affected by the decadeslong drought and is a crucial source of funding for Pinal

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County farmers who are drilling wells to replace the Colorado River water they relinquished as part of a statewide effort to leave more water in Lake Mead.

“With resources available in our budget, a relationship with Mexico that we’ve built and strengthened over the last seven years, and the need clear — what better place to invest more,” he said. He also asked lawmakers to pursue desalination

and other technologies to expand Arizona’s water resources, setting the table for future water augmentation efforts.

Ducey’s full $15.8 billion spending plan for the 2023 fiscal year, released shortly after the speech, is subject to the ongoing legislative process usually completed late in the spring, though last year Ducey did not sign the budget into law until June 30, the day before fiscal year 2022 began.

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Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

CONTINUED

New Pinal Director of Community Development Named F

ormer Florence Town Manager Brent Billingsley is now Pinal County’s Director of Community Development, continuing a career spent mostly in local government across the county.

Billingsley was appointed in January, while his predecessor Lester Chow reverted to the deputy director job when Billingsley came onboard Feb. 7.

County Manager Leo Lew said, “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Brent’s skillset and experience to Pinal County, and I’m really excited about the future advancement of our Community Development Department under Brent and Lester’s leadership.

“Brent knows the county and is very familiar with its potential and its challenges, so he’ll be in a great position to hit the ground running from day one.”

Billingsley began his career with Pinal County as a transportation planner in 1996, going on to spend three years working with Central Arizona Governments, seven more at the City of Maricopa and three as city manager of Globe before taking the top job in the Town of Florence in 2015.

“After almost a decade in municipal management, I am really looking forward to focusing on community

Pinal County Director of Community Development Brent Billingsley development,” Billingsley said. “It is an honor to be able to work for one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States and to be able to share the knowledge I have gained during my professional career. It is even more special to return to where I started, with Pinal County.”

Continued on page 96…

Seeds of Hope … continued from page 15 Amplify and Skout, which followed three years at Amazon Robotics from 2015 to 2018. There, he helped established robot-driven fulfillment centers in the U.S. and internationally from a base in Boston.

Prior to then, he was based in Boston with CH Robinson, one of the world’s largest shipping and logistics companies.

He also has volunteer experience with successful nonprofit organizations and has learned from a host of experiences, including “materially poor but spiritually rich people from Nicaragua to Sri Lanka,” according to a Seeds of Hope press release.

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“Aaron has a track record of inspiring wins, exceeding expectations and fostering productive relationships of mutual value,” the statement reads.

Seeds of Hope Inc. was founded in 1993 and today offers five programs: • Afterschool program — Offers homework help, reading enrichment and other activities at the Mondo Anaya Community Center (MACC).

• Hot lunch — Meals served for the homeless from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday at Fountain of Living Waters Church, 518 E. Second St., Casa Grande.

• Community garden — Fruits and vegetables grown during spring and fall on the grounds of First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande, 702 E. Cottonwood Lane.

• Free clinics — Health clinics offered the second Saturday of each month at the MACC. • Senior adult — Socializing and classes for adults 55 and older 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the MACC. For more information about Seeds of Hope Inc., call 520.836.6335 or visit www.seedsofhopeaz.com.

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FUN

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

The Barony of Arizola

By Harold Kitching

A comprehensive report on the land scam and con man, including clickable links and citations, is found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Reavis James Addison Peralta Reavis

As you zip along Jimmie Kerr Boulevard you probably don’t notice a small historical marker on the north side just east of Noble Street and that metal tubing sign promoting Casa Grande service clubs.

U

nlike other historical markers, there are no signs saying that one is just ahead, leaving it in relative obscurity. Strange for something that marks the home of the “Baron of Arizona” and his “Barony of Arizola,” the work of a con man who pulled off the biggest land scam in Arizona history using a forged Spanish land grant to 86

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claim 18,600 square miles stretching from the area of the present city of Maricopa, running east through what is now Casa Grande, Coolidge and Florence, jogging north covering the Phoenix area, then running east again to the Silver City, N.M., area.

(By comparison, Pinal County is about 5,374 square miles and Casa Grande about 110 square miles) The “Baron” was James Addison Reavis, a man who used his forgery techniques learned during the Civil War to falsify the Peralta grant.

According to the plaque marking the site of the long-gone town of Arizola, established about 1892 on the Southern Pacific Railroad line and lasting until about 1904, “He and his family lived here in royal style until his fraud was exposed.

From the barony he went to federal prison in 1895.” Well, he lived there for a while.

Various references say he built a mansion and lived in luxury there, children dressed in velvet, until things got too hot for him in the Arizona Territory.

Overall, they say, he then preferred his mansions in New York and California, all obtained with the estimated $150 million in today’s dollars that he extorted through threats to businesses such as the Silver King mine, the railroad, illegal rentals, selling quit claims and through some scam investment plans, including the Casa Grande Improvement Company.

It’s a long and twisted story, beginning during the Civil War when he learned that he could forge his commanding officer’s signature perfectly, allowing him to falsify passes for himself and other Confederate soldiers.

Perhaps as an early indicator of his future, he used one of the passes to leave his military area, deserting to the North.

He later came to Missouri, using his forgery skills as a real estate salesman to forge land contracts.

Reavis eventually traveled to Arizona, where he met a man who claimed to have a deed for mineral rights on a Spanish land grant.

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To make a long story short, the two of them consulted with William Gitt, a man known as the “Old Spanish Land Title Lawyer” following a series of dubious land deals in Illinois and Missouri.

According to the Wikipedia sources, the three men began meeting for several hours each week to examine the grant paperwork.

In addition to the deed there was an expediente, a copy of the legal papers relating to the Peralta grant.

Accompanying the copies was a letter dated 1853 and bearing the signature of Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna claiming a diligent search had been performed to locate all related documents and that the expediente established secure title of the grant.

The grant had been a “floater,” a grant for a certain amount of territory but lacking a fixed location.

Such grants, while common, were

useful as legal nuisances capable of scaring an unsophisticated land owner but of little real value.

Reavis decided to change this and fixed the location of the grant.

To deal with ambiguities regarding various historical measurements, he chose the definitions most advantageous to his goals.

With the center of its western boundary set near the confluence of the Salt and Gila rivers, the forged grant contained the towns of Phoenix, Globe, Casa Grande, Florence, and Tempe and stretched to the outskirts of Silver City, N.M. Other points of interest within the grant boundaries were the fabulously rich Silver King Mine near Superior and a section of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

He later filed all of the forged paperwork in Tucson.

After filing his claim, the Wikipedia sources say, Reavis established

his base of operations at Arizola just east of present Casa Grande containing a small set of ruins that had supposedly been used by the first Baron as La Hacienda de Peralta.

Reavis brought in craftsmen to build a mansion of redwood and red brick on the site, complete with servant quarters, stables, storage sheds, and a protective stone wall surrounding the site.

While the construction was beginning, Reavis began hiring rent collectors and agents.

He also opened negotiations with James M. Barney, owner of the Silver King Mining Co. After several weeks, Barney agreed to pay $25,000 for a quitclaim, a pittance given the wealth of the silver mine.

Reavis then printed and posted notices throughout the claim instructing residents to contact his lawyer “for registering tenancy

Map of Peralta land grant GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

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FUN

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

The “Baron” was James Addison Reavis, a man who used his forgery techniques learned during the Civil War to falsify the Peralta grant.

According to the plaque marking the site of the long-gone town of Arizola, established about 1892 on the Southern Pacific Railroad line and lasting until about 1904, “He and his family lived here in royal style until his fraud was exposed.

Monument located on Jimmie Kerr Blvd in Casa Grande and signing agreements, or regard themselves liable to litigation for trespassing and expulsion when the Peralta Grant is, as it must be, validated by the U.S. Government.”

Arrangements for newspapers and hired publicists announcing the land grant were made, proclaiming the title was ironclad and included both water and mineral rights.

Opposition began rising, forcing Reavis to realize that the complex conveyances he used to base his claim were a serious weakness.

He decided that presenting an heiress to the Peralta grant would strengthen his scheme.

He convinced a woman in California that she was a direct descendant, Doña Sophia Micaela Maso Reavis y Peralta de la Córdoba, third Baroness of Arizona.

She wasn’t, of course, but was gullible enough to believe Reavis.

By the time Reavis returned to Arizona Territory in August 1887 he was using the name James Addison Peralta Reavis, going to Tucson to file a new claim on behalf of his wife.

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By the time of the second filing, Reavis was dressing in the finest linen and broadcloth while his wife wore the products of New York and San Francisco’s best dressmakers.

Finding conditions in Arizona too hostile to his ambitions, Reavis rarely spent time at his mansion in Arizola. He and his wife instead maintained residences in San Francisco, St. Louis, and near New York City where they entertained the social and financial elite.

According to Wikipedia, reaction to the new claim by Arizona residents was nearly unanimously negative, with some newspapers publishing open incitements to violence against Reavis. As a result of the opposition, sale of new quitclaims effectively ended.

During his trip to Spain and visits to New York, Reavis had gained an understanding of government and big business finance.

He put this new knowledge to work and began offering investment opportunities involving development of Arizona Territory.

With the business leaders he had met in New York advocating the legitimacy of his claim, Reavis began to gain millions of dollars in new funds.

He formed three corporations in rapid succession in 1887, each bearing the name Casa Grande Improvement Company.

Each had Reavis as director and well-known business leaders selected to serve as president and vice presidents. The third, the Casa Grande Improvement Company of Arizona, was incorporated in November and absorbed the prior two entities.

The company planned to develop the land of the grant by building roads, railways, dams, irrigation canals, telegraph lines, and other improvements while simultaneously engaging in leasing water rights, selling live-stock, and performing other activities.

It all began falling apart, drastically so, when the surveyor general of Arizona Territory issued a detailed report saying the whole thing was a complete fraud.

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FUN (The complete text is in a footnote of the link at the beginning of this story.) Among the findings: ❚

Most of the claim’s 18th century documents showed evidence of having been written with steel nibbed pens, a tool rarely used until the 19th century, instead of a quill.

❚

Printing styles on the Peralta documents differed with documents from the same time period.

❚

Searches of Spanish archives for supporting documents failed to find information on the Peralta grant in locations where such information was expected.

❚

Multiple spelling errors and grammar issues were present in the Peralta documents, a situation highly atypical of documents from the Spanish royal court.

Reavis was later arrested, spending a year in jail awaiting trial.

Later, the court sentenced him to two years in prison and a fine of $5,000.

After he was released, he traveled around trying to find new investors for projects, but found little interest.

In 1900, Reavis began the magazine Peralta Reavis Real Life Illustrated where he promised to provide the complete inside story of the Peralta fraud.

The magazine folded after a single issue.

The same year he wrote a memoir that was published in several installments by the San Francisco Call newspaper under the title “The Confessions of the Baron of Arizona.” By 1913 he was living in a poor house in Los Angeles.

He died in Denver on Nov. 20, 1914, and was buried in a pauper’s grave.

As a footnote, the Wikipedia sources say, the mansion that Reavis built in Arizola was rediscovered by the National Park Service in 1953 following years of use as a barn by a local farmer.

An evaluation in April 1963 by the Park Service determined restoration of the building was financially infeasible.

All that remains is the lonely marker along the highway.

Casa Grande Improvement Company Limited, 50 share certificate

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FUN

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

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FUN

Verde Valley Clinches Wine Label Status More than four years after the initial petition was submitted, Northern Arizona’s Verde Valley is now an American Viticultural Area (AVA).

T

his designation identifies the unique geography, topography, soils and climate of the Verde Valley AVA as a federally recognized grape growing region.

Alongside Arizona’s first two AVAs, Sonoita and Willcox, being designated an AVA gives Verde Valley AVA vintners the opportunity to describe the specific origin of the grapes used to make their wines.

The designation was awarded to the area by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in November.

“Publications are coming out of nowhere congratulating us and singing our praises about this accomplishment,” says Tom Schumacher, president of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium. “It’s a great feeling.”

Attendance in the tasting rooms also appears to be on the increase, as are bottle sales, he adds.

Located in the geographic center of Arizona, the Verde Valley AVA covers an area of 219 square miles in northeastern Yavapai County centered on the junction of Oak Creek and the Verde River. Approximately 36% (79 square miles) of the AVA is privately owned land, while federal and state entities manage the remainder.

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According to the Verde Valley Wine Trail, the Verde Valley AVA includes 19 commercial vineyards farming more than 136 acres of wine grapes. Twenty-four additional vineyard acres are planned within the next three years.

The region boasts 25 tasting rooms. Also located within the Verde Valley AVA is Yavapai College, an accredited educational institution that offers classes, certificates and an associate degree in viticulture and enology.

Vineyards in the Verde Valley AVA grow more than 40 white and red wine grape varieties.

Paula Woolsey, vice president of the wine consortium, said there has been an “amazing amount of media inquiries, articles, podcasts and influential wine industry publications speaking our praise. Tourists to the area are asking about the AVA and enjoying more wines every day.”

The first bottles officially produced under the AVA designation will be on the market soon, she says, with the white wines being released as early as March or April and the reds released later in the year.

For more information about the Verde Valley AVA, visit www.verdevalleyava.org.

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FUN

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

CG Resident Publishes First Book at 94 Selfpublished through Palmetto Publishing, the memoir tells her story of growing up as a beekeeper’s daughter in Middletown, Ohio.

P

eggy Croll is proof that it’s never too late to share the books you have in you, with one just published and two more on the way.

The 94-year-old resident of Caliche Senior Living in Casa Grande has published her autobiography My First Hundred Years.

“It’s certainly not John Wayne’s biography,” she laughs. “I’m not famous, but I still have a story to tell.”

Self-published through Palmetto Publishing, the memoir tells her story of growing up as a beekeeper’s daughter in Middletown, Ohio. Her father sold honey from their house for $10 a pound and enlisted Peggy’s help in the business, teaching her financial responsibility from an early age.

Author Peggy Croll 92

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She does recall being discouraged from applying for a scholarship because she didn’t want to be a nurse or teacher, the only two professions her father deemed suitable for women.

“All my father ever inspired me to do was work and eat honey,” Peggy says.

Art was her favorite subject in school, and her art contest rivalry with a classmate slowly turned him into her high school sweetheart: “Always, when there were contests for advertising, posters, flyers for special events, we would compete. And we both always won, either I won first place and he second place or he got first place and I got second place.”

At 23 she married her artistic rival Robert Croll, and their union lasted 62 years. “A happy marriage consists of always being open with each other, be honest and never hide anything from one another,” she says.

The couple had three children, followed by grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Peggy worked at House of Fabrics for many years, helping to set up a new store in her town. Eventually she and Robert retired to Riverside County, California.

Peggy, who moved to Casa Grande three years ago, is now writing a murder mystery and will soon publish her second volume, a children’s book called Little Joe. “It’s about a little girl being homeschooled and her family dog had five puppies, and little Joe was the runt of the litter,” she says. “Because he was different the mother rejected little Joe. So Emily, the little girl, started caring for little Joe.” S P RI NG 2022

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The ROX Interview luckily I’ve been fairly successful at doing that, but I don’t know necessarily what the future holds.

I also work in the private sector, so I can easily see myself doing something like that when my time is done as well. I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I’m interested in running for Congress or this or that. And I had an opportunity to go to D.C. and meet with the National Republican Congressional Committee and decided in the end that I could make a bigger difference in Arizona by staying in the Legislature than by going to Washington, D.C. and being one of 435 people.

GC LIVING: What do you see in the future for this district? And if you could accomplish something for the district, what would it be?

TJ SHOPE: First off I am super optimistic. I mean, I don’t know how you couldn’t be optimistic in the direction of where this

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Continued from page 69 community and where this entire area is going.

For once, we are truly going to have job centers within the confines of our community. People are going to be able to not just make a living wage, but also above and beyond without having to drive more than 10 or 15 minutes from home. And that is a success story.

I think we’ll soon be able to say that Casa Grande or Maricopa or Coolidge and Eloy aren’t just bedroom communities. That means more time at home for parents that have kids. They don’t have to be on the road for an hour, to and from. That means more of a cohesive community. That means more of the sales tax dollars that currently go to Chandler or Phoenix when you buy a car will stay in our communities to help improve our fire departments or police departments or whatever entity you’re very interested in.

I am nothing but bullish on what’s happening right now. And as a native of this area, my dad’s side of the family came here in the early ‘50s, it’s something I think many of us have been looking forward to for a very long time.

And as far as the next big push, I’m a huge infrastructure guy and have become even more so. I’m vice chair of the Transportation and Technology Committee, and we need to make sure that our entire area is lit up with fast broadband internet.

It’s kind of like a highway. I mean, it’s almost exactly like a highway; everybody wants to be able to get to work in a quick amount of time in a safe manner. And if we want to attract even more jobs to this area, they’re going to have to have fast internet. Because these people are talking to people across the world, the jobs that we’re bringing in.

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CG Library Summer Reading Program Starts June 1

FUN

Worried about summer slide?

Want to keep your kids learning all summer long?

M

ark your calendars, because the 2022 Casa Grande Public Library Summer Reading Program is just around the corner. This fun and free educational program encourages kids to read 20 minutes a day all summer long for a chance to win weekly prizes and a free book from the Scholastic Book Fair.

This year’s theme encourages kids to read beyond the beaten path and to explore the great outdoors. From author readings and storytimes to nature events and family movies, the library will offer a variety of weekly programs just for kids, both indoors and outdoors, beginning June 1.

Keep up to date with the latest Summer Reading news by visiting our library website at www.casagrandeaz.gov/library or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cglibraryaz.

The Main Library is at 449 N. Drylake St., and the Vista Grande branch is at 1556 N. Arizola Road. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 520.421.8710.

See you all at the library this summer!

Main Library Mon – Fri 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vista Grande Library Mon – Fri 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

CONTINUED

CG Kicks Off Parks & Rec, Library Plan T

he City of Casa Grande has launched into a yearlong planning process for updating its Community Services Strategic Master Plan, beginning with a focus on community needs and park facilities.

The City’s Community Services Department includes five divisions: parks, recreation, golf, senior services and library. The document will set out policies and strategies for how the department can best serve the community over the next 10 to 15 years, based on residents’ and visitors’ input.

Officials said the process will require extensive public engagement

to determine the best use of its resources to bring people together.

According to the website created to act as a portal to the process, www. planyourparkscg.com: “We believe through Parks, Recreation & Libraries connections are made. We want to know how you want to connect to others, connect to nature and connect to our community.”

The City Council has contracted with PROS Consulting of Goodyear and Kimley-Horn of Phoenix to facilitate the process, officially launched during a Feb. 7 City Council meeting, with public participation beginning at a Feb. 16 community webinar.

Community Services Department Director Steve Hardesty said input will be gathered during this spring at several events, as well as throughout the process on the project website: • A statistically valid survey conducted in the community in March and April.

• Onsite surveys at community events including Easter activities and Public Safety Day. • Onsite surveys at the Main Library and Community Recreation Center throughout the spring.

• Online general surveys conducted in late spring.

• Dates for additional public meetings have not been set yet, but they will occur at several points while the plan is being developed: • May and June — Presentation of key public needs assessment findings.

• Mid- to late summer — Key technical findings.

• Fall — Recommendations and implementation plan.

• Late fall — Final plan for adoption.

Pinal Director … continued from page 85 He graduated from Casa Grande Union High School in 1993 before attending Central Arizona College and graduating from Northern Arizona University. He is a licensed with the American Institute of Certified Planners and a certified floodplain manager.

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His career trajectory has included project management, public works administration, transportation planning, community development, transit, utility management, economic development, floodplain administration, construction management and environmental

clearance documentation.

Billingsley also is a speaker on the topics of rural transit, project management, community development, SMART technologies, rural infrastructure finance, municipal management, leadership and the National Environmental Policy Act.

S P RI NG 2022

Pinal County Press ARIZONA CIT Y | CASA GRANDE | COOLIDGE | ELOY | FLORENCE | MARICOPA

CONTINUED

Besich Reappointed to National Committee

S

uperior Mayor Mila Besich has been reappointed by the National League of Cities to its Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) federal advocacy committee for 2022.

“I am honored to once again represent the Town of Superior on this important committee,” she said in a press release. “Serving on the EENR committee allows me the opportunity to affect policies that are important to our

community, state and nation, especially policies that relate to environmental policies and natural resource extraction.

“It is a distinct privilege to share our collective knowledge and experience with leaders across the nation.”

Besich was first elected mayor of Pinal County’s northeasternmost town in 2016.

“NLC’s federal advocacy committees are a key tool for gathering insights directly from the communities that our members serve,” said National League of Cities President Mayor Vince Williams of Union City, Georgia.

“I am excited to have Mayor Besich serve on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources committee and look forward to working with her to fulfill the promise of America’s cities, towns and villages.”

As a member of this 40-memercommittee, Mayor Besich will play a key role among a diverse group of local leaders in shaping policy positions and advocating on behalf of America’s municipalities before Congress, with the administration and at home, particularly around building sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

The leadership of this year’s EENR committee will consist of Chair Emily Larson, mayor, Duluth, Minnesota; Vice Chair Cindy Dyballa, councilmember, Takoma Park, Maryland; and Vice Chair Brian Jones, councilmember, Union City, Georgia.

Two other Arizonans also made the roster: Vice Mayor Jennifer Duff of Mesa and Councilmember Lauren Kuby of Tempe.

County Supervisor … continued from page 84 “I wish Coolidge had gotten to us a few hours earlier, we might have been able to come up with something to satisfy both Maricopa and Coolidge,” District 3 Supervisor Steve Miller said.

DISTRICT 2 The populated area represented by District 2 Supervisor Mike Goodman will shrink because of population growth. The district focusing on San Tan Valley and the parts of the Town of Queen Creek in Pinal will lose Magma and Johnson Ranch in San Tan Valley, while stretching almost to Florence Junction in the east to pick up a mostly unpopulated area.

GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

DISTRICT 3 Miller’s district will continue to be focused on Casa Grande but will also include larger most of Eloy and southern and eastern Coolidge, as well as all precincts on the Tohono O’Odham Nation.

DISTRICT 4 Represented by Jeff McClure, this district will no longer stretch from Maricopa in the northwest to Saddlebrooke in the southeast, where he lives. Instead it puts Saddlebrooke and Arizona City with the southern Copper Corridor cities of Oracle, San Manuel and Mammoth while

also jutting north to take in most of Florence, plus the Johnson Ranch and Magma developments in San Tan Valley.

DISTRICT 5 Supervisor Jeff Serdy will continue to represent Apache Junction, Gold Canyon and Queen Valley while taking on the northern Copper Corridor communities from Superior down to Winkelman.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCTS Only one map for the new Justice Court boundaries was proposed by the county, with only minor changes from the existing precincts, and it drew little comment from the public during the redistricting process.

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 97

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