Golden Corridor LIVING Late Summer 2021

LATE SUMMER 2021

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

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520.423.8250 | roxsells.com 1919 N. Trekell Rd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122 ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

FEATU R E S

56 THE 57 BEST OF PINAL COUNTY 60 67 ISSUE 90 95 96 Special Feature

Education

The

INTERVIEW

30 36 42 18

Best of Pinal: 2021 Services People Pets Food and Drink Lifestyle Shopping

Education: Back to School Jeremy Johns Creates Path to Save a Native Language Teaching the Divine Artist Within

Anthony Smith, President and CEO, Pinal Partnership

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CONTENTS BIZ

48 50

Traits That Lead to Phone Use While Driving Shared Struggles: A Casa Grande Attorney’s Deeply Personal Book

YOU

54, 82 58 72

Out & About Teachers Gain by Being Physically Active Get your Yard Ready for Outdoor Living

FUN

88 92

Find Old Arizona Along the Apache Trail Splash Down in Arizona’s Forest Lakes

Q&A

98

Maricopa Chamber of Commerce Award Winners

Canyon Lake, AZ

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Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, AZ. Blushing Cactus Photography LATE SU M M E R 2021

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1919 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

KAREN HENSON

Advertiser Index

911 Air Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Absolute Homes / Vivid Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Academy Mortgage - CG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 ACP Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Annie-Mac Home Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Elaine Earle, CPA

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Bea Lueck

SALES & MARKETING

AZ Quality Plumbing LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 AZ Valley Pools / AZVP Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Capital R Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Casa Grande Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Julie Turetzky

Casa Grande Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Jamie Brashier

Casa Grande Rent A Can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

John Stapleton

Central Arizona College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Director of Public Relations Advertising Executive Contributing Editor

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

CGI Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Aaron Tipton

Chris Buys AZ Houses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Shannon Price

Cindy Patterson Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Manda Corral

Coldwell Banker ROX - Property Management . . . . . . 9

Keith Dobie

Coldwell Banker ROX-BROKERAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 23, 75

Creative Director

Lead Graphic Designer Social Media Manager Social Media Coordinator

EDITORIAL

Cypress Point Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Christia Gibbons

Deadlift Coffee Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Blake Herzog

Fitzgibbons Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

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 Rd., Ste 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-426-2074

Grande Innovation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Honeycutt Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Hunter Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 J Warren Funeral Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 LaFond Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Maricopa Contractors LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Norris RV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Pinal County Economic Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Raymond Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Golden Corridor LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations. © 2021. 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.

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ROX Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 87 Seeds of Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Star Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Sun Life Family Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 59 Title Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Two Brothers Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Water And Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL SECTION:

LEADERS IN BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Showcase your accomplishments, successes and goals in the fall 2021 issue of Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE RESERVE YOURS TODAY! For more information: Email info@roxco.com or Sign-up Online: goldencorridorliving.com/leader

Hello We're

Elaine Earle Executive Publisher

Bea Lueck Associate Publisher

SALES & MARKETING

Julie Turetzky Director Public Relations

Jamie Wagner-Brashier Adverstising Executive

John Stapleton Contributing Editor

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Aaron Tipton Creative Director

Shannon Price Lead Designer ROX Team Members Not Pictured:

Blake Herzog Staff Writer

Keith Dobie Social Media Coordinator Christia Gibbons Senior Editor

ROXMediaGroup.net 12

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

Associate Publisher’s Letter

Back to School, Back to Life “Back to school” time has always been a time of preparation, taking note of what you need to stock up on after a summer of, in my case, playing with grandkids and raising chickens, often simultaneously.

Students from all ages and cohorts are preparing to re-enter a world they left not so long ago, with different schedules and expectations from what they’ve gotten used to over the past year or so.

Same as the rest of us.

We are all emerging from the compulsory cocoon we’ve been wrapped in, looking around for or giving our own cues on when to mask, whether to hug, to Zoom or not to Zoom. Just when we were getting the new rules down, there’s another set of new ones to navigate.

But both Back to School and Back to Life (with some tweaks) are shared experiences as we compare school shopping lists with other parents in the suddenly supersized school supplies section, students compare notes about teachers and everyone looks to business owners, medical experts, educators and other influencers for prompts on how to behave in our cautiously optimistic scenario.

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

In this issue, our special section on education has information from district and charter schools on what students and parents can expect from the fall semester. It also includes features on a high school wrestling program and an inspirational young man working for a doctorate from Yale University while teaching the native O’odham language to residents of the Ak-Chin Indian Community.

Our Best of Pinal section also is here to help you remember where you can go for food, entertainment and in-person services, now that we can again! We had a great reader turnout this year for our online voting in our Food & Drink, Shopping, People, Pets, Services and Lifestyle categories, and we hope you give our winning local businesses some of your time and disposable cash!

Here’s to new beginnings!

Bea Lueck

Associate Publisher, Golden Corridor LIVING

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 13

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

Craig McFarland Mayor, City of Casa Grande

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

Gigi McWhirter Resident Animal Whisperer

Loren and Melissa Shelton

Micah Powell Mayor, City of Eloy

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 15

PINAL COUNTY

AR IZO NA CIT Y | CASA G R AN D E | CO O L I D G E | ELOY | FLO R EN CE | MAR I CO PA| AR IZO NA CIT Y | CASA

Auto Mall Developer Plans CG Complex The company that’s built several of the Phoenix area’s large-scale auto parks is getting ready to bring the concept to Pinal County by transforming a former Sam’s Club building into Arizona’s largest indoor showroom.

Mullin360 has purchased the 17-acre property at the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande plus 9 more acres and would like to be open for business by early 2022, Executive Vice President Cecil Yates said.

Casa Grande AutoShow already has secured eight top automaker brands: Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC, drawing local dealers with a presence on Pinal Avenue, the city’s longtime auto row. The complex has room for two more, Yates said.

“I can’t name that now, because I have nothing in writing, but it’s exciting, the folks that we’re talking to,” he said.

All the dealers will be able to have full service departments onsite and are expected to add jobs as they move to the larger digs. Yates did not have an estimated number of new jobs.

Mullin360’s previous projects include the Scottsdale AutoShow, Tempe Autoplex, 303 AutoShow in Surprise and Penske North Scottsdale 101 Auto Collection. Yates said the dealerships will ultimately own their property in the Casa Grande location, as they do in the others.

“Our founder of the company, Jim Mullen, has always liked the Casa Grande market and has been watching that for a while,” Yates said. “And in the development world we kind of say land or projects come to us because the market kind of dictates that. And an opportunity came up where that Sam’s Club decided to close their doors.”

Courtesy of of Mullin360

That happened in January 2018, and Mullin360 purchased the land in April 2021. Yates said the project has cleared the City of Casa Grande zoning process and is now obtaining site plan approvals and building permits. It will include new buildings and updated landscaping, but the vacant building and highway pylon sign will be repurposed.

Having served as a city councilman and zoning commissioner in his

Midwest hometown, Yates said, “I can’t stress enough how exciting it is when you get a project like this, that you can buy a big, old building and refurbish it.

There’s nothing better that a city loves.”

Although auto buyers are doing a lot of online research these days, Yates said the actual shopping and purchasing process is expected to stay with physical dealerships for the most part.

More news on page 52…

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

PRESS

LATE SUMMER 2021 | FOR THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS VISIT GOLDENCORRIDORLIVING.COM Stories by Blake Herzog

A G R AN D E | CO O L I D G E | ELOY | FLO R EN CE | MAR I CO PA| AR IZO NA C IT Y | CASA G R AN D E | CO O L I D G E

Water Study Digs for Data, Solutions Arizona’s water supplies are coming under greater scrutiny, with a high likelihood of a first-tier shortage being declared on the Colorado River in August due to the historic drought. If that happens, the state will lose more than 500,000 acre-feet of its annual allocation.

Pinal County farmers are the first major group of Arizona water users in line to have their supply of river water severely cut under the shortage, and are scheduled to lose all of it by 2030. As a result, some agricultural users are drilling wells to get water for their crops.

This has major implications for the area’s groundwater table, which already supports most residential and industrial users and is projected to not be able to meet the demand from the county’s rapid population and economic growth over the next century.

GROUNDWATER BASIN STUDY A Pinal Partnership-led study of the groundwater basin is less than a year away from its expected completion, which will include recommendations on how to

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

conserve supplies as well as possible new sources.

Jake Lenderking of Global Water Inc., one of the basin study’s managers, said he’s not looking toward a time when western Pinal is expected to simply run out of water.

“I don’t anticipate we’re actually going to run out of it, the idea is to make it more sustainable. We do see aquifer levels dropping, potentially pretty deep in some areas. I think it could have some impacts, but I wouldn’t say we’re going to run out of water,” he said.

The in-depth analysis, funded by a $1.86 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), is compiling data on the groundwater table below Maricopa and Stanfield in the west and Florence and Coolidge in the east, covering about 1,575 square miles.

The study, known as the Eloy and Maricopa-Stanfield Basin Study, is running current and updated data about the groundwater table through several scenarios based on different levels of population growth, agricultural activity and

climate change through the year 2060, while looking at strategies for conservation and possible new sources of water.

Launched in November 2018, the study is set to wrap up in May 2022.

“It has been a lengthy process but, very thorough.

I am confident that it will help us understand and lead water management in Pinal County for years to come,” Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said.

How much more development there will be is in question because the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) in late 2019 declared a moratorium on new certificates of 100-year water supply for projects seeking approval in the county.

Projections show an 8.1 million acre-foot shortfall of “unmet demand” for currently approved projects through the year 2115.

Lenderking is senior vice president of water resources and legislative affairs for Global Water, the water utility serving the City of Maricopa and other parts of Pinal County.

Global Water and BOR are part of the team Pinal Partnership assembled to donate time and resources to the study, along with the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Project, Pinal County, the cities of Casa Grande and Eloy and other entities. continued on page 70…

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 17

The

INTERVIEW

Anthony Smith

President and CEO, Pinal Partnership Interview by Bea Lueck GC LIVING: Tell me where you were born and raised, and a little bit about your family.

Tony Smith: I was born in Muncie, Indiana, and I grew up in a suburb of Indianapolis that was about 12,000 people, very small-town atmosphere, and it seemed like we lived the best of that life. I had a great childhood.

We had a family with five boys — I was the fourth. We had a ton of fun growing up, with the challenges of an average working-class family. My dad worked for the post office and my mom was a nurse. So we all had to learn to cook and do our own laundry. We had a busy household, a working mom, and so we all had our assigned domestic chores.

We learned to cook and do our own laundry before we left the house. I had similar criteria for my own children, I wanted them to have a driver’s license, be able to cook and do their own laundry. If they accomplish that, there's a good possibility they won't need to come back home to live. Well that's the way it worked for me and my children.

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

GC LIVING: Where did you go to college?

Tony Smith: Purdue University.

I went at the Indianapolis extension, so I did not go to West Lafayette, where their main campus is located, but I’m still a very passionate Purdue fan. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction technology. This was in the mid-70s and the business environment was just terrible.

There was not much happening in construction, so I followed the engineering route and worked for a couple of firms doing civil engineering type work.

Then I started working for Public Service Indiana. I started working for them in project controls and project management. For the next 20, 25 years kind of an expert in schedule control for a number of projects, mostly in the power industry. I worked on several construction projects in the Midwest, eventually joining Illinois Power and relocating my family to Decatur, Illinois where I helped finish building the new Clinton Nuclear Station and staying for a couple of refueling outages.

Arizona City Session Tony Smith: I lived there until 1997, working for the power company except from 1995 to 1997 when I did some freelance contracting work at some other major construction projects around the country. In 1997, Motorola contacted me and wanted to know if I would be interested in coming to Phoenix to work. I always wanted to come to Arizona; I vacationed in Arizona during one of the very, very hot Julys a couple years earlier. I understood what I was getting into regarding the heat, but I absolutely loved the different look of Arizona, and it just kind of fascinated me, so I relocated my family.

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 19

The

INTERVIEW

My oldest daughter was I think 19 and engaged at that time, so she stayed in Illinois, but the two other children joined me and my wife in Arizona in 1997. I worked for Motorola on a number of projects until 2007. In 2007, I knew I had around 10 or 15 years left in my working life and I wanted to find something fun and interesting to do, so I left Motorola and thought I was going to do some consulting and contracting like I had shortly before 1997.

Then the economy went south big time and crashed, and I happened to be on the City of Maricopa’s planning and zoning

commission as the chairman and Mayor Kelly Anderson suggested I run for mayor. I was really going to be content just to run for city council. I loved the idea of working with him and the other council members, but he thought I had what it took to be mayor.

I thought, “Well, I don’t think this will ever come around again. So why don’t I do it?” Fortunately, I had gotten my finances and my debts pretty much taken care of because I was going from a six-figure salary down to $10,000 a year, and that was quite a stretch.

GC LIVING: But the hours would be the same.

Tony Smith: Yes, that’s true. These jobs as public servants are really what you make it to be. Being a mayor was quite an experience, but I thought looking back that I was the right guy for the right time because my profession and project management, and understanding strategic planning, and putting things together, and being kind of an action-oriented guy was just what Maricopa needed at the time.

Even though we were going into the recession and the housing bust, I think there were a lot of things that I brought to the mayor’s office regarding being able to strategically think as far as what the city needed and where we needed to go in the next two to four years. I put those into practice. I worked with the city manager and that fall, after I was sworn in, we did our first strategic planning session and got everybody on the same page regarding where we wanted to go for the next two to five years.

GC LIVING: Now, that was about five years after the city incorporated, when you took office, correct?

Tony Smith: That’s true. Nancy and I moved to Maricopa in July 2003 shortly before we

I absolutely loved the different look of Arizona, and it just kind of fascinated me, so I relocated my family.

Anthony with wife Nancy

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

Enjoying a social evening Maricopa incorporated later that year in October. When I took office in June 2008, the city was very, very young, and for the entire four years I was in there, we existed in trailers and temporary facilities, but that was OK. We knew what we wanted to do. It was quite a challenge building a city from scratch, with all the various challenges that you have in transportation, economic development. And even through the recession, we

were still growing in population.

Now, it seemed like we turned our population or a portion of it, over a number of times with people moving in and moving out, but we were able to rally the city around just keeping our neighborhoods nice and our property values up as much as we could.

We planned for the future.

Land prices prior to the recession were just skyrocketing, just like they are today. We had a limited amount of budget, we were a

new city, but when the recession was in full effect and the land prices dropped, we were able to make many strategic purchases.

That’s where we were able to buy property for Copper Sky Regional Park — that’s a beautiful facility — and also buy property for where the City Hall was built. I was able to break ground for a number of those projects, but the ribboncutting I left to the next mayor, Mayor (Christian) Price.

At the time the mayor’s term was two years, and I did two terms, whereas now the mayor’s term is four years. So I did the four years and I thought what I get done as mayor, and my approach to public service, and the skills that I had, would work very nicely with the county. Because of the increased population, Pinal County went from three supervisors to five supervisors.

Supervisor District 4 was one of the two new supervisor districts. I won the 2012 election and started my service as county supervisor in January 2013.

District 4 is really a weird shape, kind of like a huge "L", about 115 miles from one end to the other that has about nine very different communities. Some of them were Continued on page 46

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

Angel A. Raymond, Esq.

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 21

CITY SPEAK

City of Casa Grande

Casa Grande Welcomes Return to Life as COVID Abates

by Craig McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people worldwide and remains the worst public health crisis faced in the United States in over a century.

More than 33 million Americans contracted COVID-19 with 882,691 cases landing in Arizona.

Over 590,000 Americans have lost their lives including 17,653 Arizonans. Nearly 900 of them were Pinal County residents.

A trending decrease in virus caseload has finally taken hold nationally along with an upward tick of local vaccinations. In turn, the City of Casa Grande rescinded the mask mandate effective June 2021.

I am proud of how Casa Grande residents came together to create a significant decline in the number of cases. As more get vaccinated, we will get closer to achieving responsible herd immunity.

In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations including local business and workplace guidance.

While this order rescinds the requirement for face coverings in City-owned facilities, the City Court remains subject to the direction of the Arizona Supreme Court and Superior Court of Pinal County and may continue requiring face coverings on and in its premises.

Nothing in this new order affects requirements for wearing face coverings in public transportation or as otherwise currently required by federal law or regulation.

Craig McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

Restaurants have resumed full-capacity dining without restrictions, and events are no longer limited to size or mitigation measures. City libraries, parks and recreation centers have returned to normal business hours.

Residents have resumed in-person attendance at City Council, Boards and Commission meetings.

The moratorium on late fees for unpaid utility billings and shutoffs has expired, as well as the extension of pet or business licenses.

Businesses still may set their own stricter standards for masking and social distancing or refuse access to anyone not in compliance with their private standards.

Folks who have yet to receive vaccinations are still urged to wear face coverings and physically distance, according to the CDC. I urge all citizens to continue to practice good hygiene and to remain socially aware and conscious of the continued presence of the virus in our community. It’s up to all of us to make sure we continue to succeed.

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

LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPE

C I A L F E AT U R E

Why use a Realtor when buying a new home?

When buying a brand-new home from a builder, they have someone looking out for their best interest - their sales agent. Shouldn't you, the buyer, have someone looking out for yours?

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CITY SPEAK

City of Coolidge

Our Community Provides Good Start to School Year

by Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

A

s our students head back to school, the City of Coolidge and partners work to keep our children’s safety and well-being in mind.

drive. Friends of the Coolidge Public Library help our children receive quality school supplies to help ease the financial burden many parents face as the school year approaches.

Today’s students are our future leaders. They will step into an everincreasing technological workforce, become active members of society and help their community and future generations as their parents and grandparents have.

This is why we make our youth so important in Coolidge.

Additionally, with the assistance from the Pappas Foundation, our Coolidge Police Department helps distributes backpacks full of supplies. These organizations, along with our library and police staff tirelessly help our kids get the resources they need. It’s this strong commitment from our dedicated staff and community that makes Coolidge a great place to live.

In 2015, the City Council started an advisory panel called the Coolidge Youth Council. Members ranging in age from 13 to 18 come from all Coolidge schools.

They advise the City Council on important issues concerning youth.

They are an incredible inspiration to watch — these young minds come up with some great ideas to strengthen our community.

Another way our community rallies behind our schoolchildren is a Back-to-School School Supply

24

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

Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

crosswalks, parking spaces and general roadways — the reflective nature of the paint and brightly white strips helps ensure vehicles know where important stops are located.

Our Police Department also helps schools prepare to serve the community. Each year, our officers make sure school zones remain safe and drivers are paying attention to signage and speed. This is just way our Police Department works with our schools to make children safe.

Back to School is an important date for many families here in Coolidge, and I am proud of the outpouring of support our community provides. The City staff, organizations and parents have and always will play a key role in helping children get off to a great school-year start.

Public Works employees also take part in the Back to School season.

Their paint striping trucks can be seen throughout the City re-striping

I applaud all the community efforts to improve our schools and the ability for a child in Coolidge to receive a great education!

LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE DINING & ADVENTURE

There’s so much more in

@ExplorePinalCounty | www.pinal.gov |

@ExplorePinalCounty |

@ExplorePinal

CITY SPEAK

City of Eloy

Eloy Schools Offer Great Opportunities Dear fellow residents, Thank you parents, teachers and especially students as we have made it through the first half of 2021, culminating with a return to a more normal high school graduation season.

We are ready to face a new school year with many students who will experience a hybrid attendance system — even if attendance is mandatory.

I believe the pandemic will prove itself as an existential change in every part of our lives, including how we educate our youth. From attending your nearest public school as in the past, there are now private schools, charter schools, online learning platforms, and for many, home schooling is on the rise.

Right here, we have the Toltec elementary and Casa Grande elementary school districts; the Santa Cruz Valley Union and Casa Grande Union High school districts; and the Villa Oasis Interscholastic Center for Education administered by the Mary C O’Brien Accommodation District.

Micah Powell, Mayor, City of Eloy

From these districts, numerous students have achieved their dreams. Among them: •

Levi Jones was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft; he also played for the Washington Redskins.

•

Benny Malone was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and later played for the Oakland Raiders.

•

Ricky Nelson was selected by the Seattle Mariners and later managed the Oakland Athletics’ entry in the Arizona Fall League, leading them to the league championship.

•

Paul Ray Powell was the first round pick of the Minnesota Twins followed by a long and successful career in real estate.

•

Anna Marie Chavez attended Yale University and the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, was admitted to the bar

of the Arizona Supreme Court, the bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and, ultimately, the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2009, she was appointed CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, where she served until 2016.

•

Garye Vasquez attended Central Arizona College, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. In 2006, he was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals and selected as Chief Judge of Division Two of the Arizona Court of Appeals.

We have made it through 2020; let’s use our newly learned skills, resources and tenacity to achieve the best versions of ourselves.

Here’s to a fun, exciting, successful 2021 fall semester.

26

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

—

Eloy Mayor Micah Powell

LATE SU M M E R 2021

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CITY SPEAK

Town of Superior

Grateful to Survive the Telegraph Fire

by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior Our small community of Superior has been experiencing a once-in-alifetime renaissance, an exciting time of transition and improvement, and one that I am honored to help lead.

We entered the month of June knowing that fire danger would be extreme and temperatures would be higher than normal.

What no one could have imagined is that a human-caused brush fire that started south of Superior would consume and char so many acres of Arizona’s majestic and unique ecosystems.

We anxiously await the reports from U.S. Forest Service officials on which areas will still be accessible to recreation. It is truly a tremendous loss that one of the most distinct and recognized sections of the

Arizona Trail National Scenic Trail has been damaged.

While the Telegraph Fire has created new challenges for Superior and our region, we remain committed to being a resilient, innovative community. The chess board we have been playing on has been flipped over and the pieces have been scattered across the room, but as true champions, we are carefully putting the pieces back onto the board, knowing we still have many beautiful landscapes surrounding us and that our beloved Boyce Thompson Arboretum was saved from the ravages of the fire.

Thankfully, all homes and businesses are intact and everyone is safe.

Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior The biggest help anyone can give us is to continue to visit Superior and the Copper Corridor. There are still many special areas to recreate once the Tonto National Forest is re-opened. Segments of the Legends of Superior Trails within Town limits are still open, and our many local businesses and restaurants are open and ready to serve you, including the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Our Second Friday events resume in July and will continue monthly throughout the year. During July and August there will be an additional special event at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum-Arb After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m., which features evening hours at the park, light food and adult beverages for a special ticket price. Businesses in Downtown Superior will stay open until 8 p.m., and there will be Music in the Park until 9 p.m. each Second Friday.

We are forever grateful for every single firefighter, pilot, incident commander and everyone who supported the operations.

Please visit our website at: www.superiorarizona.com; you can purchase tickets for the Arb After Hours at www.btarboretum. org/events-calendar

Photo: Mila Besich 28

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

Together, we are Superior!

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Out & About Send us your photos! facebook.com/goldencorridorliving

To submit images of area events, people, pets and scenery for consideration: please post on our Facebook page or email to: photos@roxco.com

Photo: Blushing Cactus Photography

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 29

Special Feature

EDUCATION

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

Back to School: Expect (Mostly) the Expected

by Blake Herzog

A

s students return to school after the most unusual and unpredictable academic year any of us hope to see in our lifetimes, district and charter schools are planning to keep routines as smooth as possible for the large majority choosing in-person campus learning.

They are also providing options for students and parents who are more comfortable with online learning, as well as some safety protocols to prevent transmission of any COVID-19 or other viruses still circulating in the community.

As of late June 255 students out of a total of about 6,700 have registered for the Maricopa Virtual Academy, a continuation of the 2020-21 school year’s K-12 online instruction.

“I think most of them are ready to get back to some kind of normal; really that’s what we’re hearing from our parents,” says Dawn Hodge, superintendent of Coolidge Unified School District. “And we are offering that fully online option for those families that are not comfortable with coming back in person.”

The online options will be provided via the Edgenuity platform for K-8 students and Grad Point for grades 9-12.

As of mid-June parents were beginning to register their kids for the coming semester. Hodge estimates about 10% of students will remain online.

Dr. Tracey Lopeman, superintendent of Maricopa Unified School District, says as of late June 255 students out of a total of about 6,700 have registered for the Maricopa Virtual Academy, a continuation of the 2020-21 school year’s K-12 online instruction.

“Many families realized this model works well for their lifestyle and now have the option to continue the learningat-home experience,” she adds. The district is recommending the program for students who are self-motivated, homeschooled, gifted or “on the go.”

Patty Messer, executive director/founder of Grande GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 31

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION Innovation Academy in Casa Grande, says the charter school has been authorized for an online academy for grades 4-8, but “we only have about 15 students of 900 wanting online next year.”

Safety protocols Lopeman says the Maricopa district is “in the process of evaluating mitigation strategies to align with updated guidance from federal, state, and county agencies. We anticipate maintaining elevated cleaning standards and hygiene measures, along with optional maskwearing and social distancing when possible.”

Hodge says masks will be optional in the Coolidge district this year, and officials will be following Centers for Disease Control recommendations when it comes to sanitation. “We will continue with our sanitation and disinfection procedures several times throughout the day, whether it’s a self-contained classroom or students move from class to class.”

She adds: “We can’t technically socially distance with all students back in person, but we’ll do the best we can to limit class sizes as possible.”

Messer says Grande Innovation Academy’s cleaning crew has been expanded to five full-time staffers, and bathrooms will be cleaned every hour along with all touchable surfaces.

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“We installed Spectra Lights, which kill germs on surfaces. Masks are optional,” she says.

Catching up The Maricopa and Coolidge districts and Grande Innovation Academy will all have additional instruction available for students to recover from any learning loss encountered during the pandemic.

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Pinal County School Schedules 2021-2022 School Year CASA GRANDE

FLORENCE

School or District Name

Start Date

Website

School or District Name

Start Date

Website

Casa Grande Elementary School District #4

July 26

www.cgesd.org/

Florence Unified School District

July 21

https://www.fusdaz.com/

July 26

www.cguhsd.org/vistagrandehighschool_ home.aspx

Aug 2

www.grandeinnovationacademy.com

July 19

https://casagrande.legacytraditional.org

Logos Christian

Aug 17

https://logosclassical.org

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School



https://stanthonycgschool.org

Casa Grande Union High School District #82 Grande Innovation Academy Legacy Traditional School

CITY OF MARICOPA

COOLIDGE School or District Name Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) Coolidge Unified School District Imagine Schools Coolidge Elementary

Eloy Elementary School District Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District #840

Start Date

Website

Maricopa Unified School District

July 22

https://www.musd20.org/

A+ Charter Schools Heritage Academy Holsteiner Agricultural

July 26 July 21

https://aplusaz.org/school-calendar/ https://heritageacademyaz.com



Start Date

Website

Leading Edge

Aug 2

https://leadingedgeacademy.com/ maricopa/

July 19

https://www.cavitschools.com/ Home

Legacy Traditional School

July 19

https://drive.google.com/ file/d/1ftYAT3zuprOyGcp57NgZXj8CtN3jTKQ9/view

Sequoia Pathway

July 22

https://www.sequoiapathway.org/##

Aug 2 

http://www.coolidgeschools. org/ https://www.imaginecoolidge. org

SUPERIOR

ELOY School or District Name

School or District Name

Start Date

Website

July 19

https://www.eloyesd.org/

Aug 2

https://www.scvuhs.org/ 

ELOY & ARIZONA CITY School or District Name

Start Date

Website

Toltec School District #22

July 26

https://www.toltecsd.org/

School or District Name

Start Date

Website

Superior Unified School District

Aug 4

https://www.superiorusd.org/

Start date not yet available at time of publication

All dates are subject to change.

Please check your school's website for the most up-to-date information.

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

CAC Joins with Amazon to Offer Cloud Computing Skills

by Angela Askey, Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

L

ifelong Learning of Central Arizona College announced its participation in AWS Academy, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) program that provides higher education institutions with a ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum. Students can enroll in courses that will prepare them to pursue careers in the fastgrowing cloud computing space and industry-recognized AWS certifications.

Lifelong Learning has joined the AWS Academy program to offer the AWS Academy Cloud Foundations course to students starting summer 2021.

The AWS Academy curriculum is developed and maintained by AWS subject matter experts, ensuring it reflects current services and upto-date best practices. Courses are taught by AWS Academyaccredited educators trained by AWS to help students become proficient in AWS technology.

“We are proud to make the AWS Academy curriculum available to our students,” says Joel Beck, director of lifelong learning. “The rapid rise of computing is creating a growing number of high-quality jobs at organizations around the world, and the technical skills that students develop through this

program will position them well for their careers today and in the future.”

Central Arizona College Campuses are Open CAC re-opened its campus doors and welcomed back all students and community members on May 3rd. Students are welcome to receive in-person assistance from staff for registration and any questions about the Summer or Fall 2021 schedule. Even though campuses are open, a majority of the classes will remain online or in a synchronous format for the remainder of the semester and for summer semester.

To see other ways we’re reopening safely for all students, staff, and community members, visit centralaz.edu/caccares

Welcome Back, Vaqueros!

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

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Back To School: Post-COVID Edition Dr. Neha Chaundhary’s 7 recommenda�ons for preparing your kids to return to in-person learning this fall:

Plan Ahead

Boost your kid’s confidence by reviewing your school’s safety precau�ons together, and plan for when rules change or accidents occur.

Talk About Worries

Call a family mee�ng where your kid can talk about their fears, worries, and excitement.

Anticipate Some Nerves

Prac�ce reframing worries into truthful statements. i.e. “I’m scared I am going to get sick, but I know that I am doing all that I can to stay healthy by wearing a mask and social distancing.”

Check in on Mental Health Proactively

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician or mental health professionals if your kid is not handling this transi�on well.

Don’t Expect Immediate Change Set realis�c expecta�ons and be pa�ent in establishing a new groove.

Stay Adaptable

Things will remain dynamic for a while. Be flexible.

Be Present & Consistent

Kids need stability, especially during this �me of change. Be present, predictable, and consistent.

Family Support, Substance Misuse Preven�on and Treatment Referrals Casa Grande Alliance

280 W. McMurry Blvd.

Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-836-5022 www.CasaGrandeAlliance.com Facebook: CGAlliance | Twi�er: @CG_Alliance GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 35

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

Johns with state certified O’odham language teachers Front row- Jeremy Johns, Lusan Enos (cert), Lerline Peters (cert), Velacita Lopez (cert), Gabriel Lopez(Ak-Chin Tribal Council).

Back Row-Darlene Smith-Raibon(Education Director, Ak-Chin), Lesha Vincent(Language Dept, Ak-Chin)

Jeremy Johns Creates Path to Save a Native Language

by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor

J

eremy Johns says his early childhood on the Ak-Chin Indian Community reservation was filled with great experiences and memories. Time was spent walking to the store with friends, buying snacks, hanging out at the park after school, and his summers were spent at the community center pool. The sun dropping over the western horizon meant it was time to go in, and Johns says he can still hear the voice of his mother calling from the front porch that dinner was ready.

“I always think of Ak-Chin as home because it’s where I’m from, where I was raised and where I made the best memories,” he says.

Nowadays, Johns is thousands of miles away from home earning his doctorate and studying linguistics at 36

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

Yale University. He was the first tribal member to be accepted into an Ivy League school. His mission: to help dispel negative cultural stereotypes while preserving and teaching his native O’odham language.

“There’s a common assumption that culture and language are somehow separable,” Johns says.

“For us as O’odham, they exist within each other. What we call our ‘himdag’ encompasses all aspects of O’odham epistemology, ontology and axiology, and language is deeply rooted in our ‘himdag’ as a means by which we can perfectly express all aspects of our unique cultural and societal composition.

“To us, language and culture are inextricable from one another.

Many of the difficulties that exist in maintaining and promoting language and culture fall out of

historical language oppression as a result of assimilationist policies beginning in the late 1800s that promoted the idea of ‘kill the Indian, save the man,’ at its core was meant to replace indigenous beliefs, practices and ways of being with Western Eurocentric cultural norms. This included psychological conditioning to accept English as a superior language.”

Further, “There are still many side effects of this era that are being dealt with in modern Native communities. This often intersects with modern sociological issues of language dominance and linguistic privilege such that language shift may be covertly, or in some cases overtly, facilitated through language policy and practice.

“When you learn a foreign language in high school, for LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION example, there’s a real possibility you’ll be able to go to a community or country where that language is spoken and be able to put into practice what you learned in class. When you’re learning a language that was formerly spoken in your own home, those same opportunities become less available as a result of language shift. And that shift feeds back into sociolinguistic oppression and discrimination as common undercurrents in language attrition.

“All this is to say that there are a number of internal and external factors that contribute to the uphill battle of language reclamation, but there is a real commitment communitywide to retain our cultural and linguistic heritage. I’m doing my part to help with that effort through teaching. However, the language isn’t mine alone and I would never purport to be an authority on the language, i.e., I don't feel that I am or should be the only one doing something.

Rather, the language is part of our collective cultural heritage.

It belongs to all O’odham, which also means we all equally bare the responsibility to teach, learn and maintain it.”

The shift, or “language split” referred to happens over multiple generations, Johns says. While in immigrant families this is the “norm,” they also have the ability to return to their ancestor’s homeland to get a taste of the original culture and language. Indigenous people do not have this option.

“We still have lots of speakers of the language but demographically they tend to be older, while younger generations primarily learn English first,” Johns says. “If that trend continues and nothing is done to reverse it, the shift will be complete in the next few generations.”

Johns says that during “our parents’ generation, people were still learning and using the language as their first language but more English language influence was being imported through schooling and mainstream media.

“In my generation, the scales really tipped. English was used the majority of the time and O’odham was only used or heard in more specific contexts. Much of this shift had and has to do with diglossic patterns in language use and perceived sociolinguistic prestige.

Jeremy Johns with Tohono O'odham Community College colleagues, Ron Geronimo (Dir. Tohono O’odham Studies, TOCC) and Dwayne Pierce (Tohono O’odham History Instructor, TOCC).

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

“One aspect of language rights commonly discussed in the context of linguistic minorities is the right to receive an education in one’s heritage language,” Johns says.

Lots of people stopped teaching their children the language because they were forced to speak English in school, older generations were punished for it and we still have elders who can tell you exactly how, and people were led to believe that O’odham was an ‘inferior’ language and if they wanted to succeed they not only needed English, but using any other language would hinder their ability to speak English correctly.

“You sometimes hear some parents say they just wanted to save their children from the hardships they endured by being non-native English speakers.

Although linguists today know that speaking more than one language as a child isn’t at all detrimental, some argue that childhood is actually the most optimal time to learn another language, some of these sentiments still exist.”

The key to preservation is through education. John's own path has been challenging at times. His mother, Carla Carlyle, says Johns was headed down the wrong path as a teenager. She sat down with her son and made the difficult choice of pulling him from the hometown high school with his

Continued on 39 GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 37

CITY SPEAK

City of Maricopa

Maricopa Welcomes Second MUSD High School

by City of Maricopa Economic and Community Development Department

T

he last few years have been extremely kind to one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. The City of Maricopa has seen a boom in its recent housing development, approving approximately 300 new housing permits every month over the last year and with it, an influx of new families and educational needs.

practice fields with artificial turf, grandstands and bleachers, a fully functioning gymnasium with wood floors and junior varsity baseball and softball fields.

More than 2,000 students currently attend Maricopa High School, which prompted the school facilities board to approve over $22 million for a highly anticipated second high school that broke ground May 7, 2021.

MUSD Superintendent Dr. Tracey Lopeman points to the commitment of builders Chasse Building Team: “Our construction partners have maximized every dollar to ensure our second high school is delivered on time and within budget, consistent with the Governing Board’s philosophy and expectation. This outside-the-box strategy saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the trees will be recycled with zero waste. It is a win-win strategy that demonstrates fiscal management and responsible usage of natural resources.”

The Maricopa Unified School District had specific goals for this new facility to ensure flexibility, quality and future campus growth.

Built on over 125,000-squarefeet of space, the school’s design includes multiple-story classroom buildings, football and

Plans for expansion already have been considered and include a complete football stadium as well as a competition running track.

The new high school is set to accommodate nearly 1,400 new students in time for the fall 2022 school year. Additional expansion plans can increase capacity by more than 50%, which will make this the biggest high school in the city.

More than 2,000 students currently attend Maricopa High School.

Photos: Mayor Christian Price and Chasse Building Team

38

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

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Continued from 37

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

"When you learn a foreign language in high school, for example, there’s a real possibility you’ll be able to go to a community or country where that language is spoken and be able to put into practice what you learned in class. When you’re learning a language that was formerly spoken in your own home, those same opportunities become less available as a result of language shift." friends and putting him into the Phoenix school district. Carlyle, a single mother, made the daily 120-mile commute with morning and afternoon round-trips, all while working on the Ak-Chin reservation.

“Transporting him to and from school was a bit of a challenge,” Carlyle says. “No buses from the Valley came out to Maricopa at the time so this is what we did. I would drive Jeremy to Mountain Pointe in Phoenix every morning, return to my workplace in Ak-Chin, take my lunch hour back to Phoenix to pick him up after school, return him home and continue to finish out my workday.

This was our new normal routine for a couple of years until he was able to obtain his drivers license.”

communities. That’s always been the impetus behind me pursuing higher education, finding something that interests me and that I’m good at and finding some way that I can put whatever I learn to use for the good of the community.”

The big goal is for a school dedicated to the O’odham language and culture.

“One aspect of language rights commonly discussed in the context of linguistic minorities is the right to receive an education in one’s heritage language,” Johns says.

“A long-term goal of mine is to see a school open where O’odham

students can not only learn the language, but learn subject material through the language. Another goal is to encourage younger O’odham individuals to take up the scientific study of our language.

“My wish is that the research that I do now will be learned from, drawn upon, scrutinized and challenged by future O’odham linguists — because even if they’re proving me wrong, they’re still studying, analyzing and documenting the linguistic intricacies of our language which means I won’t be the last to do so.

And hopefully that will spark a new tradition that will continue on for many generations after me.”

Johns’ college years started in Hawaii. He graduated from the University of Manoa with a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics and Spanish. He then returned to the Ak-Chin community as a technician in the language department and continued his education at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, respectively, obtaining his master’s in American Indian Studies and his masters in linguistics.

Johns would also take on teaching roles during these years at Tohono O’odham Community College and the Tucson Indian Center. Johns says he hopes to graduate with his Ph.D. from Yale in the coming years.

“Education is a big part of the community I grew up in,” he says.

“It’s really common among Native students that we often get degrees to come home and use them in our GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

Jeremy with his mom, Carla Carlyle GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 39

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

Tips for Going Back to School Post COVID-19

by Sara Hamilton, CGA Family Engagement Specialist VISTA - Cactus Middle School

I

t’s time to start preparing your children to return to the schoolroom, but this year it will entail more than simply buying school supplies. As in-person instruction has been disrupted for more than a year, it is important to prepare your kids mentally to go back into the classroom.

Dr. Neha Chaudhary, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, offers seven recommendations for preparing your children to return to onsite learning in an article she wrote for CNN: 1. Plan ahead — Boost your children’s confidence by reviewing their school’s safety precautions together. Plan for when rules change or accidents occur.

2. Talk about worries — Call a family meeting where your children can talk about their fears, worries and excitement.

3. Anticipate some nerves — Practice reframing worries into truthful statements. For example: “I’m scared I am going to get sick, but I know that I am doing all that I can to stay healthy by wearing a mask and social distancing.”

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4. Check in on mental health — Do not hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician or mental health professionals if your child is not handling the transition well.

5. Don’t expect immediate change — Set realistic expectations and be patient in establishing a new groove.

6. Stay adaptable — Things will remain dynamic for a while.

Be flexible.

As in-person instruction has been disrupted for more than a year, it is important to prepare your kids mentally to go back into the classroom.

7. Be present, consistent — Children need stability, especially during this time of change. Be present, predictable and consistent.

See Chaudhary’s full article at www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/health/ returning-to-school-after-covidwellness/index.html Remember to use your resources! If you are unsure how to best implement these practices or are having a hard time handling the transition yourself, reach out to a representative from your child’s school (such as a counselor) or a therapist.

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 41

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

Teaching the Divine Artist from Within

by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor

E

ven though she loved art and had aspirations to become an artist, Nichole Kluth says she didn’t believe anyone could make a career of it. The great ones she learned about in school; all long gone and part of museum tours.

“My only option was to teach it, which I settled in my heart as an option,” Kluth says. “A series of decisions redirected me to a different path, and aside from the occasional scrapbook night with girlfriends, a holiday craft, or a sewing project, the idea of art had completely slipped out of my heart and mind.”

Among the different paths — marriage and motherhood. Kluth says she used them as an excuse when it came to time and energy to put into her craft. However in 2014, Kluth had one of those moments that would bring her back to her dream.

“I had called and scheduled one of those private paint parties for my mom’s birthday, anticipating just another craft-type affair,” she says. “Little did I know, on this night as I smelled oil paint for the first time, it would birth a dream that would only lend itself to dreaming bigger, gifting me with abundant passion, divine purpose and a clear vision.”

From that moment, Kluth began her professional life as an artist from taking classes to selling her own work. In 2020, her dreams pushed her further and in the midst of the pandemic, she opened the Divine Art Institute, teaching those who had inquired about her techniques.

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION “My goals were to create a space to teach both drawing and painting to every age level and every experience level,” Kluth says. “I wanted a safe space for individuals to create without judgment regardless of their age, skill set or limitations. I wanted to cultivate world-changing art created by world-changing artists.

I wanted a place for professionals to further their learning, to try a new technique, and enjoy a creative space to push the envelope with their work.”

The Studio offers workshops for those who want to give a class a try and a weekly proficiency program for those who want to study further.

“It’s a joy and privilege to teach both the young and young at heart. We are created to create — it is within us,” Kluth says. “A child needs art in their lives. While it provides both advances in fine motor skills for holding pencils and brushes and building muscle memory in the left brain understanding steps and following directions, the right brain is activated and children are free to explore their emotions, their imagination and simply ‘be’ without reservation.”

Kluth says one of her favorite aspects is to watch children teaching older students. Most classes are for ages 8 and up. Kluth says the younger artists help the older ones break free and get back to that creative side they once had as a child.

“As adults, we have so much to unlearn in our left brain that inhibits our creative flow in the right brain,” she says.

Art Show Closes Age Gap

Nichole Kluth says she witnessed the “generational gap” disappear as the school celebrated the close of the proficiency program in May, in which 13 students collectively moved more than $1,300 in art “off-the-easels.” This was within three hours and with hundreds in attendance.

“The youngest artist was 8 years old and the oldest was a working mom with a toddler,” Kluth says. “I loved seeing them encourage each other and connect like a family. For most, it was their first art show ever and they are now excited for what’s next, because they truly believe they were created for more!

“I have no greater joy than to see my students at Divine Art Institute walk this truth out and grow exponentially both on the canvas and in their lives.”

509 E Florence Blvd., Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (520) 340-4162 www.divineartinstitute.com

Nichole Kluth

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

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 43

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

“I just wanted to be an extra body that the kids can beat up a bit,” says Fierro. “I did not know that the team was in need of a coach.

I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Photo: Raquel Chavez

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The Mechanics of Wrestling

by John Stapleton, Contributing Editor

T

he day starts with black coffee. It also usually starts before anyone else is awake but Maricopa High School Wrestling Coach Erick Fierro leaves for the day with a parting kiss to his wife, Veronica, as she begins her day.

He is typically in the weight room well before 6 a.m., waiting for the studentathletes to arrive and begin their workouts. Officially the start time is 6 but Fierro says, “If you are just on time, you are already late.”

Every day during the school year is a disciplined routine. After the morning training session, Fierro teaches automotive shop class from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by meetings and tutoring sessions, then practice. He is a coach for both football and wrestling so for days with games or wrestling matches, the days are even longer. By the time Fierro arrives back home, his family is waiting for him and the sun is long gone.

“I am very busy,” says Fierro, “but because I have such a supportive wife, it works. She is very supportive of all I do. I wouldn't have the successes I have had without her.”

Fierro has lived in the Maricopa area since he was a kid, remembering it as dirt roads and farmland. He says his family knew nothing about wrestling but was introduced to it by his seventh-grade friend, Cory Adams.

“I had no clue what I was getting into,” says Fierro. “I heard Coach (first name?)

Nelson's speech about how wrestling would push you to your limits physically and mentally and that most would quit in the first week, and I was all in.”

Fierro says his parents were supportive and would attend all his matches. In 2002, he graduated from Maricopa High School.

There were only 80 other graduates at the time and it was considered a

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

big class. Fierro tried different colleges and programs but found his fit with the automotive program at Gateway Community College. A little over a decade later, he would bring his automotive industry experience and education back to Maricopa High School.

“We have what I believe to be an amazing facility,” says Fierro. “If we were running a business, we would have everything we need to be considered full-service. From general maintenance, tires, alignment and brake services we have the equipment to get the job done. Students are learning general maintenance and safety to repair and rebuilding of major components.

“The more motivated a student is, the more he or she can get out of the course.

Whether the student wants to pursue automotive as a career path or it's more of a fun hobby for them, they will get great information. But most of all, I try to push employability skills.”

The same year he returned to teach the automotive classes Fierro filled out the paperwork to become a volunteer coach for the wrestling program.

“I just wanted to be an extra body that the kids can beat up a bit,” says Fierro. “I did not know that the team was in need of a coach. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

To revamp the program, Fierro knew it would take discipline and a long-term commitment.

“Maricopa does have a long history of wonderful coaches before me, but there was some work to do when I got here,” Fierro says. “My main goal was to grow the popularity of the sport. My first year coaching, it was difficult to fill every weight class.

“Now we fill every weight class on varsity and have large numbers on LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE EDUCATION

Photo: Raquel Chavez

our JV team. We also have sent on average eight wrestlers to State in the last three years.”

Fierro also had to start a booster club, Iron Squad, to assist the students with the costs of participating. The club helps pay the expenses of traveling, wrestling camps, the purchase of equipment like warm-ups and head gear and hotel stays for overnight tournaments.

The booster club must compete as well — for donations. It goes up against more popular sports but Fierro believes the wrestling program’s on-the-mat success will continue and the results will speak for themselves. Most importantly, he believes the true success will be determined by the character growth reflected in the student-athletes.

“I personally do not emphasize any key points or themes, the sport does it for me,” says Fierro. “Wrestling emphasizes discipline, physical and mental toughness through adversity. It develops competitiveness. It emphasizes team mindset in an individual sport. It gives you skills to conquer life and that's why I love the sport.”

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

“My main goal was to grow the popularity of the sport. My first year coaching, it was difficult to fill every weight class.”

Fierro with student athletes (l to r) Connor Paine, David Onquit and Jonathan Childers GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 45

Continued from page 21 incorporated, some of them were not incorporated, and two Native American communities. I thought that made it very interesting and maybe one of the more challenging districts. I jumped in with the full vigor that I like to do things and worked with other supervisors, transitioning for the first time from the three supervisors to the five-supervisor format that we have today. We brought forward a lot of change in Pinal County. Politically, the county flipped from having primarily Democrat office-holders to Republican office holders.

The county changed in it's emphasis for economic development interests too. We treasure our ag and mining industries, but they didn't always have enough jobs to support our exploding population. Compound that with the fact that over half of our workers left their communities each day to work in Maricopa or Pima Counties, this was unacceptable for creating healthy sustainable local economies.

We needed to create local living wage type jobs. One of the ways in which we thought we could accomplish that was to have local manufacturing, and of course

Anthony Smith, Board of Supervisors

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Casa Grande has done decades of good attraction of industry, and certainly is a model for the rest of Pinal County to follow.

Through our first four years and a lot of transition, we were working with a lot of the development interests, but we were also trying to recover from the recession.

Fortunately for Pinal County, we were the first county to recover our entire workforce that we had lost during the recession. Then we had to work on our finances. We were probably one of the highesttaxed counties in the state. Again, in my time when I was first given the opportunity to be chairman, I brought the idea of “Let’s sit down and do a strategic plan together.”

We, again, put a good roadmap together that we could all rally behind that would give us a vision for between three and five years.

We were able to recover our financial health and get the county on a very firm financial footing. Then rather than look at it as a county that was most interested in public safety, and public safety is important, but we switched the whole emphasis and looked at economic development, and that’s where the seeds of growth really happened, really

bringing a change in our direction to strive to make Pinal County one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, and with an abundance of jobs for that population.

GC LIVING: During your tenure as the District 4 supervisor, what were some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of?

Tony Smith: I would say positioning the county with a transportation network. And what I’m referring to is the Pinal County Regional Transportation Authority that the Board of Supervisors created.

GC LIVING: And the voters approved, and we’re still in litigation (over the constitutionality of the tax in a lawsuit brought by a local person and the Goldwater Institute).

Tony Smith: Exactly. It is a 20-year plan with $640-million worth of projects. And I’m still optimistic that we’re going to get a positive court decision, but that particular initiative and getting the voters to approve that plan really is a huge deal for Pinal County. I was just traveling in the Metro Phoenix area over the weekend. I turned to Nancy and I said, look what all they’re able to do with their half-cent sales tax, and they’re able to just stay up with their transportation needs and building highways where they need to build highways. I look forward to the day that we are able to implement the plan that the voters approved.

And I thought when the voters approved that, that was, to me, as intricate as winning another election. You always have a lot of angst when you do a political campaign and all the energy that takes. And we put a lot into the RTA campaign, and we were pleased with the results. We’ve just been disappointed that it’s not being able to satisfy the LATE SU M M E R 2021

The

Interview

Rafting with friends and family needs of the voters for these more than three years since it has been passed.

We get questions all the time — why aren’t we doing something to improve Highway 347? And I get frustrated that we have the solution, but we just need to get started and have a favorable decision from the state Supreme Court, and then we’ll get on that.

But meanwhile, people are having accidents and unfortunately fatalities, and a road that could be improved and made a lot safer than what it is today.

GC LIVING: If you had a do-over moment, whether it’s as serving as mayor of the City of Maricopa or as county supervisor, what would you have done differently and why?

Tony Smith: Well, I think the water resources and water management is a very, very difficult topic. Because it is such a serious and important topic for Pinal County and its communities, GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

I think I probably should have studied and learned more on that particular issue. We relied heavily on Supervisor Miller, he’s on the committees and very knowledgeable in that area. He and others are doing a great job. I think it’s just because it’s so vitally important to Pinal County and Arizona, and it’s going to be a topic that is going to be studied and managed for many, many decades. I think I would, if I had to do it over, be more vigilant in that area.

GC LIVING: So now you are out of elected government. But Mrs. Smith, Nancy, has moved into Maricopa City Council.

Tony Smith: Yes. I think she’s done six years now on City Council.

She’s the current vice mayor.

We are really cut from the same cloth where we use project management skills in both our public and private lives. It works for her just like it worked for me.

Nancy does a really good job

for the City of Maricopa. She likes it and since she retired from Motorola about fives years ago it gives her an avenue to do her work serving the community. She gives a lot of good effort into trying to do everything right for the city. And then she’s also like me, having a heart for non-profits.

She does a lot of work with the youth or children’s nonprofits, and since she is a cancer survivor, she does work for Relay for Life and other nonprofits like that.

GC LIVING: You retired from the Board of Supervisors at the end of 2020 and that lasted for how long before you accepted the president and CEO position with Pinal Partnership?

Tony Smith: It was March 19. I wasn’t looking to get myself engaged in additional work, but I always admired the work of the Pinal Partnership and attended as many of their events as possible.

Continued on page 64 GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 47

BIZ Economy, Finance & Business The study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that extroverted older adults and conscientious, curious teens may be more likely than others to take risks while driving.

Traits That Lead to Phone Use While Driving

A

new study has identified certain personality traits that can lead to distracted driving and other risky behavior behind the wheel.

The study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that extroverted older adults and conscientious, curious teens may be more likely than others to take risks while driving.

In particular, the researchers focused on such use of mobile phones as talking, texting or otherwise interacting with the device (like checking Facebook, surfing the internet, using an app or searching for music).

Before studying the issue, the researchers used one of the most accepted models of personality that puts people into a continuum of each of these common personality traits. Those who are: ❚ ❚ ❚ ❚ ❚

Open to new experiences Conscientious Extroverted Agreeable Neurotic

Teens

Teenagers were by far the worst performers in the study when it came to their inability to not touch their phones while behind the wheel.

The study found that: ❚ Teens who were more open to new experiences were the worst performers.

They were more likely to engage in texting and interacting with their mobile phone than their peers. This jibes with earlier research that found that thrill-seekers and impulsive individuals with traits associated with openness are cited more often for driving violations than the average driver. ❚ Conscientious drivers were the second-worst performers. Researchers were surprised to find that a 10% increase in conscientiousness correlated with a 21% increase in risk for distracted driving behaviors. ❚ Less-agreeable teens were the thirdworst performers. The less agreeable a teen was, the more likely they were to use their phone while driving. ❚ Cooperative, agreeable teens were the best performers. They were less likely to engage in distracted driving behaviors because they were more safetyminded and had respect for the law.

Older drivers Older drivers were much less likely to use their phones while driving.

Researchers found only one personality factor that made older adults more likely to engage in talking or interacting with their mobile phones: those who were extroverted.

A 10% increase in extroversion was associated with a 20% increase in instances of distracted driving from phone use.

Researchers saw no link between personality traits and texting among adults with the four other personality types.

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

11 teens die every day

as a result of texting while driving - Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts

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BIZ Economy, Finance & Business

Shared Struggles: A Casa Grande Attorney’s Deeply Personal Book Shared Struggles: Stories from Parents and Pediatricians Caring for Children with Serious Illnesses, by Ann Schrooten, tells 46 true stories from both sides of the physicianpatient/parent relationship from families throughout the U.S. and doctors from many of the best children’s hospitals.

Writing the book was a natural extension of Ann's more than 15 years of experience interacting with the many health care professionals who cared for her special-needs son, who passed away in 2014 when he was 15.

Ann co-authored the book with Dr. Barry Markovitz, a pediatrician specializing in critical care medicine.

“There are more than 3 million

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children in the U.S. living with complex medical conditions, which is a lot of parent-physician interactions,” Ann said in a recent interview.

The book groups stories

by Hope, Compassion, Communication and Trust.

“Life for parents of children with complex medical conditions is tough, and, in some of the stories, kids die.

The hope is that this book opens the eyes of both parents and physicians so they better understand what each other is thinking and feeling,” Ann said.

Shared Struggles is available at Amazon.

Ann Schrooten is an estate planning, probate, and real estate attorney at Fitzgibbons Law Offices.

in Casa Grande.

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine

2021 Wealth Management Edition Reserve your space today.

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

CONTINUED

County Unveils 3 Facilities, 4th on Way

Pinal County officials opened three new facilities within just over a month, expanding the services available in Districts 2 and 4 and giving San Tan Valley its first public library.

The projects were funded by a $63-million bond issue approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2019 to provide local access in the two newest districts to many services for the first time, along with a permanent home for the district supervisors’ offices.

The bond sale also financed new buildings at the county seat in Florence for the Development Services Department and the County Attorney’s Office, the latter of which is expected to be complete this fall, county spokesman James Daniels said.

Officials plan to break ground this fall on two more buildings in Florence, for the Medical Examiner and Fiduciary/Public Defender offices, Daniels said.

DISTRICT 2 COUNTY COMPLEX The $16-million facility next to Central Arizona College’s San Tan Campus on Bella Vista Road had its official opening April 22 and will serve San Tan Valley, an unincorporated area with over 100,000 residents who have been

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clamoring for better access to government services.

County Supervisor Mike Goodman and the Pinal County Sheriff ’s Office have moved in from the county’s former rented space on Schnepf Road into Building A, sharing the space with new satellite locations for Development Services and the Assessor’s, Recorder’s and Treasurer’s offices.

Building B houses a new Family Advocacy Center and the San Tan Valley Library. The Pinal County Library District’s first new location in 20 years, it will have a selection of 13,000 books, 8,000 audiobooks and eight public computer terminals. It’s currently scheduled to open in mid-July.

Goodman said at the ribbon cutting: “This is probably one of the most exciting things for San Tan Valley. It has a sense of community, and it brings the government closer to the people.”

COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUILDING Pinal County’s Development Services Department, which includes its Public Works, Community Development, Open Space and Trails and Air Quality services, opened its new headquarters May 20. It’s at 85 N. Florence St. in the county seat’s Florence Administration Center.

Community Development, which includes the planning, engineering and building safety divisions, is open to the public on an appointmentonly basis; to schedule a time call 520-866-6442.

The $13-million, two-story

building is also the new home of the County Attorney’s Civil Services Division.

Most of Building F, where Development Services had been based for 20 years, is being demolished for parking space, but the portion that holds the County’s Emergency Operations Center will be left intact and refurbished.

DISTRICT 4 COUNTY COMPLEX The $12-million complex at 19955 N. Wilson Ave. in Maricopa covers 42,000 square feet across two buildings and houses District 4 Supervisor Jeff McClure’s and satellite offices for the County Assessor, Recorder and Treasurer, plus the Development Services Department.

There’s also a Sheriff ’s Office substation with holding cells and office space for the Clerk of the Superior Court and the junior and adult probation offices. It also incorporates the Justice Court and City of Maricopa Court.

“The biggest thing for the County is to get out to the constituents, and that’s difficult to do when you’re 45 minutes away,” McClure said at the May 27 ribbon cutting.

Photos courtesy of Pinal County

LATE SU M M E R 2021

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

CONTINUED

SEED SPOT Supports Superior Businesses The Town of Superior has been working on economic revitalization for years, supporting historic and modern industries as well as nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of its residents whenever possible.

During the last two years, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, SEED SPOT, has become one of the Town’s staunchest supporters and collaborators by making online and face-to-face resources available to new and growing business within its borders.

SEED SPOT offers webinars, two-day launch camps, six-week impact accelerators, tactical workshops and other support and information programs free to businesses with an address in or near Superior through a partnership with the town.

It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency formed to support entrepreneurs creating a business to improve lives or make the world a better place, said Arlynn Godinez, project manager for the Town of Superior’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center.

Based in Phoenix, it has helped new businesses in tech, health care, retail, hospitality, personal care and other sectors. It focuses on assisting

women and other traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Godinez said SEED SPOT’s contributions to the Superior community since 2019 include: • Forty-nine entrepreneurs and owners of existing Superior businesses served through programming and mentorship.

• Four successful ventures created (measured by survival, revenue, and hiring).

• Forty hours of mentorship through National Mentor Network and SEED SPOT Team.

• Twenty-seven virtual 2-Day Launch or Pivot Camps offered at $0 since December of 2019.

• Eight free virtual webinars and workshops started in April.

• Forty hours of direct support provided in Town of Superior Virtual Office Hours through a full-time Superior program manager.

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continued on page 71…

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GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 53

YOU Health, Happiness & Education

Out & About

Copen Photo: Meghann & Lyndzy

Aspen Photo: Jamie Brasher

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Exciting events and striking scenery in the Golden Corridor area!

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

Riley, Baron, Angel and Titan Photo: Pam & George Schlemmer

Sir Bentley Bean Photo: Ally Fleck

Miles Photo: Tiffany Embry

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Madu Photo: Xochilt Sanders

July 4th Photo: Jamie Brasher

Love Casa Grande, AZ Photo: Kevin Gibbs

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

Koda, Meghann, and Lyndzy Casa Grande AZ Photo: Meghann

4th of July Photo: Nancy McFarland

Casa Grande, AZ Photo: Shannon Price GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 55

The Best of Pinal: 2021

W

e have our Best of Pinal County results here for you, a detailed guide to the best providers of goods and services as selected by our readers. These are the people and businesses who really give the Golden Corridor its shine, making it shimmer for residents and visitors alike.

Our many categories are broken down into sections about people, pets, services, lifestyle, shopping and food and drink, covering most all the facets of your life here in this “just right” slice of the desert between Tucson and Phoenix.

We’re thrilled to say participation in our survey is way up this year, so we have a broader base of voters sharing their recommendations with you.

We’re thankful for all of them!

It’s always a joy for us to recognize and celebrate excellence in our community, and this year our voters are letting us spread the wealth even more, with tied winners in several categories. Our nominees and winners are getting more geographically diverse, with locations and services in Casa Grande, Maricopa, Superior, Florence, Picacho and Gold Canyon rising to the top of various lists.

Being the best of Pinal means you’re one of the go-to places in a region on the rise with new employers, new people and new ideas building on the strong foundation laid by farmers, ranchers, miners, builders, teachers and many others who recognized its potential.

The businesses and people you’ll read about are here for the long haul and will grow along with our county as it attracts more new, sustainable development to the desert. Read on to see who they are, and then thank them for all they do!

SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF SERVICES Acupuncture Casa Grande Community Acupuncture and Chiropractic Attorney Angel Raymond, Raymond Law, Maricopa Auto Dealership Jones Auto Center, Casa Grande Auto Repair Lugnut Auto Repair, Maricopa Bank | Credit Union Pinal Federal Credit Union, Casa Grande Barber Sports & Cuts, Maricopa Car Wash | Detailing Pro X Mobile Detailing & Auto Glass, Maricopa Caterer Helen's Kitchen and Catering, Maricopa Chiropractic Center Happy Clam Chiropractic, Maricopa Day Care | Preschool Grow with Grace Learning Center, Casa Grande

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Dentist Yang and Horsley Dentistry, Casa Grande

Medical Practice Banner Medical Throughout the County

Real Estate Brokerage ReMax Casa Grande, Yost Realty Group

Electrician Brutinel Plumbing and Electrical, Casa Grande

Medical Spa Maricopa Wellness Center

Financial Services Rudy Benitez, AnnieMac Home Mortgage, Casa Grande

Optometrist Dr. Kenneth Jeffers, Professional Eye Care Associates, Casa Grande Dr. Matthew Littlejohn, Casa Grande Eye Care

Retirement Community Cypress Point Retirement Community, Casa Grande

Florist Three G's Flowers, Casa Grande Rose's Roses Flowers, Superior Funeral Home J Warren Funeral Services, Casa Grande, Eloy & Coolidge General Contractor Capital R Construction, Casa Grande Absolute Homes, Casa Grande Home Repair | Remodeling JMC'S Remodeling, Casa Grande Massage Tina Blanchard, TREND Salon and Spa, Maricopa

Salon/Spa - Hair | Skin | Nails TREND Salon and Spa, Maricopa School Mission Heights Preparatory High School, Casa Grande

Orthodontist Walton Orthodontics, Casa Grande Painting ACP Painting, Maricopa Photographer Victor Moreno Photography, Maricopa Plumber Two Brother's Plumbing, Casa Grande Physician Kristina Donnay FNP-C, Maricopa Wellness Center

Skin Care Salon Skin Diva Aesthetics Studio Surgery Center/Clinic Banner Casa Grande Tattoo Studio TZU Tattoo, Superior Other Gorilla Joe's Pest Control, Maricopa Spell it Out Co. Maricopa (Yard Signs)

Real Estate Agent Michael Schoenfeld, Yost Realty Group, Casa Grande

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YOU Health, Happiness & Education

Teachers Gain by Being Physically Active

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

I

f you are a teacher, you know how hard free time is to come by and how easy it is to forget about taking care of you. Even the absolute best teachers.

No matter how driven or prepared you are, if you aren’t healthy you will begin to struggle. Being a teacher requires so much time, effort and energy to bring your A game (get it?) to the classroom. One of the best investments you can make is in your own health.

I am so fortunate to know some amazing local educators. I would love to share some of their advice with you on how they stay fit and healthy.

Lorena Jimenez/counselor, Vista Grande High School: “As a high school counselor I work with students, parents and teachers on a daily basis. Working out before work gets me mentally prepared for anything the day brings. It makes my body and brain stronger

No matter how driven or prepared you are, if you aren’t healthy you will begin to struggle.

Brie Taylor/math content coach, Mesquite, Palo Verde elementary schools: “Starting the day with a workout helps set a positive vibe for the rest of my day. I feel more mentally and physically prepared for whatever adventures the day brings. When I stick with healthier choices and I don’t miss workouts with Tiff, I am more energized and happier!”

Thelma Whaling/teacher, Cholla Elementary: “To me staying fit is crucial to my profession. My job requires me to be active and energetic. My 5 a.m. routine with Tiff enables me to perform my job to the best of my ability. I feel like I can keep up with the little ones with much lower risk of being injured and/or run down by the daily physical requirements of being a kindergarten teacher.”

Mica Jimenez/teacher, Ironwood Elementary: “It promotes healthy habits, and it helps me feel better about myself. I have more energy and it helps motivate me to create goals. This carries on to my role as a teacher and with my students. I love doing exercises, guided dances and playing with my students at recess.

Being active is important to me.”

From left: Thelma Whaling, Mica Jimenez, and Brie Taylor.

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I love my teachers. And I agree, teaching is a super stressful job, so take control now, and you’ll always be a healthy teacher ready to tackle any challenge and face each and every day with a smile.

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Helping everyone in Pinal County live their healthiest life.

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SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF PEOPLE

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Artist | Artisan Cindy Patterson

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Chef Chris Spear

Elected Official Donna McBride

LATE SU M M E R 2021

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YOU Health, Happiness & Education

Juvenile Team Program Nets Positive Results

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

P

inal County Juvenile Court Service’s mission is to create positive growth opportunities by implementing programs that empower youth and strengthen families, while improving community safety using evidencebased practices.

A great example of this is our use of a specialized caseload that provides wrap-around services to the youth and families found to need increased support and resources.

This collaborative team approach includes a probation officer, a surveillance officer, and a therapist who work directly with the youth and families to develop skills to increase the likelihood of positive change and reduce continued delinquent behavior.

The team assists with building on natural supports, incorporates the strengths of the family in case planning, and connects youth and families to community resources

available once probation services are no longer needed.

Take Colin for example. Shortly after the pandemic hit, Colin was placed on standard probation in the high-risk specialized caseload.

He was a teen with strong connections to a negative peer group. He faced many challenges, lacked family and community support, as well as structure and guidance at home. Probation quickly learned he struggled with time management, communication, emotional regulation and problem solving. He was overwhelmed by the expectations of probation and managing his education.

While on probation, Colin had a team of people supporting, encouraging, teaching and leading the way to help him make positive behavior changes. He received counseling services, life skills and focused on changing his behaviors.

He worked hard at the goals he

set for himself, including probation and treatment goals along with completing restitution hours.

Colin started exhibiting accountability, increased communication with his team, and was open to feedback. His team believed in his ability to be successful, and given support, tools and time he believed in himself.

Colin was released from probation successfully.

Overall, we are seeing positive outcomes for youth who complete the specialized program; lower rates of recidivism, going to detention and greater decreases in risk scores.

We are fortunate to work in a department that is innovative in exploring ways to improve outcomes for youth, families and ultimately communities in Pinal County.

For more information go to www.pinalcountyaz.gov/ JuvenileCourtServices

The mission of Pinal County Juvenile Court Services is to create positive growth opportunities by implementing programs that empower youth and strengthen families, while improving community safety using evidencebased practices.

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Continued from page 47

I also put together an incredibly fun bucket list of things to do. And fortunately, working with Pinal Partnership, I’m able to do some of those things long walks of 17 miles and another one of 20 miles. I’ll go back and do those sometime between now and the fall, but I want to do the whole entire trail, eventually.

GC LIVING: What are some of the things Pinal Partnership does to help attract industry to the county?

Tony hiking the Arizona Trail

It was one of those things where I don’t know if this opportunity will come around again and I considered it, Pinal Partnership, one of the premier organizations in Pinal County.

I said “yes” and I love doing it, working as their leader in that regard, working with a great board of directors from a various and diverse group of corporations and institutions. After a couple of months, our Executive Director resigned to take a job that was more in her career path. After doing an extensive search, we found Rina Rien from Casa Grande. Rina's skills and knowledge of Pinal County and its communities made her an excellent match to be our next Executive Director. She started in late June and has hit the ground running.

Before I started with Pinal Partnership I'd had a little bit of 64

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time off and I did quite a bit to prepare for life in retirement. I also put together an incredibly fun bucket list of things to do.

And fortunately, working with Pinal Partnership, I’m able to do some of those things, such as hiking the Arizona Trail, of which I’ve had a good start.

That is a very long trail that goes from Utah to Mexico for 800 miles. And I was able to, with a couple of other men, do about 37 miles. I had some foot problems with blisters that kept me out a couple of days, but I was able to finish the last day and do the 11 miles that was required to get us to the edge of the Grand Canyon.

GC LIVING: You did almost half of the 70-odd mile trip, correct?

Tony Smith: I did the three of the five days that we had planned.

The two other days were quite

Tony Smith: The mission of Pinal Partnership is to unite the vision for responsible economic development through public and private partnerships. They do that by informing and at times advocating for issues important to Pinal County and our communities. They have an economic development committee, transportation committee, water works committee, health committee, open space and trails committee.

We often do studies to help out either local governments or regarding the county.

For example, when the county needed to put together a master plan for Open Spaces and Trails, the committee that oversaw and participated in that was part of Pinal Partnership, and they continue to provide input.

GC LIVING: Are you able to share any of the projects that you're working on?

Tony Smith: We have a project that we're wanting to put forth LATE SU M M E R 2021

The

latter in 2021 and 2022. Currently, we have a large hardcopy map of Pinal County with a lot of the various facilities, showing major transportation routes and other major locations. But we want to digitize that and put it so it's on our website, working with the county.

We’ve had some preliminary discussions on this tool that would be able to have various layers, whether you wanted to show all the utilities, or you wanted to show transportation routes, or you wanted to show the spots for tourism, or you wanted to show the city limits. Maybe we’ll have some of the areas where we have special economic development interests such as the Arizona Innovation and Technology Corridor.

GC LIVING: So I’m looking at some of the photos that you sent us. When did you do the skydiving? The tandem jump?

Tony Smith: That was four years ago. I was still county supervisor and I was visiting the facility, Skydive Phoenix, west of Maricopa.

They had moved to a new location and some of the neighbors were complaining about dust that was associated with the airplanes and people coming and going to the facility.

And I went out and talked to a manager to see the situation firsthand. After coming up with some solutions, he asked me if I wanted to go on a plane and jump out of it. And I said, “Well, if I thought about it I’d probably

Interview

have said no, but now that I’m here, I think I will do that.” I took him up on the offer, just kind of on a lark. And so yes, it was quite an experience. I would do it again.

GC LIVING: What’s next in your future?

Tony Smith: Well, Nancy has four years on the City Council, she was elected in November and she just started her next term. I can see that I will do Pinal Partnership for at least four-plus years. I don’t know when that will end, but I will give it all I have for the time I'm with the Partnership. It really intellectually stimulates me, and it keeps me engaged in areas I think I can really help and benefit others.

Tony skydiving at Skydive Phoenix in Maricopa

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YOU Pets

Smart Shoppers’ Guide for Pet Meds

by Gigi McWhirter

Whether your pet is on a prescription medication or supplement, the cost can be expensive. This is especially true for animals with chronic conditions. Throw in the cost of the medication(s) on top of the required vet checks and lab work, it can easily put a dent into the wallet.

For instance, an animal being treated with a medication like phenobarbital, which is classified as a barbiturate, must have an exam by a licensed veterinarian every six months, and once the phenobarbital levels are reached must have annual blood work to monitor the maintenance levels in the animal’s system.

The cost of several commonly prescribed prescriptions has almost doubled in the past few months.

Most vet’s offices have small inoffice pharmacies and don’t have the purchasing power to help keep the costs down.

With a little research, you can find less expensive and legitimate sources for your animal’s medicine, supplement and food needs.

For comparing prices, consider a site like goodrx.com. This website will help you find the best deals on medications in your area.

However, it does not always come up with answers for

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prescriptions for veterinary use only.

Online animal medicine sources include: • Chewy.com • 1800PetMeds • Allivet Pharmacy • California Pet Pharmacy • PetCareRx Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Fry’s, Safeway, Walgreens and CVS have entered the arena and carry some pet meds.

The cost of several commonly prescribed prescriptions has almost doubled in the past few months.

If your pet requires medications that need to be compounded, AVRIO Pharmacy, Diamondback Drugs, and Roadrunner Pharmacy are worth checking into.

It is easy to be burned by sellers offering substandard products — especially with the increase in counterfeit and foreign medications. A website offering prescription medications without confirming the dose and

duration as written by a doctor, probably is not a reliable source.

A reputable pharmacy will require a valid, authorized prescription.

Once you have requested your medication, the pharmacy will contact your veterinarian for prescription authorization. After the prescription has been approved, the pharmacy will bill and ship directly to your doorstep.

Online pharmacies are required to keep a licensed pharmacist on staff. They are available to address any concerns.

Your veterinarian will probably require that your pet have a current exam and or lab work before medications can be filled. Please have the discussion with your veterinarian, not Dr. Google, at the time the prescription is written.

Happy Tails to you!

LATE SU M M E R 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF PETS

Animal Clinic Maricopa Animal Hospital Animal Medical Center of Casa Grande Animal Rescue Valley Humane Society, Casa Grande Animal Shelter Pinal County Animal Control, Casa Grande Dog-Friendly Store PetSmart, Casa Grande Pet Grooming Shaggy Chic Pet Grooming, Casa Grande Pet Store Earthwise Pet Supply, Maricopa

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YOU Pets

Picacho Mountains Teem with Life

by Loren and Melissa Shelton, Critter-Photography Team

O

ne of our favorite locations to explore in Pinal County is the Picacho Mountains; they are so close.

Specifically, check out the Newman Peak side.

Did you know that if you hike to the top there are grasslands and juniper trees? Lots of desert denizens live out there along with the old mines and even an old stage stop. The buildings and corrals still exist.

There are deer, mountain lion, javelina, fox (gray and kit), ringtail, bobcat, and many other animals. One of our favorite finds was a Crested Caracara, a type of carrion eating falcon that is very cool looking. We have learned this is its northern most range.

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There are old abandoned mining claims, and even more interesting are the many petroglyph sites. One hillside in particular is covered in some pretty cool markings.

Melissa and I were out there one night black-lighting for scorpions and doing our usual looking for snakes to photograph. Well it’s hard to see much but scorpions when you’re only using the black light so we missed the sidewinder rattlesnake between her feet.

Fortunately they are small snakes and, other than a few laughs, everything turned out fine. Well I was laughing, can’t say exactly what noises she was making.

Arizona has over 60 species and subspecies of snakes.

Pinal County is home to 28. Eight of these local species are venomous and considered dangerous. Seven of the eight are rattlesnake species, the other is a coral snake.

Last year we came across nearly 300 snakes and at least 150 of them were sidewinders. They are very cool snakes, complete with horns and attitude and a mode of locomotion interesting to observe.

True to their name, they move in an undulating sideways motion when they are in a hurry to get away or just moving slowly across the road. They can “crawl” like other snakes, but they move faster with their unique sideways method. They are pretty when observed up close with varying patterns and shades of color; in many instances matching the color of their terrain.

Many people are afraid of snakes and kill them on sight.

That’s a shame, not only for the snake but for the entire ecosystem relying on a biodiversity to sustain it. Everything has its place including the beautiful and interesting venomous snakes like the sidewinder.

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Make Sure Kitty Stays Hydrated in Summer

by Blake Herzog

Today’s domestic cats are descended from desert felines who evolved to get much of their hydration from food. Many, though, have instinctual suspicion of still water and instead run to any faucet they can get to.

Cats need to drink about 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water daily per 5 pounds if they aren’t eating wet food, according to www.pets.webmd.com.

To tell if your cat may be dehydrated, gently pinch the skin around its shoulders into a fold.

If it doesn’t quickly snap back, there could be a problem; a vet visit is warranted. Other symptoms include dry gums, lethargy and sunken eyes.

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

To help hydration: ❚ Include wet food in diet, if possible. ❚ Experiment with different bowls, locations. ❚ Wash, refill the bowl daily. ❚ Invest in a fresh-water fountain.

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

CONTINUED

Maricopa Prepares to Open Veterans/ Senior Center The City of Maricopa is remodeling its former library at 46100 W. Smith-Enke Road into a Community Center that will host local veterans’ organizations and senior citizen groups. It is expected to open mid-July.

The 8,000-square-foot Maricopa Community Center will have space dedicated to both demographics, plus a central atrium that can be used by either group or others in the community.

The eastern side of the structure will be the City’s first permanent senior center,

with two large, dedicated meeting rooms available for groups to use, as well as the Parks and Rec department to offer senior classes currently held at Copper Sky Multigenerational Complex.

“We are really excited about the new space for both our seniors and veterans,” said Brandelyn Hughes, the City’s recreation coordinator for senior and volunteer programs.

“Senior programming will include Coffee & Donuts on Tuesdays as well as daily drop-in for cards and board

Water Study … continued from page 17

The groundwater table is declining, but there’s considerable variation within the broad area covered by the study.

Under the study’s hottest and driest climate assumptions with the highest growth projections, the water table could rise by 100 to 200 feet in one area just west of Casa Grande where water recharge is taking place, but within the city and areas just to the east could fall by 300 to 700 feet.

Areas south of Eloy could see a similar precipitous drop, while Maricopa, Coolidge and Florence are expected to see a drop of about 100 feet.

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Photo by Blake Herzog

games. We also host monthly Lunch & Learns on the third Friday of the month, art classes, MOREE Trips (day trips all over the state including mystery trips), our annual End of Summer BBQ in October, afternoon tea parties, holiday-themed parties, potlucks and so much more,” she added.

The local posts of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Blue Star Mothers

SEARCH FOR ANSWERS Lenderking says the study’s stakeholders — all 60 or so members of the study team — are now looking into potential conservation and mitigation strategies to relieve some pressure on the groundwater table by reducing current usage or bringing more water into the area.

Conservation measures are being embraced by many residents and public agencies through xeriscaping and other methods, but more will have to come into play, including increased use of effluent for nonpotable uses, recharge and

will move their headquarters into the west side, where there will be additional space that can be used by any veteran in town.

This section will be called the Maricopa Veterans Center, as was the building the posts had been using on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. That is the original library location and is to be remodeled into a museum and welcome center.

potentially potable use.

New sources that could be studied include water sales from Native American tribes or other owners, desalinization of river water and even what Lenderking calls “Hail Mary” concepts like importing Mississippi River floodwater.

For more information about the Eloy and Maricopa-Stanfield Basin Study, including background documents and meeting summaries, visit www.pinalpartnership.com/emsbasin-study

LATE SU M M E R 2021

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

CONTINUED

2022 County Property Tax Rate OK’d As a whole, Pinal County property owners will be paying more in property tax next year due to higher land values.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted June 7 to approve the preliminary countywide budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, which includes a 6-cent reduction in the primary property tax rate, dropping it to $3.69 per $100 assessed valuation.

However, increasing property values will in most cases eclipse that tax

Seed Spot… continued from page 53

Town leaders conducted an extensive search for a business incubator/accelerator organization from the Phoenix area to help existing and new businesses grow.

“The Town of Superior is fortunate to have a premier entrepreneur development firm

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

rate reduction and lead to somewhat higher payments next year, averaging out to a 0.39% increase countywide.

That won’t be across the board, as some owners will likely see a reduction as valuations for tax purposes are recalculated on all parcels, but those in high-growth areas are likely to have a higher tax obligation to go along with their higher value.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Miller, District 3, pointed out

such as SEED SPOT helping us to grow our local economy,” Mayor Mila Besich said.

Jill Albertson, owner of Superior Skincare, said she’s grateful for the information and support Godinez and SEED SPOT have given the community. "One call in particular I especially appreciated connected several

Arizona law limits the annual increase in valuation on an existing home to 5%.

The county also levies secondary property taxes on all parcels to support the countywide library and flood control districts; both are expected to increase about 2% next year.

Considered together, the owner of a $100,000 home will owe $395.39 in Pinal County primary and secondary taxes next year, versus $393.54 if the tax rates had been reduced enough to offset rising property values.

The preliminary budget approved by the Board of Supervisors for fiscal 2022 was capped at $735.5 million in potential expenditures from all sources, including state and federal funds and special districts. The general operating fund, for which primary property taxes are the main source, will be about $227.4 million.

Miller said, “We have to list everything that we might spend. We may not spend it, but if we think we might, we have to list it here. So the projections are a lot higher than the actuals.”

The final Pinal County budget for 2021`-22 was adopted July 7.

of us, and Arlynn led a very positive session on how to adjust and pivot when we weren’t able to do business as usual due to the pandemic. I love attending the calls when I don’t have clients!”

For more information about SEED SPOT’s programs for Superior businesses, visit www. seedspot.org/town-of-superior

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 71

Home & Garden

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LATE SU M M E R 2021

YOU Home & Garden

Get Your Yard Ready for Outdoor Living

by Blake Herzog

It's summertime in the desert and you may not be ready to think about the potential for outdoor living in your backyard if you haven't fled altogether for a couple weeks or months.

But it’s actually prime time for planning ahead for when backyard entertaining won’t be limited to furtive fiestas in the dark or underneath your drippy misting system.

2021 is shaping up to be another huge year nationwide for home improvement and expanding permanent living space into your yard. Here’s a look at a few of the biggest patio trends, so you’ll know what you want by the time they’re marked down after Labor Day!

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YOU Home & Garden

Durable furniture — Quite a few people are discovering that between the weather and more frequent use, their plastic and wicker patio furniture doesn’t hold up as well as they’d expected. For comfortable yearround furniture that can withstand the ravages of desert heat, look to teak, marine-grade rope and fabrics, reinforced concrete or aluminum frames that won’t be exposed to your skin.

Taking it out front — Many of us have created a whole new world in our backyard, but there’s still something missing. If you have a porch or front yard large enough to accommodate it, try parking some of your outdoor furniture there to create an evenmore-casual entertaining space, one that could become the social hub for your whole block.

Garden, garden, garden! — Consider just how much you can plant in your yard and what it can do for you, your family and your environment. You can create a garden devoted to plants native to your area and appropriate to your climate and wildlife such as a 74

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pollinator garden. Edible gardens produce fresh, nutritious vegetables for your family, and it’s already time to think about starting seeds for many of our region’s fall veggies, according to www.almanac.com/ gardening/planting-calendar/AZ/Casa%20Grande

Add more plants — If your outdoor seating area isn’t next to your garden you can simply use some planters to bring some small cacti and succulents, flowers and herbs into the mix, either next to or behind the seats to bring some greenery and fresher air to a patio or balcony.

Get cooking — This is a longer-term project but building just what you need can shorten the process and still be a worthwhile investment, as experts project an up to 200% return on investment on the home’s value. A simple barbecue island can be completed in a couple of weeks while a full-scale kitchen can take three or more months. But anyone who foresees a lot of parties and culinary activity in their yard should consider getting the works, and if you start planning now you have it ready before the holidays come around!

LATE SU M M E R 2021

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520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

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

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YOU Home & Garden

Smart Ways to Refresh Your Home Office

by Blake Herzog

M

any of us have been working from home for more than a year, if not longer. It’s time to think about what isn’t working for you in your home office and consider what can be done to make it a healthier, more productive space to be in.

Adjustable desk — These not only allow you to stand while you work for better fitness and productivity, but to work at different angles while seated for maximum comfort for whatever your body needs at any given moment. Consider hand-cranked versions for affordability and that extra minute or two of exercise needed to operate it.

Comfortable chair — Find one that at a minimum can be adjusted for seat height and back tilt. Check the seat dimensions because a chair that is too narrow, too wide or too deep for your frame can cause problems. Chair backs should be between 12 and 19 inches and include adjustable lumbar (lower back) support.

All trends point to bringing the outdoors in as much as possible, which can be done through greenery, flowers and better still, houseplants.

Versatile light sources — Work lights have evolved in almost every way imaginable, from high to low, flexible to directed. Now you can buy lamps with adjustable color modes or “temperatures” that promote different moods and types of productivity. Studies have found “warm” (ambient or yellowish) light can increase creativity while “cool” (task) lighting is better for concentration.

Add greenery — All trends point to bringing the outdoors in as much as possible, which can be done through greenery, flowers and better still, houseplants.

Researchers at Oxford found adding plants to a workplace increased productivity 15% by making workers feel more engaged physically, emotionally and cognitively involved in their work. Choose easy-to-grow plants that won’t require too much of your attention in the process of improving productivity!

White or magnetic board — Make sure there’s some cheerful or inspiring imagery on your wall, but leave room for a large space to plan and dream; a magnetic whiteboard gives you the advantages of both approaches.

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YOU Home & Garden

Tackle Your Dated Kitchen with these 2021 Trends

by Blake Herzog

Have you been fretting for a while about a kitchen that hasn’t been upgraded for 20 years or so, but haven’t been able to commit to making upgrades that could age just as quickly?

H

ere are six kitchen trends that have been blowing up this year, all with durability, timelessness and style on their side but still can be easily changed if fashion or personal taste shifts.

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Pops of Color Kitchens offer lots of places where vivid accents can be effectively deployed: cabinets, shelves, walls, backsplashes, countertops, shutters and curtains, islands and floors. Even appliances can be cheaply punched up with strategically placed magnetic accents. So don’t be afraid to experiment with paint, curtains, rugs, linens, wallpaper or any other medium that you can change up every few months or years without much expense.

Larders These classically impressive cabinets are similar to bedroom wardrobes and can add an astounding amount of storage for

pantry staples, snacks, serving ware, table linens and even wine bottles.

They can replace hanging cabinets, opening up your kitchen walls for windows, art or floating shelves.

Most are easy to paint and repaint, and since they aren’t built-in they’re easier to swap out.

Marble It’s a beautiful, natural material that stands up to decades of use, so it won’t have to be replaced after 10 years of nicks and scratches.

Long synonymous with luxury, it can be expensive, but not having to regularly redo the kitchen makes it a relatively cost-effective choice for counters and/or flooring. You can get much the same effect with quartz, a less expensive manmade material made of 93% to 97% crushed natural stone.

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Handle-Free Design Hardware is generally easy to switch out and update, but cabinets and drawers without handles confer a sleek, minimalist look that’s easy to clean and isn’t likely to go out of style anytime soon. Your choices are only going to grow as push-open doors, recessed handles and sensors become more commonplace and affordable.

Induction cooktops Induction cooktops are quickly becoming the standard for a modern kitchen, with flat, easy-toGO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

clean surfaces heated by magnetic currents directed toward your pots and pans for quick heating and cooldown. These attractive glass cooktops give you precise temperature control, use about 10% less electricity than smooth-top electric stoves and are safer and cleaner than gas.

Big islands Kitchen islands have been gaining in popularity and size for the many functions they can add to a kitchen space. If they’re big enough they can be used for food prep, dining, schoolwork and working from home simultaneously,

while significantly adding to storage space as well. You may not be able to accommodate something this large in your space, but bigger is generally better for functionality and value.

Cabinets and drawers without handles confer a sleek, minimalist look that’s easy to clean and isn’t likely to go out of style anytime soon GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 81

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

Stanfield, AZ Photo: Sean Dugan

Eloy, AZ Photo: Rod Chico

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Photo: Lilly Reyes

LATE SU M M E R 2021

Coolidge, AZ Photo: Kevin Wead

Photo: Lilly Reyes

Picacho Photo: Blushing Cactus Photography

Eloy Photo: Blushing Cactus Photography

Schnepf Farms Queen Creek, AZ Photo: Shannon Price

Coolidge, AZ Photo: Kevin Wead

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

GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 83

Feature Your Business in

Pinal NOW! Magazine

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LaFond

Your Path Home

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YOU Home & Garden Most people have thousands of dollars of belongings and if a fire rages through their apartment, it’s all gone.

And renter’s insurance comes with liability protection against lawsuits by visitors injured in your apartment.

Renter’s Insurance: for Affordable Peace of Mind

M

ore than two-thirds of renters are uninsured for fire, natural disaster and burglary.

But the fact is more apartments are broken into than houses, and apartments also burn. Worse yet, if a fire starts in one unit it will often affect nearby flats. A careless neighbor could be the cause of your next burnt hallway.

Consider:

Your landlord’s insurance won’t cover you While landlord’s insurance policies cover the building and any unattached property they have stored there, that coverage does not extend to a tenant’s belongings.

If your things are stolen

or destroyed by a fire or a storm, you’ll have to replace them yourself. Additionally, you’ll be footing the bill for any temporary living expenses if your apartment is uninhabitable for a period of time.

You may think your stuff is worthless; it’s not Look around, you do have things of value: Your computer, tablet, mp3 player, clothing, furniture, DVD collection, to name a few.

Most people have thousands of dollars of belongings and if a fire rages through their apartment, it’s all gone. And renter’s insurance comes with liability protection against lawsuits by visitors injured in your apartment.

Renter’s insurance is affordable Premiums can be as low as a few hundred dollars a year, or less than $20 a month. Give us a call and we can take you through the steps of determining what you need.

We’ll help We can walk you through the process of how to decide what type of policy is right for you, such as: • Explaining the differences between actual cost and replacement cost.

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• Helping you decide which deductible is right for your budget.

• Explaining policy addons such as floaters to cover valuables above the coverage limits of a standard policy.

You will have to decide on one important part of the coverage: actual or replacement value.

If you have expensive items like electronics that are subject to depreciation, you should consider replacement cost coverage. This type of policy reimburses you for the current cost of buying a new equivalent item.

However, if you had an “actual value” policy, the computer would be valued as a used item. So, a 3-yearold computer would be covered for its initial cost minus depreciation.

Of course, replacement cost coverage is more expensive. It’s up to you to decide which type of coverage fits your needs and budget.

442 W. Kortsen Road., Ste. 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-836-7660

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we know insurance can be complicated. luckily, we’re experts. simple human sense

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Find Old Arizona Along the Apache Trail

by Blake Herzog

The Apache Trail, also known as AZ Route 88, winds northeast from Apache Junction through some of the most scenic saguaro-studded desert in the state as it follows the jagged edge of the Superstition Mountains.

T

he improbable route has been used for centuries by the tribe it’s named after, among others.

It was developed for vehicles to get supplies to Roosevelt Dam while it was being built in the early 1900s.

Sadly, the unpaved portion of the Apache Trail has been closed to traffic for nearly two years, since fires and flooding triggered landslides that blocked access to Apache and Roosevelt lakes. But there’s still a day’s worth of things to do along the first 18 miles. From west to east, the highlights are:

Superstition Mountain-Lost Dutchman Museum

Goldfield Ghost Town Blushing Cactus Photography 88

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This is the home of the Elvis Memorial Chapel and several other sets rescued from a nearby Western movie studio that burned down. Its 15 acres also have an in-depth exhibit on the Lost Dutchman legend, gold ore mills ranging from mule-drawn equipment on a simple circular track to a massive 20-stamp mill, a nature walk, Native American artifacts and much more. www. superstitionmountainmuseum.org LATE SU M M E R 2021

FUN Travel

Lost Dutchman Museum Blushing Cactus Photography

Lost Dutchman State Park Blushing Cactus Photography

Goldfield Ghost Town

Canyon Lake

Tortilla Flat

Developed on the site of an 1890s mining town, today this ghost town is a collection of attractions and shops building off the legacy of the region including a mine tour by day and a ghost walk tour by night, a live reptile exhibit, bordello tour, soaring zip line and, oh yes, a museum as well! Two of its crowdpleasers, the 8-gauge railroad and staged gunfights, are available during the winter season. www.goldfieldghosttown.com

The reservoir sits 9 crooked miles north of the state park as you drive deeper into the foothills. One of the four reservoirs on the Salt River, this is probably the most picturesque, meeting the canyon walls after which it’s named. It has a year-round marina and campground, and is popular with powerboat users, jet skiers, wind sailors and others who make full use of its 950 or so acres of watery surface. The Dolly Steamboat continues to offer scenic tours as well. www.canyonlakemarina.com; www.dollysteamboat.com

The last surviving stage stop on the Apache Trail has a saloon and restaurant featuring its worldfamous spicy chili, a country store with similarly beloved prickly pear gelato and a mercantile showcasing locally made pottery, jewelry and gifts. Just a couple of miles past Canyon Lake, it’s the perfect midpoint to sit at and relax before taking in even more spectacular vistas on the way back out! www.tortillaflataz.com

Lost Dutchman State Park The sprawling park at the base of the mountains has a visitor center with natural exhibits and a gift shop, 10 hiking trails, a mountain biking trail and lots of wildlife found living in a wide variety of native vegetation. There are 138 campsites and five cabins, many catering to hikers and horseback riders who use the park’s trails to access the rugged Superstition Wilderness. These include a few intrepid mining enthusiasts, drawn by the secret stashes those imposing cliffs and canyons might still hold. www.azstateparks.com/lostdutchman GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

Canyon Lake

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SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF FOOD AND DRINK

Bar | Tavern Airport Tavern, Casa Grande McMashers Sports Bar & Grill, Casa Grande

Chinese Lucky's Sushi & Chinese Restaurant, Casa Grande Hong Kong Kitchen, Casa Grande

Breakfast | Brunch Big House Cafe, Casa Grande Cook-E-Jar Bakery and Cafe, Casa Grande

Coffee Shop Honeycutt Coffee and Wine Bar, Maricopa Deadlift Coffee Shop, Casa Grande

Burger Porter's Cafe, Superior Burrito Nico's Mexican Food, Casa Grande

Happy Hour A Latte Vino, Casa Grande

Dessert | Bakery | Cookie | Donut | Ice Cream Sweet Cravings by Karla Wear, Maricopa

Food Truck The Secret Ingredient, Casa Grande

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Patio Honeycutt Coffee and Wine Bar, Maricopa New Restaurant Hideout Steakhouse and BBQ, Casa Grande Silver King Smokehouse & Saloon, Superior Sandwich Creative Cafe, Casa Grande

Comfort Food Big House Cafe, Casa Grande

Dive Bar Airport Tavern, Casa Grande

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Fine Dining | Special Occasion BeDillions Restaurant, Casa Grande

Seafood Taco Giro Mexican Grill & Seafood, Casa Grande

Margarita Anaya's Fresh Mexican Restaurant, Casa Grande Mexican Anaya's Fresh Mexican Restaurant, Casa Grande

Steakhouse Hideout Steakhouse and BBQ, Casa Grande Tacos Taco Kings, Casa Grande Wine Bar | Winery Bruzzi Vineyard, Superior

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WATER Ice Cream

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Family Owned and Operated

20928 N John Wayne Pkwy Maricopa, AZ 85139 520-568-4740 - Find us on FB!

Congratulations to all of the 2021 Best of Pinal County Winners!

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Coffee with some WEIGHT! Keeping Pinal Caffeinated since 2016.

Deadlift Coffee Shop & Food Trailer would like to thank our customers for supporting us since the beginning as a coffee trailer and then as coffee shop. We hope to continue to grow with this amazing community!

OP A

Thank you for your contribution to our community!

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

44400 W Honeycutt Rd. Suite 109 Maricopa, AZ 85138 520-510-4468 | www.honeycuttcoffeecafe.com

Casa Grande’s Downtown Coffee Shop 305 N Florence St

Available for special events & bookings.

Online ordering available at www.deadliftcoffee.com GOLDEN COR R IDOR LIV I NG 91

Willow Springs Lake

Splash Down in Arizona’s Forest Lakes

by Blake Herzog

W

e have few recreational lakes to choose from in Pinal County, and the ones we may frequent in Maricopa County or on the Colorado River are also in the desert, providing little relief during our season of sizzle.

But if you have time for a scenery-strewn road trip, these five forested Northern Arizona lakes offer some well-deserved respite. Check ahead for any wildfire or COVID-related closures of roads or facilities that could affect your plans.

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LAKE MARY The Lake Mary Recreation Corridor stretches across two skinny lakes east of Flagstaff and 3 hours away from Casa Grande. Upper Lake Mary has no limits on boat motor size, so it’s a favorite of power boaters and water and jet skiers. Kayakers, canoers and paddle boarders are welcomed, too, and it’s stocked with walleye, trout and channel catfish for anglers.

It’s a great stop for bird and other wildlife watchers, hikers and mountain bikers. There are three

Lake Mary, courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

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FUN Traveling, Dining & Entertainment campgrounds, all scheduled to close for the season on Oct. 11 along with the day-use areas, but the lakes themselves are open year-round. ❚ www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ coconino/recreation/fishing/ recarea/?recid=82341&actid=42

The surrounding White Mountain peaks and their reflections in the water draw boatloads of photographers, too. ❚ www.wmat.nsn.us/ hawleycabins.html

WOODS CANYON AND WILLOW SPRINGS LAKES

This 575-acre lake south of Greer has spectacular views, fine fishing and endless trails for hikers and mountain bikers. Boat and kayak rentals are available. There are nine campgrounds in the area, two of which can accommodate RVs and two dedicated entirely to tent camping, all 4.5 hours away from Casa Grande.

Located in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the White Mountains, it’s at 9,000 feet and one of the best fishing lakes in the state; with rainbow, cutthroat, Apache and brook trout the most prized catches.

It’s near several other lakes and both forks of the Black River. ❚ www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/ recarea/?recid=80836

These lakes are located 7 miles apart along state Highway 260, about halfway between Payson and Heber and 2.5 hours from Casa Grande. Both are regularly stocked with trout, with bass and catfish also found in Woods Canyon, the smaller of the two. Both are surrounded by ponderosas, fir and spruce, and Woods Canyon has a scenic canyon-bound setting.

Both are part of the Rim Lakes Recreation Area and have stunning vistas of the 200-mile Mogollon Rim above. Woods Canyon Lake has several campgrounds, while Willow Springs Lake is within walking distance of one. ❚ Woods Canyon Lake: www. fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/ recarea/?recid=80835 ❚ Willow Springs Lake: www. fs.usda.gov/recarea/asnf/ recarea/?recid=45185

BIG LAKE

If you have time for a scenerystrewn road trip, these five forested Northern Arizona lakes offer some well-deserved respite.

HAWLEY LAKE

If your ideal escape to the woods involves a cabin, check out Hawley Lake, southeast of McNary on White Mountain Apache tribal lands. It’s about 4 hours away from Casa Grande and offers 68 cabins owned and operated by the tribe’s Community Development Corporation to provide jobs and fund housing opportunities. There’s also a campground for RVs, trailers and tents.

The quality of the fishing in the 260-acre lake is excellent yearround, with ice fishing a great winter ritual for the truly dedicated.

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Hawley Lake

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FUN Traveling, Dining & Entertainment

Have You Insured Your Boat or Personal Watercraft?

Just because you’re out on the water doesn’t mean there aren’t risks to you and others or to your watercraft. But what kind of coverage do you need?

While insuring a small boat or personal watercraft is similar to buying insurance for your car, buying insurance for a yacht is more like buying homeowner’s insurance.

Watercraft insurance explained Like home insurance, a boat policy covers you for liability if someone is injured on your craft.

The insurer also will give you a

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choice between replacement cost or cash value in case of a total loss such as a fire or if you have an accident bad enough that will require the boat to be totaled.

A boat policy typically includes coverage for bodily injury your boat inflicts on others, property damage it inflicts on docks and other boats, and physical damage to your craft should you hit something or run aground.

You can purchase: ❚ Comprehensive insurance to cover against theft, vandalism and fire. ❚ Personal property coverage for any personal possessions you may keep on the boat. ❚ Uninsured boater insurance in case someone not insured plows into you. ❚ Roadside assistance if you need a tow.

Many insurers will allow you to lay up or suspend coverage for a specific period of time when you won’t be using the boat. Beware, though some boat owners have been caught unawares when they have an accident on a nice sunny afternoon in late October when their policy specifies it’s only covered from April 1 to Oct. 1.

Agreed versus market value Under agreed value, you and the insurance company agree on the value of the boat up front. With market value, the insurer will pay up to the current market value (new price minus depreciation) if the boat is totaled. Insuring the market value can save you up to 25% on the premium, depending on the insurer.

Typically, if you own a new boat you may want to go with agreed value since the boat, much like a car, will depreciate once you take it out of the showroom.

Also: ❚ If you are towing your boat and the boat is damaged, the car policy will cover it, and the limits of that policy apply. ❚ If the boat is out of water and parked at your home, the watercraft insurance will typically not cover damage, vandalism or theft. That would be covered by your homeowner’s policy; an umbrella policy is recommended. ❚ Most boat insurance policies have navigational limits, meaning the boat will only be covered in a certain geographic area.

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SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF LIFESTYLE

Casino Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel & Casino, Maricopa Hiking Trail Casa Grande Mountain Trail Live Music Venue Airport Tavern, Casa Grande Museum Pinal County Historical Museum, Florence Nonprofit CASA of Pinal County, Florence Place to Take Kids Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, Picacho Place to Take Visitors Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Photo: Mila Besich

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

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SPECIAL FEATURE BEST OF PINAL COUNTY

THE BEST OF SHOPPING Butcher Shop The Box Meat Shop, Maricopa Craft | Hobby Store Little 6 Industries!, Maricopa Custom Apparel Gold Canyon Embroidery & Boutique, Gold Canyon Farmers Market Superior Farm-to-Fantastic Market, Superior Jewelry Sommers Jewelry, Casa Grande Nursery | Plants Distinctive Earthscapes at The Avocado Nursery, Casa Grande Outdoor Decor Happy Adobe, Florence Place to Buy Gifts Random Boutique, Superior Second-Hand Clothing BowWow Meow Thrift Shop & Consignment of The Valley Humane Society, Casa Grande Westernwear C-A-L Ranch Stores, Casa Grande

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Arts & Culture FUN

Get ready for Dial-A-Story Casa Grande Public Library

H

elp your child explore books and language in a new way through Dial-A-Story at the Casa Grande Public Library.

Listen to new children’s stories weekly from the comfort of your own home by dialing 520-510-0990. Stories will be available in English and Spanish.

Give it a try today!

Be sure to visit us in person, as well, at the Casa Grande Public Library, 449 N. Drylake St., or Vista Grande Public Library, 1556 N. Arizola Road. Both are open and ready to help our community.

See you soon!

New Stories Added Every Week!

English and Spanish

CALL 520-510-0990 GO LD E NCOR R I D OR L I V IN G .C O M

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Q&A

Maricopa Chamber of Commerce Award Winners Photos by Volo, Courtesy Maricopa Chamber of Commerce

Sonny Dunn Citizen of the Year Award — Jennifer Connelly, owner/operator of 6th Day Farms and director of development at Maricopa Pantry Q: How did you get involved with the Maricopa Pantry?

Jennifer Connelly, Maricopa Pantry & 6th Day Farms accepts the Sonny Dunn Citizen of the Year Award.

With Pete Marino, Homesmart Success (left) and William Dunn (right) 98

A: I began attending the food bank about five or six years ago as we had friends and family suddenly living with us. I started volunteering my time to give back to this amazing organization that was helping me, along with so many others. I am now the director of development — an unpaid volunteer position — for Maricopa

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Pantry, and I run the social media, help fundraise and anything else we need to accomplish to serve our community.

Q: What was your response to being named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber?

A: I am honored to have received an award named after such a revered member of our community. Sonny Dunn made an amazing impact on so many people. I feel this is an award for our entire community; without God and every single one of us who helps give or receive our blessings,

none of this would be possible.

Chairman’s Award — Antonia Presume, owner of Joia Gift Baskets Q: When and how did your business start out in Maricopa?

A: I started the business for my daughter. She was doing a drama workshop, and they had invited her to go to New York City.

They said, “You guys can do some fundraisers to help with expenses.” So I started making baskets, and it went so well when I started doing them for fundraising that I said maybe I should do a business because people LATE SU M M E R 2021

Jon Corwin, Chairman of the Board with Antonia Presume, winner of the Chairman's Award and owner of Jola Gift Baskets

the events. This year I got on the board, and for the last couple of years I’ve been on the ambassador committee and chaired it.

Best Big Business — Karsten’s Maricopa ACE Hardware (Manager William Gonzalez) Q: When and how did your business start out in Maricopa?

were calling me and asking how much they were. And so I registered my business at City Hall.

for the poppies or for the flags or raffles. All of those are welcome.

We also let our customers donate to Phoenix Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Miracle Network by rounding up their bills to the nearest dollar. That helps support the approximately 400 kids from Maricopa who need to go there every year.

A: 2007 is when Maricopa ACE hardware opened up. And then February 2020 is when the Karstens came in and turned it into Karsten’s ACE Hardware. I’ve been working here since 2013.

Q: When and why did your business join the Chamber?

Q: What does getting involved in the community mean for your business?

A: I went to the Chamber and I joined because I wanted to be around the business community. I’ve lived in Maricopa for about 15 years, but I’m a big homebody so I didn’t really know a lot of people. I joined the Chamber, and I got very active within the chamber; I went to all

A: We’ve always been active in the Chamber, and we sponsor a lot of events. We have the Girl Scouts here every year and the veterans, too.

We always have the Cub Scouts with the Girl Scouts or I’ve got the veterans out front and set up a booth for them to do donations

From Left, Ray Nieves, 911 Air Repair, Owner, Treasurer of the Board with William Gonzales, General Manager, Karsten's Ace Hardware and Dave Karsten, Owner Karsten's Ace Hardware. The "Waz" Business of the Year

Other Award Winners

Jon Corwin, Chairman of the Board with Tanya Powers, Owner of Honeycutt Coffee and Wine Bar, Best Small Business

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Renate Chamberlin Volunteer of the Year Tim Bennett accepted the award on behalf of Jim Shoaf. With Dave Karsten, Owner Karsten's Ace Hardware.

Best Nonprofit Mayor Price and Michael Connely of the Maricopa Pantry

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