Golden Corridor LIVING

Design Trends for 2018 . . . . . . . 36

Jim Suor’s Custom Creations . . 42

Stay, Play, Sail Away. . . . . . . . . 126

“THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY”

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION Inside:

2018 Winter Visitor Guide

The Interview: In Every Edition:

Pat Johnson Talks Attesa

SEEDS OF HOPE:

DELIVERING MORE THAN HOPE GOLDENCORRIDORLIVING.COM

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RARE VILLAGO BASEMENT HOME!

432 E. Seven Seas Dr. $449,900 Highly upgraded Fulton Burroughs model with full basement w/split 4-car garage! Kitchen features staggered maple cabinets, granite counters, GE Profile™ appliances including gas cooktop and Advantium™ wall ovens.

Great room includes surround sound,gas stacked stone fireplace w/ custom stone mantel. The open floor plan is perfect for entertaining!

Master and 2 bedrooms on the main level - all with walk-in closets. Snail shower in master bath. Basement features huge game-room (pool table included!), two bedrooms + full bath. Fully landscaped backyard paradise has a fenced pool, 10’ RV gate, rain gutters, extended concrete walkways and more! 3-car garage has epoxy floor you can eat on! Single garage is extended length. Solar, RO system, security system - the list is extensive.

BEA LUECK

520.560.5671 | Bea.lueck@coldwellbanker.com 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com ©2018 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.

Design Trends for 2018 . . . . . . . 36

Jim Suor’s Custom Creations . . 42

Stay, Play, Sail Away . . . . . . . . . 126

“THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY”

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

Contents

Inside:

2018 Winter Visitor Guide

Features: The Interview: In Every Edition:

Pat Johnson Talks Attesa

SEEDS OF HOPE:

DELIVERING MORE THAN HOPE GOLDENCORRIDORLIVING.COM

$4.95 Complimentary • WINTER 2018

ARIZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • MARICOPA

ABOUT THE COVER: Danrick Builders President Pat Johnson with some of the vehicles he hopes to see on-track at Attesa, including a Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid, a midengine Lotus Elise SC, a 2016 Shelby Ford F150 and a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle.

Photo credit: Cindy Urtuzuastegui Photography Cindy Urtuzuastegui is a lifestyle and freelance photographer currently available in the Phoenix Metro area. (www.facebook.com/cindyuphoto).

Winter 2018

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

The LIVING Interview: Pat Johnson of Danrick Builders

24

Special Section: Home & Garden

36

2018 Winter Visitor Guide

68

Seeds of Hope: Delivering More than Hope for 25 Years

103

Economy & Local Business

Health, Wealth & Education

Travel, Dining & Entertainment

Eloy, Arizona: Moving Forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Out & About: Best of 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

ROX Travel: Stay, Play, Sail Away. . . . . . . . 126

Casa Grande Main Street: What’s Up Downtown. . . . . . . . 30

Pinal County Adoption Day Celebrates Forever Homes . . . 64

Personal Art in Home Décor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth: Think Regional . . . . . . . 32

CAC Offers Technology, Engineering & CIS Pathways. . 120

Public Library Creative Writing Contest Winner. . . . . 134

G OLDENCORRIDORLIVING .COM

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Letter from the Editor

HAPPY 2018!

Last year is now a memory, and we are firmly a couple weeks into 2018. So what does this new year have in store for us?

T

Bea Lueck

8

he economy is more robust than it has been in a long time. Pinal County’s unemployment is below 5 percent for the first time in over 10 years.

Arizona wages are up by 5.2 percent this past year, mostly due to the voter-approved minimum wage increase.

Home values have increased from an average sale price of $167,502 in December 2017 to $183,616 in November 2017 - an increase of 9.6 percent.

And as resale home inventories reach levels that have not been seen for years, new home builders are once again breaking ground on new models and subdivisions. Communities can now focus on economic development and growth, rather than staying afloat.

The Casa Grande City Council recently gave the green light to the community center project, which voters approved in 2006. And one of

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

the many proposed projects in our area is Attesa Motorsports. I had the opportunity to sit down with Patrick Johnson, President of Attesa, in November to discuss the ins and outs of the project. Johnson is no stranger to the racing world, but his project is so much more than that! Check out this edition’s interview to learn more about Attesa and the man behind the idea of bringing international racing to Pinal County.

This edition also brings multiple special sections. January is traditionally our Home & Garden section, and this year you will find fun and valuable information, including this year’s Pantone Color of the Year - Ultra Violet. Yes, it’s purple by another name! January is also the time for our annual Winter Visitor Guide, where you will find a variety of resources, places to go and things to do in our

area. Each year, I’ve had long-term residents remark that even they learned something new about the region. Make sure you tell me what you learned this year!

Our last special section celebrates the 25th anniversary of Seeds of Hope. What began as a vision of Pastor Rick Lemberg and the First Presbyterian Church has grown to serving hundreds of people in the community in a variety of ways, ranging from free medical care and hot meals to after-school care and job-skills training as well as senior adult programs.

Don’t forget to like our Facebook page. We have several contests coming up that you won’t want to miss!

Until then - ENJOY!

–Bea

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

G OLDENCORRIDORLIVING .COM

VOICES of the Community

PUBLISHER Elaine Earle, CPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bea Lueck MANAGING EDITOR Katie Mayer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Meet some of our contributing Voices of the Community. These leaders come from public, private and nonprofit organizations. You’ll find their fresh ideas and timely stories in this edition.

Donna McBride ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Debbie Cortez CREATIVE DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tim Clarke SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Angela Askey Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College Angela is the Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Central Arizona College. Prior to her arrival at CAC, Angela served as the Media Relations Coordinator at Mesa Community College and the Community Relations Coordinator at Idaho State University College of Technology.

Jake Pagano DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Carrie Vargas ADVERTISING INQUIRIES info@roxco.com COMMENTS & IDEAS editor@roxco.com CALENDAR INQUIRES calendar@roxco.com (520) 426-2074 442 W. Kortsen Rd, Ste 101 Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Joel Belloc Mayor, City of Eloy Mayor Belloc was reelected for his second term as Mayor of the City of Eloy in November 2016.

He has also served as a member of the Eloy City Council from 2002 - 2012 and as Vice Mayor from 2012- 2014. Prior to this, he served 12 years on the Santa Cruz Valley Union High School Governing Board. He graduated from Central Arizona College with an AAS degree in drafting/design, attended Pima College and the University of Arizona, where he enrolled in landscape architecture. He currently manages his family’s farming business, “Belloc Inc.” Mayor Belloc is a longtime resident of Eloy, and has been married to his wife Cecilia for over 40 years. Together they have three children, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Breanna Boland Executive Director, Casa Grande Alliance Breanna is the Executive Director of the Casa Grande Alliance. She started working for the organization in 2012 as a Prevention Specialist. Breanna studied Public Health at Northern Arizona University and is a Arizona Certified Prevention Specialist.

Evelyn Casuga Golden Corridor LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations. © 2018. 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 CORRID V ING 10 GOLDEN forming their own opinions.OR Real LI estate information is as of 1-1-18 and is subject to current availability and pricing.

Economic/Community Development Advisor for Access Arizona Evelyn serves as Economic/Community Development Advisor for Access Arizona, the area’s regional economic development foundation. Evelyn works part time at CAC and consults with the Center for the Future of Arizona, and other nonprofit/ private entities. She volunteers with numerous organizations in economic and community development throughout Arizona.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Terri Durham

Helen Neuharth

Office Coordinator, Seeds of Hope Terri is a writer, idea-shaper, event-organizer, teambuilder, problem-solver, I.T. do-it-yourselfer with a make it happen mindset for Seeds of Hope. She uses her love of communication to integrate marketing strategies across multiple platforms including social media, website, mobile and print materials. And she loves cute shoes too.

President & CEO, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Helen was hired as the President/CEO of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce in August 1991 and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management from Boulder, Colorado. Helen is an active member of the Arizona Chamber Executives.

Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie

John Nixon, CPRP

Certified Physical Trainer, CPT, WickedFiTT Tiffanie is the owner of WickedFiTT, in Casa Grande, AZ. She is a well-known personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and all around fitness junkie. Tiffanie specializes in weight loss, strength and conditioning, and general fitness.

Recreation Superintendent, Town of Florence Community Services Department John is recreation superintendent for the Florence Community Services Department. He is in his 33rd year in the parks and recreation field. An Arizona native, John and wife Sue have two grown sons; Jacob, a behavioral health administrator and Keith, a police officer.

Corianna Lee

Rina Rien

Performing Arts Center Director, Coolidge Performing Arts Center Corianna “Cori” is a performing arts teacher at Coolidge High School and the Performing Arts Center Director for the Coolidge Performing Arts Center. At Coolidge High School, she directs the dance, drama and technical theater programs, and was named as an Arizona Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Thespian Society. Corianna has a bachelor’s in fine arts in dance and an master’s in special education. She is married with four children from kindergarten to high school and has been a resident of and employee in Pinal County for 17 years.

Director, Casa Grande Main Street As Executive Director of Casa Grande Main Street since 2012, Rina fosters a collaborative approach toward building a vibrant downtown community. Rina enjoys partnering with highly creative people who share a passion for promoting Historic Downtown and preserving its rich history.

Donna McBride

Debbie Shumway

Councilwoman, City of Casa Grande Donna is the Program Administrator/Public Information Officer and Supervisor for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Unit for Pinal County Juvenile Court. She is actively involved as a Board Member for Casa Grande Alliance, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, BlackBox Foundation, Mayor’s Reading Program, Pinal County Town Hall Vice-Chair, Parks and Block Watch Captain for the Casa Grande Police Department. She is a current member of the Casa Grande City Council.

Executive Director, Hospice of the Valley Debbie is Executive Director of Hospice of the Valley. Her introduction to hospice began as a young adult, when she accompanied her mother, a patient care volunteer. She subsequently joined the not-for-profit agency in 1994 as a senior leader, and was named to the top position in 2016.

Craig McFarland

Jon Thompson

Mayor, City of Casa Grande Born and raised in California, Mayor McFarland has lived in Casa Grande since 2005. He is a graduate of California State University of Fresno, and retired from Golden Eagle Distributors in January 2015 as VP of Sales after a ten year run with the company, and 36 total years in beverage business sales management, marketing, and operations. McFarland began his first term as Mayor in December 2016.

Gigi McWhirter Conceived in a plane behind the Airport Tavern and living proof that it takes a village to raise a kid proper. Married to the best man and we live in what I call the “Best Dog House in Casa Grande” shared with a bunch of dogs, two parakeets and a finch called “Rusty”. Lived in Alaska, drove on the Arctic Ocean, Walked on the Great Wall of China and drank Guinness in Ireland. But none of this compares to my profound love of animals and Flying Leap wines!

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

Mayor, City of Coolidge Mayor Thompson graduated from NAU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was first elected to the Coolidge City Council in 2002 and served as Vice Mayor from 2006 to 2010.

He gave up his council seat to run for Mayor and since being elected, has retired as Division Director for the Pinal County Adult Probation Department after 30 years.

Tori Ward Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel Victoria “Tori” is a cruise and resort specialist with a master’s degree in political science. She has completed more than 30 certification courses with the cruise and tour industry including the most advanced certification, Commodore, from Princess Cruise Lines. Tori is a member of the Cruise Lines International Association.

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

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Submit your events online at goldencorridorliving.com JANUARY

13

2018 MARICOPA FAMILY FISHING DAY - 7:00 AM Copper Sky Regional Park - 44345 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Maricopa. $5 BBQ meal. $1 goodie bags for children. Registration starts at 7:00 AM, fishing starts at 8:00 AM.

13

CASA GRANDE RC FLYERSSWAP MEET - 9:00 AM12:00 PM - CG RC Flyers Field - 2725 S. Isom Rd., Casa Grande.

13

CASA GRANDE HOLISTIC EXPO - 9:00 AM-8:00 PM - The Property Conference Center - 1251 W. Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande. $5 general admission.

Free lectures/presentations every hour. Readers, healers, metaphysical vendors.

13

HOME, HEALTH & GARDEN SHOW/CAR & TRUCK SHOW - 10:00 AM-3:00 PM - AZ

Home Furnishing Outlets - 2300 N. Tanger Dr, Casa Grande.

13

PETER, PAUL & MARY REMEMBERED - 3:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Coolidge (Pence Center). $22.

19

CONCERT IN THE PARK 6:00 PM-8:00 PM - Peart Park - 350 E. 6th St., Casa Grande.

Free to attend. Blankets and/or lawn chairs are encouraged.

20

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN STREET FAIR-CAR & MOTORCYCLE SHOW - 10:00 AM-5:00 PM - Florence St. in Historic Downtown Casa Grande.

Approximately 200 exhibitors, food, entertainment & more. Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.

20

2017 COMMUNITY AWARDS BANQUET - 5:30 PM-11:00 PM - Elements Event Center - 16000 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa. Maricopa Chamber of Commerce Awards. MUST RSVP by January 13. $50 per person. $90 per couple. $400 per table of ten.

24

CIRQUE SHANGHAI 7:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Coolidge (Pence Center). $22.

27

P.O.W.W.O.W.-PRODUCE ON WHEELS WITH OUT WASTE - 7:00 AM-10:00 AM - Limitless Events - 1004 N. Promenade Pkwy., Ste. 119, Casa Grande. $10 for 60 lbs. of fresh produce.

28

GET MADD AND RIDE FOR EMILY - 8:00 AM - Oasis Health Center - 1667 E. Monument Plaza Cir., Casa Grande. Inaugural 20-mile bike ride. Join us as we ride in honor of Emily and all impaired driving victims.

20

DUELING PIANOS - 6:00 PM-9:00 PM - A Latte Vino - 958 E. Rodeo Rd., Ste. A1, Casa Grande.

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW - 10:00 AM-5:00 PM - Pinal Fairgrounds - 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner Rd., Casa Grande. Kids 12 and under are free. Ages 13 and over are $8 and includes all of the great entertainment and exhibits.

Rain or shine event. Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Center - 405 E. 6th St., Casa Grande.

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ELOY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS - 6:30 PM - Holiday Inn Casa Grande - 777 N. Pinal Ave, Casa Grande.

20

FEBRUARY

2

LA COCINA FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL - 5:30 PM-9:00 PM - 280 E. 3rd St., Casa Grande. Come and enjoy great food & music.

3

CAC RODEO TEAM PRESENTSPINAL’S GOT TALENT - 7:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. Pence Center, Coolidge. $15.

7

THIS IS US - 6:00 PM-8:00 PM - A Latte Vino - 958 E. Rodeo Rd., Casa Grande. Tickets available at www.paintnite.com.

8

THE GREAT GATSBY-YOUTH THEATRE - Blackbox - 413 N. Florence St., Casa Grande. Call for times: (520) 428-7050.

8

LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF TUCSON’S UNKNOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN PIONEERS 1860-1910 - BERNARD WILSON 1:00 PM - Dorothy Powell Senior

12

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

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15TH ANNUAL WUERTZ GOURD FESTIVAL - Pinal Fairgrounds - 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner, Casa Grande. Friday & Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM & Sunday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Food vendors, live entertainment, artists, vendors & much more!

9

NIGHT OF THE STARS - 6:00 PM - Windmill Winery - 1140 W. Butte Ave., Florence. Celebration of community spirit and support with the Central Arizona College Foundation.

10

33RD ANNUAL FLORENCE HISTORIC HOME TOUR 10:00 AM-4:00 PM - 291 N. Main St., Florence. Begins at Jaques Square. Tickets $10 advance/$15 at the door.

WINE GARDEN HOSTED BY WINDMILL WINERY - 12:00 PM-4:00 PM - Padilla Park (6th and Main St.) Florence.

PINAL COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTTEE 2018 LINCOLN DAY LUNCHEON - 11:15 AM - Doors open at 10:00 AM, Luncheon begins at 11:15 AM. The Property Conference Center, 1251 W Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande. Tickets $45 Single, $80 Couple, $320 for Table of 8. Make reservations at http://pinal.arizonagop.net.

GUN SHOW - Holiday Inn - 777 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande. Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Admission: $8 (good for both days).

STUDENT ART GALLERY OPENING - 3:00 PM-4:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. Pence Center, Coolidge. Free.

RIDERS IN THE SKY-TIP OF THE STETSON TO ROY ROGERS - 7:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - Pence Center, Coolidge. $22.

4TH ANNUAL MARICOPA COPA COLOR FUN RUN (5K) / WALK (1 MILE) - 9:00 AM - Copper Sky Regional Park amphitheater - 44345 W. Martin Luther King Blvd., Maricopa.

Registration starts at 7:00 AM.

CASA GRANDE RC FLYERSDRONE & HELICOPTER DAY - CG RC Flyers Field - 2725 S. Isom Rd., Casa Grande. For times, visit www.casagrandercflyers.com LAUGH WITH US - THE IMPRO VABLES - 3:00 PM CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - Pence Center, Coolidge. $5.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

BUSINESS INDEX 33rd Annual Florence Historic Home Tour . . . . . . 46 Academy Mortgage - CG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Advanced Energy Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

January – March 2018 FEBRUARY (CONTINUED)

28

UTAH SHAPESPEARE FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE TEMPEST - 10:30 AM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - Pence Center, Coolidge. $5.

28

EMPTY BOWLS - 11:00 AM-1:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - N. Plaza, Coolidge. $10 cash donation per bowl at the event.

Agave Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Al & Riley’s A/C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Banner Casa Grande Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Brutinel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 118 Caliche Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Capital R Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Casa Grande Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Casa Grande Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118, 129 Casa Grande Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Casa Grande Main St . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

MARCH

Central Arizona College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

COME BACK BUDDY CONCERT - 7:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - Pence Center, Coolidge. $20.

1

HIDDEN WOMEN OF THE OLD WEST - JANA BOMMERSBACH 1:00 PM - Dorothy Powell - 405 E. 6th St., Casa Grande.

LA COCINA FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL - 5:30 PM-9:00 PM - 280 E. 3rd St., Casa Grande.

Come and enjoy great Food and music every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.

2

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6

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ROCKTACULAR ON PLAZA - 12:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - M Building, Coolidge.

Free.

6

SOUNDS OF SIGNAL PEAK - 7:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - Pence Center, Coolidge. Free.

8

SPRING HEALTH FAIR - 9:00 AM-1:00 PM - CAC - 8470 N. Overfield Rd. - M Building, Coolidge.

8

HISTORY SPEAKS! HELLRAISING, HEROIC AND

11TH ANNUAL CASA GRANDE FINE ART EXPLOSION - Peart Park - 350 E. 6th St., Casa Grande. Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Free admission.

CASA GRANDE RC FLYERS3RD ANNUAL AIR SHOW - 9:00 AM-1:00 PM - CG RC Flyers Field - 2725 S. Isom Rd., Casa Grande.

15

DAY OUT DOWNTOWN & HISTORIC WALKING TOUR - 9:30 AM - Florence Street & 3rd Street, Casa Grande. Meet on Main Street Patio Florence St. and 3rd St. at 9:30 AM for refreshments and an orientation before heading out for a 1 hour historical walking tour at 10:00 AM.

Coldwell Banker ROX - BROKERAGE . . . 5, 19, 35, 129 Coldwell Banker ROX - Property Management . . . 51 Desert Sun Heating, Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Dick & Mitchell DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 DM Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Doctor’s Choice Mobility & Medical Supplies . . . . 125 Elegance N Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Fitzgibbons Law Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Freeway Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Grande Innovation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Hospice of the Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Iron City Polaris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Jenkins Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Keller Williams Legacy One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Mankel Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Mission Heights Preparatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Ochoa’s Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Rich’s Auto Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 ROX Casa Grande Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Star Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Sun Life Family Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TeePee Sand And Gravel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Title Security Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 United Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Yang and Horsley Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

13

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THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Elaine Earle Publisher

Tim Clarke

Creative Director

Elaine is an accomplished publisher and management professional with 20 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant and publisher of a diverse set of marketing products. Elaine and her team bring a “one firm” solution to clients. She has a passion for traveling and has been to over 30 countries.

Bea Lueck

General Manager & Managing Editor

Tim is a digital design professional with more than 25 years of experience. Tim is responsible for all creative consulting, magazine design, print production and web development for ROX Media Group. He manages production for multiple publications as well as multiple Drupal and Wordpress sites for clients.

Katie Mayer

Editor & Project Manager

Julie is a marketing professional with 20 years of experience working in client and agency settings. Julie has created and managed marketing strategies across many industries, designed to meet client objectives and stay within an established budget.

Julie Turetzky

Carrie Vargas

Public Relations & Marketing Manager

Larry Bagan

Publisher & Chief Operations Officer, Visitor Media Group

Jake Pagano

Senior Graphic Designer

Bea is the general manager and managing editor of ROX Media Group. She handles the various day-to-day activities necessary to take the publications from concept to print and distribution. She has over 22 years of experience in multiple advertising media, including print, direct mail, television and web.

Digital Marketing Manager

Larry provides more than 20 years of media experience, including successful tenures at Putman Media, Hanley Wood, Chilton/Cahners and McGraw-Hill. A graduate of the University of Tampa, Larry possesses a strong marketing and sales mindset and loves to assist organizations with growing revenue and market share.

Jake Pagano is an experienced and driven graphic designer whose creative design work can be found in dozens of consumer, travel and lifestyle publications throughout Arizona. Jake is currently responsible for a number of publications at ROX Media Group including Sun Health LiveWell, Glendale@PLAY and TravelHost Arizona.

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

Jerry Chinn

Photographer & Videographer

Debbie Cortez

Account Executive

Katie is an accomplished senior copywriter and editor with 12 years of experience working with everything from daily print newspapers to magazines and trade publications.

She is also an award-winning journalist and guest lecturer at her Alma Mater, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Carrie is a digital media and advertising professional who specializes in social media, web design, analytics and video production. She works closely with clients to help them create an advertising and digital plan to suit their needs. Carrie leads the social content creation team and oversees monitoring of social media platforms to ensure someone is actively listening and responding to online posts.

roxmediagroup.net

Meet Our Team:

Jerry’s an award-winning photographer/ filmmaker, with a formal arts education and 30-plus years as a photo-illustrator and crewing on Hollywood film and television productions. Relocating to Prescott in 1990, Jerry has since produced documentary films and pursued his passion for travel, which includes leading expeditions to Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Debbie’s career in advertising spans more than a decade. In April 2016, she joined the ROX Media Group team as an account executive, where she serves clients advertising in a variety of publications. She enjoys working directly with advertisers and providing excellent account management and customer service.

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15

PINAL COUNTY

by Staff Reports

• A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA • A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOL

PCSO opens new veterans unit

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City Council approves construction contract for Community Recreation Center

I

n a unanimous vote on December 18, the Casa Grande Mayor and City Council approved a $16 million contract for the construction of the Community Recreation Center.

Initially approved by voters in a bond election in 2006, the construction of a Community Recreation Center will take place at 1900 N. Peart Road, between Kortsen Road and Cottonwood Lane. Work to be performed includes the construction of a 50,000 squarefoot facility, furnishings and

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site and utility improvements.

In March 2016, Mayor and City Council approved and awarded a design contract to begin work on pre-construction services, including a programming plan and conceptual design for the facility. In September 2016, the Mayor and City Council accepted the proposed programming plan and directed staff to proceed with schematic design.

In December 2017, following a thorough review of a finalized site plan, layout, design

renderings, and construction drawings, Mayor and City Council approved a contract with Haydon Building Corp to commence construction of the project. The facility is anticipated to break ground in February 2018, and construction is expected to take 12-14 months with the facility being completed in March 2019.

CSO is launching a new veterans unit at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Facility. The program is called HUMV (Housing Unit for Military Veterans). Any individual who is booked into the jail will get his or her veteran’s status verified through Veterans Affairs. If a veteran, he or she can opt to join the new veterans unit. This unit will consist of veterans from different branches of the military. These inmates will have access to mentors, counselors and educational opportunities to help them once they are released. The mentorship program continues once veterans are released to ensure they get the services they need.

PCSO’s program is modeled after the HUMV program created by Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office launched its program in January 2016, and it is open to both pretrial and sentenced inmates, who have served at home or abroad.

The program is situated in a unit reminiscent of military barracks, and features programming specific to the needs of military veterans.

The results have been extremely positive, dramatically reducing recidivism rates of veterans. Since its inception, 165 individuals have gone through the unit. Among the 111 men who spent a minimum of

continued on page 133...

For the latest updates on the progress of the Community Recreation Center visit casagrandeaz.gov or call 520-421-8677.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

PRESS

Visit GoldenCorridorLiving.com for Up-to-date Local News from Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine

LIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA • A RIZONA CIT Y • CASA GR ANDE • COOLIDGE • ELOY • FLORENCE • M A RICOPA •

Attesa projected to employ more than 6,000

A

pproximately 61 percent of the future Attesa employees will reside in Pinal County, according to updated projections from an economic impact study prepared by Elliott D. Pollack & Company.

Casa Grande is projected to benefit most from incremental local economic activity associated with nearly 5,000 Attesa employees. Maricopa, the county’s second largest city, is projected as the home of nearly 1,600 Attesa employees upon buildout.

Attesa, a $1.1 billion project, will initially recruit over 8,000 workers in the construction and building industry as it produces two racing circuits, a 300-room hotel and 20,000 square-foot conference center, driving club, multi-use venue, wastewater treatment plant and solar canopied plaza. Post grand opening, workers will be needed for ongoing home and commercial building, new onsite high tech and motorsports/transportation design companies, retail and hospitality partners, air park businesses, maintenance, security and more.

Tim Kanavel, Director of Economic Development for Pinal County, said, “It will start with construction and then go from there. Jobs are going to be created, ongoing, and most of those people will live in Casa Grande, Maricopa, Eloy and Coolidge.

The influx of new visitors and residents will create more jobs at restaurants, retailers and other consumer companies.

Attesa is going to bring a lot of

jobs and new residents. We’re glad Attesa chose Pinal County as their home.”

“We’re essentially going to build a mini-city,” said Dan Erickson, Member/Manager of Danrick Builders, the company developing Attesa. “We’re going to welcome tech companies who need to research, develop and test, and people who have a passion for performance cars and driving them at speed, and guests who want to be entertained with uncompromised customer service. To provide the best experience possible, in all those areas, we’re going to need people. And most of them will be local, within the county.”

In addition to those jobs projected for residents of Casa Grande and Maricopa, the report indicates that Attesa will provide employment opportu-

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

nities for residents of Coolidge (313 estimated jobs), San Tan Valley (over 200 jobs), Arizona City (200 jobs), Florence (160 jobs) and Apache Junction (almost 100 jobs).

Attesa anticipates over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs upon buildout. From groundbreaking through Attesa’s subsequent industrial, retail and tourist attraction partner growth, the world’s first motorsports, technology and entertainment community is going to need a wide variety of workers.

“Our partners who test and build and do business at Attesa are going to need workers, that’s for sure,” said Pat Johnson, President of Danrick Builders. “But so will Phoenix Mart, Lucid Motors, DreamPort Village and every other new development planned for Pinal

County. And as we develop our 2,500-acre community, and as the other new companies start up and grow, Casa Grande, Maricopa and the rest of the cities in Pinal County had better be ready.”

Attesa is working with state universities, community colleges and vocational schools toward making sure the employees of tomorrow can receive the training and education they’re going to need today.

“We’re already collaborating with Arizona at Work and Central Arizona College,” added Kanavel. “We understand what the future holds and we’re darn well going to be prepared.”

Attesa is presently undergoing the entitlement process in Pinal County.

See more news on pages 34 & 133…

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17

CITY

SPEAK

WINTER VISITORS

BRING REVENUE TO OUR COMMUNITY

by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

H So, I got to thinking – what if we didn’t have our winter friends/parttime residents/ winter visitors in our community?

What kind of impact would that have on Casa Grande?

appy New Year! This month, I want to talk about what is a full-time resident versus a winter resident. We all spend money and generate sales tax. Many of us pay a property tax, as well. So, I got to thinking – what if we didn’t have our winter friends/part-time residents/ winter visitors in our community? What kind of impact would that have on Casa Grande?

I was discussing this point recently when someone asked me, “How many winter visitors do you get?”

My standard answer has been 20,000 - 25,000. But as I thought about it, I wasn’t really sure how I came up with that number. So I did some research – one, to validate my number and two, to see what kind of impact our part-time residents have on the city. Here are the numbers: • Sales tax increases 20 percent.

• Library use goes up 25 percent.

• Traffic on Florence Boulevard goes up 27 percent. (based on current city traffic studies)

• That is significant. So, to extrapolate the number of winter visitors from these numbers, I used the traffic number. Here is my math: • Permanent full-time residents in Casa Grande 53,600 • Divided by 3 residents per household = 17,867 • Multiplied by 2 cars per family = 35,733 cars • A 27% increase in traffic equals an additional 9,612 vehicles • Times the typical two people per car (just go with me here) = 19,296 winter visitors!

Now, it’s safe to assume that not all winter visitors use Florence Boulevard, because if they are like me, they avoid it. So based on my crude calculation, my number of 20,000 – 25,000 is not bad. Now, what about the financial impact? Here is what I came up with:

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•

•

Casa Grande receives $20.8 million each year in local sales tax • Total sales tax is 8.7 percent.

• The state’s portion of that is 5.6 percent.

• Pinal County’s portion is 1.1 percent.

• City of Casa Grande’s portion is 2 percent of the 8.7 percent.

Taxes collected during the prime winter season (using 6 months only) is $11 million. Times the 20 percent sales tax increase would mean winter visitors account for $2.2 million.

That means they purchase $115 million in sales-taxable goods.

That is $115,000,000 dollars per year in purchases in Casa Grande (during our winter months only). Now that is an impact! This number does not include those who own property and pay property tax, rent, sewer and water and garbage pick-up. It also doesn’t include any non-taxable grocery store food purchases.

So to us full-time residents who complain about traffic – number one, don’t. And number two, next time you meet one of our winter visitors, thank them!

Thank you, everyone!

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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COOLIDGE, ARIZONA A LOOK BACK AT 2017

by Jon Thompson, Mayor, City of Coolidge

I This roadwork will rejuvenate the downtown area and bring back the sparkle many longtime residents can appreciate.

Residents rated our streets as the No. 1 item to address. So in early 2017, we carried out a plan to make that vision a reality. Two major roadways have now been repaved – Main Street, from Central Avenue to Vah Ki Inn Road, and Vah Ki Inn Road, from Main Street to Arizona Boulevard. This street project took just days to complete and the results have been very well received. New roadway is being constructed in our downtown area on Main Street. This roadwork will rejuvenate the downtown area and bring back the sparkle many longtime residents can appreciate. The city has repaved over five miles of additional roadway with a chip seal process, helping to preserve and improve roads.

adults and community gatherings. The library has transformed into a center of involvement among the large collection of books and electronic media.

The Police Department has grown its fleet of Tahoe cruisers, replacing the aging Impala sedans. Many cities have enjoyed great longevity in police vehicles using the SUV style of cruisers versus other vehicles.

The new Tahoes are also more spacious to store additional equipment and gear. Not only will the vehicles offer a longer life span, but the overall maintenance costs have also proven to be cost effective.

The Fire Department welcomed a new chief in 2017.

We’re proud to have Mark Dillon as our new chief. He brings many years of experience. One of his goals, among others, is working to improve our ISO Insurance rating, so residents can enjoy less expensive home insurance premiums.

Our Parks and Recreation Department continues to offer many sports opportunities for youth and adults – from soccer to softball and from Tee-ball to flag football and many more. The participation numbers grow every year. The department has also enjoyed organizing many community events, including Christmas in the Park, Easter in the Park, Halloween activities, 4th of July and the city’s signature event, Coolidge Days.

Parks and Recreation also has many “Movies in the Park” nights throughout the year, attracting visitors from all over the area.

Recycling

Development Services

Starting in October, the city implemented a recycling program. Many residents had inquired about this service and I felt, along with Council, it was something that Coolidge needed. The program consists of a once-weekly pickup of trash and recycling utilizing Right Away Disposal as our waste provider. Our city staff has come up with creative ways to not only make the program cost-effective to the city, but pass along that savings to our residents.

Economic opportunities are one of the many key items our Council strives for. Just this year, our city size has expanded with annexations on the south end of Coolidge. These annexations will position the city for exceptional development as the economy picks up and companies look to settle in Arizona or expand existing facilities. In addition, with the focus on our roadways and beautification projects around the city, I believe we are a great place for businesses to call home. Many expansions to local businesses have already occurred, including a brand new Circle K. Vacant buildings along Arizona Boulevard have been transformed into thriving new businesses, and many more are in the works.

I’m very proud of the many accomplishments Coolidge has achieved this year. I hope you take the time to visit our great city and see for yourself what Coolidge has to offer. I wish you a wonderful holiday season and a great New Year!

wanted to take the opportunity this month to discuss our city’s great achievements over the course of the year. My praise for city staff continues as I watch our community transform into a vibrant, well-rounded place to call home. I would also like to thank our wonderful residents, who shared their vision on a recent survey. It’s an honor to listen to our residents’ needs and find ways to make their ideas a reality. Our City Council carefully assessed all of the feedback and got started on improvements within months of tabulating the results.

Streets

Our dedicated departments The Coolidge Library is one of the busiest public libraries in Pinal County, and I’m very proud of the great work they provide the community.

The Council approved funding for a multi-purpose room addition that was completed in early 2017. Since its opening, many events have taken place, including activities for children, speaking engagements for

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THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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ELOY, ARIZONA ELOY: MOVING FORWARD

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We are committed to expanding economic opportunities and promoting private investment within Eloy.

by Joel G. Belloc, Mayor, City of Eloy

ith the start of the new year, I wanted to take the opportunity this month to discuss our city’s recent achievements. My praise for city staff continues as I watch our community create a foundation for a vibrant place to call home. Our councilmembers pride themselves on listening to our residents’ needs and finding ways to initiate and complete improvements to enhance our community.

Several exciting new developments will be occurring in Eloy, and I’m pleased to share these highlights with you. One of the most significant public projects in the history of the city will become a reality in the near future – a new City Hall. The City Council has assembled an excellent team to design and construct this new facility – Abacus Project Management, Inc. is the project manager; SmithgroupJJR is the architect and CORE Construction is the contractor. The preparation of construction documents is now underway for the approximate 19,000 square-foot building, and staff anticipates construction to commence in March 2018, with completion in spring 2019.This facility will include the Council Chambers, a community room and office space for the Mayor, City Manager, City Clerk, human resources department, community development department and finance staff.

Further, tenant space will be provided within City Hall, which will accommodate more business activity downtown. Pinal County Federal Credit Union leadership has expressed their keen interest in leasing this space. Other projects planned for 2018 include an expansion of Love’s Travel Center on Sunland Gin Road and construction of a

X The new travel center is on the site of the former 76 Truck Stop.

new Xpress Fuels Travel Center at the northeast corner of Interstate 10 and Toltec Road, including a site for a future motel.

The city is also committed to expanding economic opportunities and promoting private investment within Eloy. Several recent initiatives enhance the city’s position to capitalize on this goal. First, staff assisted Firebird Parachutes with obtaining a location on Main Street. Secondly, staff is in the process of a comprehensive review and update of the City’s Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. This enhancement will make these documents more user-friendly as well as more adaptable and responsive to the needs of new and existing businesses and industries in the city. This process started in spring 2017 and will be completed in spring 2018.

Our prospects for attracting additional jobs will be enhanced in 2018 when the Federal Emergency Man-

View looking northeast of the new Eloy City Hall.

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THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to approve a reduction in the amount of industrial properties located within the floodplain, fostering our job attraction prospects.

Firebird Parachutes makes parachute containers, replacement parts and reserve parachutes.

I-10, between Sunshine Blvd., Pacacho Highway and SR87 will be improved by Fall 2019!

agement Agency (FEMA) approves a reduction in the amount of industrial property located within the floodplain. This is primarily focused on lands located between Interstate 10 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks, which is the prime industrial corridor for the city. The city will also benefit from the widening of two segments of Interstate 10 south of the city. These improvements will also include the I-10/SR 87 Interchange upgrading and a pilot program for dust detection and warning zones.

ADOT estimates the project will be complete by fall 2019, providing six lanes of continuous interstate from Eloy to Tucson.

To facilitate further development downtown, the city has partnered with Airebeam to extend fiber optic cable to city facilities and offer high-speed internet services to residential and commercial businesses in the Toltec and downtown areas. In addition, the City Council formed a Downtown Advisory Commission last year to assist the city and private sector partners in improving the opportunities for future downtown revitalization and development. One suggestion from the commission

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

that will be pursued in 2018 is to update and enhance the exterior building facades and overhangs for the commercial buildings on Main Street. The City Council also recently authorized staff to fill a new position, Economic Development Specialist, to assist the community development department with data collection, responding to industrial prospects, developing and distributing marketing materials and promoting the community.

These strategic projects and improvements demonstrate that the Eloy City Council, staff and community members are effectively “doubling down” to leverage and partner in the collective vision of a sustainable community for our residents, workers and visitors. On behalf of our City Council, I invite you to join us as we continue to set a solid foundation for a prosperous future. We trust you will find a thoughtful, stable, pro-development City Council and a dedicated and professional staff that can successfully achieve our mutual objectives.

Broadband will be coming to Eloy in 2018!

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PHOTO BY CINDY URTUZUASTEGUI

The LIVING Interview

Pat Johnson The Right Track Interview by Bea Lueck

T

here’s a real irony about racetracks – they’re slow. Well, when it comes to developing them, anyway. But Pat Johnson, President of Danrick Builders is on the right track. Along with his business partner, Dan Erickson, Johnson is driving plans forward for Attesa, Casa Grande’s long-awaited ultimate motorsports technology lifestyle community. With construction slated to begin on the $1.5 billion 15-year project this summer, we caught up with Johnson to learn more about his journey from CPA to racetrack owner, his roots in our community and, of course, the details of his largest venture yet.

GC LIVING: Hello, Pat. Tell us about you. How did you get into this type of developing?

PAT JOHNSON: When I got out of college, I went to work as a certified public accountant. I had been working with a number of people in the area, including John Wayne.

Eventually I ended up moving to Casa Grande, and as a result of moving to Casa Grande, I got involved with a number of different people here, and loved this area. One of my friends invited me to go up to Lake Tahoe. And at Lake Tahoe, one of the owners of PIR was up there, and he and I started talking. He said he wanted to sell, and I said, “Maybe I know how to get it bought.” And 30 days later, Buddy Jobe – another client – and I closed on the real estate that is now PIR. I was out there for a while, left PIR, went on to the East Coast and did a lot of property development and land development, both in Delaware and then Florida.

I came back out here, and I worked with a couple of different developers. I knew about the auto racing business, because I loved it when I was doing it, and started looking at it with another friend. We started looking at the development of a race track.

I convinced the gentleman I was working with at the time to take a look at Casa Grande, and we came down here. I was familiar with Bianco Farm. I was familiar with

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

the location. The fact that it has two freeway overpasses and whatnot is what got me interested in that site. That was about 2008, and something happened in the economy during that period.

GC LIVING: Yeah, just a little hiccup.

PAT JOHNSON: [Laughs] Yes, and so money was not available, but we did have a property in escrow, and I had gone to the county, introduced them to the concept of the project and, in fact, done a comp plan change on a lot of the property before it became evident that money wasn’t going to be available. So, we just kind of shelved it, and the escrow collapsed…we didn’t close it.

Then I was up in Las Vegas doing consulting work, and I got a call from (now business partner) Dan Erickson.

He said that he was interested in building a racetrack. And I thought, “Ah, another one of those guys.” But I met with him, and he was serious. I explained to him what I was thinking about. He wanted to do a 200-acre private club, and I said, “Well that doesn’t make any sense. The money doesn’t pencil. You have to do more than that, because by the time you get all your entitlements in place and all the things that you have to do, the cost just goes through the ceiling, and you’ve got to be able to spread that cost over more events and the real estate.”

So we started out with buying 1,800 acres, and then we bought another 600 or 700.

And I think the only thing we have left to close on now is 140, so we’ve got about 2,512 acres altogether.

GC LIVING: So, that’s about four square-miles?

PAT JOHNSON: Yes it is. It stretches from Bianco Road to Montgomery Road, and from Hanna Road to the Tohono O’odham Nation on the south. So, that’s how it started. We started talking about this and developing it.

That’s kind of how I got to where I’m at now.

GC LIVING: Great, thank you! Now, let’s start at the beginning. Where were you born?

PAT JOHNSON: I was born in South Dakota, and lived there until I was about 17. I came back to Arizona, to Yuma, and got married when I was 19, then moved back to South Dakota and became an underground gold miner. [Laughs] GC LIVING: I’ve heard of the above-ground methods, but underground?

PAT JOHNSON: Yeah, I was actually working at 4,850 feet underground – vertically down – in the largest gold mine in the western hemisphere.

GC LIVING: The first question that comes to mind is, why?

PAT JOHNSON: Well, you know, it was funny.

That was created in the late 60s, and finding jobs that you could support yourself when you’re that young was difficult. I got up there and I could work straight night shifts, so I worked Monday through Saturday and I could have my days free, so I went to college during the day.

GC LIVING: What college did you go to?

PAT JOHNSON: I started at Black Hills State College. Both my wife and I went there. She worked as a waitress. I worked in the mine, and we paid, I believe it was, $75 a month rent. [Laughs]

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The LIVING Interview (continued) GC LIVING: What did you study?

PAT JOHNSON: Accounting. I graduated from ASU in 1973.

GC LIVING: So then you took the exam and became a CPA? PAT JOHNSON: Yeah, I worked with a firm in Phoenix called Walmsley, Eikner & Pelley.

They’re no longer around. At the time Lewis Walmsley had all of John Wayne and Louis Johnson’s holdings down here and a number of other agricultural interests in the area. When I left the firm, one of the feed lot entities, the Benedicts, had asked me why I was thinking about leaving and why didn’t I consider Casa Grande. They were generous enough to help me get started down here.

We had a lot of agricultural clients in the area and eventually, when the opportunity came up, I sold that firm to Henry & Horne, then I went with Buddy Jobe and bought PIR. GC LIVING: So you worked with both Louis Johnson and John Wayne?

PAT JOHNSON: Yeah, a little bit. Not so much directly. Remember, I was the peon in the firm. I met John and I met his son Michael, and I met Louis on many occasions. And even after I moved down there, I did some work for Louis’ wife Alice directly, and I was at their house a number of times, so I knew Louis before he passed away.

GC LIVING: Have you always had an affinity for racing, or did you do any racing?

PAT JOHNSON: No, I never did any racing myself. On my own at PIR, I did a couple of what we call “hot laps” around them – what I thought were hot laps – by myself, and I discovered that just because it’s a racetrack doesn’t mean you can drive faster. [Laughs] GC LIVING: Do you have a favorite? Is it NA-

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OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

SCAR? Is it Indy?

PAT JOHNSON: You know, it varies. I’ve always had an affinity toward IndyCar racing, open- wheel road-racing, and that’s why the track we’re looking at building is going to be a road course, not an oval.

But NASCAR and NASCAR racing has always been fun for me. I was lucky enough to meet several of the people a few years ago – Neil Bonnett, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty…

GC LIVING: Right now, NASCAR has one road race on the East Coast and another in Northern California. Do you envision NASCAR coming to a road course in Arizona?

PAT JOHNSON: Yeah, we’re here [Laughs], and that’s up to NASCAR. We will be capable, certainly, of hosting a road race here.

But whether or not we’d ever be asked to, I don’t know.

GC LIVING: So we have the road course. What else do you envision for Attesa at completion? And is it all done in phases?

PAT JOHNSON: Yes, the first phase is relatively large, because the first track is designed to be able to do the bigger racing events – everything from motorcycle racing to NASCAR, the IndyCar Series, sports cars, any kind of a race event. During the week and when we’re not doing events, we’re planning on having the tracks surrendered to people who need to test.

In the United States the road courses that are available for rent, all of them are 100 percent leased out. Basically, there’s very little available out there for people to test.

Arizona’s particularly suitable for it, because during the summertime, that’s when the guys need to test batteries, brakes, shock absorbers, tires, anything that needs hot-weather testing. We also created industrial parks adjoining the track, so this area will allow race teams and manufacturers to test. Basically, a company can come in, have their own building and move their vehicles onto the track when they need to test it.

Most of the tracks in the United States right now, if you want to do that kind of thing, you’re going to have to put all your stuff on a transporter, haul it over to the track, hope it doesn’t rain, or whatever, and then get your timing. With our facility, you’ll be able to have the building and everything right there. So, you’re going to attract a certain quality of engineering-type people to do

this testing. A very good employment base is what we’re hoping to bring through that.

So, that’s the industrial park and the race track. There is a plaza area that sits between two of the race tracks that is designed to provide areas for people during the races, the sessions and that kind of thing, but there, the non-racers will be able to do different events within that.

We have another area that’s designed exclusively for events. It’s got a dirt floor, so we can do dirt-track racing within that facility. That is for things like Lucas Off Road Racing, motocross, any of those kinds of events, but it’s also able to handle concerts.

The facilities themselves are bermed.

There’s a berm around all the facilities, all the racetracks, here that is 25 feet high. The tracks themselves will go from grade to 75 feet below grade on the primary track, and 35 feet on the secondary track. What that did is it dropped our noise levels to 65 decibels outside of the tracks, and that was according to a study we had done by LA-based engineering firm AECOM to make sure that we could maintain a nice atmosphere around us and not have somebody yelling at us six months after we move in.

We’ll have a parking area for 14,000 cars.

We have a secondary track, which is used primarily for the driving club-type of event, where you’ve got a private club atmosphere with a race track, instead of a golf course.

We also have a partner for a 330-room resort hotel and that would sit right on the plaza area, right by the racetracks.

We have an area for housing for the private club. Mainly, it’s a home that’s mostly a garage, and then the upper area is for living, so you could live there. For most of the people, it would be their second home.

Then we have an area that we’re going to call a Branding Center, which is for experiential marketing. If you’re selling cars and you have a high-speed car that you want to sell, or if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle that you want to show off, you’ll be able to take your customer there and use that facility to show off what it can do.

Attesa will also have a larger lot residential area that will allow residents who own planes to have direct runway access.

The runway is 6,500 feet long with an FBO (fixed-base operator) that’s right there for them. So, part of it is dedicated to industri-

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Concept drawing of Attesa.

al, but it’s mainly for homeowners. Again, that’s to service those people who want to come in for the club activities and, say, fly in from Southern California, and they can land on the airstrip and store their cars right there, and then move their plane in there when they’re here. We put the cars over at the garage. There is a huge amount (of offerings) and it’s a 15-year project.

GC LIVING: Over the initial phase of the project, which is the construction, approximately how many people do you think you’ll be employing at that time?

PAT JOHNSON: You know, we have a study that Elliott D. Pollack and Company did, and he came up with a number of around 9,000 people for construction. I’m going say that during the first phase, it’ll be about half of that, maybe a little bit more.

GC LIVING: Let’s go back to the track. So, the road course, how long is it?

PAT JOHNSON: 2.8. miles. And it’s designed to meet the top international racing specs for safety, for both cars and motorcycles.

GC LIVING: So, after the 15 years, what are you going to do next?

PAT JOHNSON: Well, by the time that goes by, I’ll probably be retired. My partner Dan, on the other hand, he is a younger man, and Lisa Mitchell, who is our Vice President, she is very active in everything we’re doing, and

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

I think she will also want to move forward with the company, and I’ll move to the side as we hit 15 years.

GC LIVING: So, do you consider yourself a developer or a racer?

PAT JOHNSON: Well, it’s interesting, because you go to meetings of the county or the city or whatever, and on the one hand, we’re developers, and on the other hand, we’re end-users. So it’s kind of a combination of both with this particular deal. Your traditional developer will come in and build it, and not have anything to do with anything – they’ll just sell the lots and move on to develop something else. In our case, we’ll have some development that we sell, but we’ll still be there, because when the racing starts, we’ll be involved in both.

GC LIVING: Let’s touch on the process of this group of the state level, county level, city level, even though it’s not within the city limits, it’s in their development area. Have there been challenges?

PAT JOHNSON: Yeah, overall pretty good. The biggest challenge has been water. Overall, the city has been very supportive of what we’re doing. We’ve worked with them on a 208 issue, which really wasn’t a major one for them. We have kept them in the loop. Of course, there is also the state, but the other one that wasn’t mentioned was the Tohono

O’odham Nation, and we’ve been working pretty extensively with them, because we have a two-mile border with them. They are very positive about what we’re doing, and they’re our neighbors, so we’re keeping them apprised. I want to have a good relationship with them.

GC LIVING: Now, Arizona has a long-standing history of automotive testing. This area is great for automotive testing, because of our weather and sunshine.

PAT JOHNSON: Yes, that’s very true, and those are the same reasons that brought General Motors here, and Nissan here; Chrysler is here; Volkswagen is here, and Volvo is here.

The same reasons that they saw Arizona as a valuable place to be is the same reason that we feel that we’re on the right model. Keep in mind, for the most part, the big facilities like the GM or the Ford or any of those, they’re locked. They’re locked to anybody in the mid-market range, because they won’t let them in. That’s the main thing. And a state-of-the-art test track is too expensive for one company to build for themselves.

So, we’re looking at the guys that are developing new technologies. They’re smaller, more innovative, but some of the bigger engineering facilities are not big in terms of the automotive world. Even a test facil-

continued on page 60...

OR LI V ING THE INTERV IE W • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

27

NEW DIRECTORY WILL HELP YOU

SHOP LOCAL

by Helen Neuharth, President/CEO, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce

“It is wonderful to see local leaders energized and inspired to collaborate in new partnerships to advance the community through education.”

Your Chamber is a valuable resource If you are looking for a painter, landscaper or locations for buying materials to tackle that home project, look no further than the 2018 Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Community Guide, or check out the business listings on the Chamber’s website casagrandechamber. org. Whether you need a medical clinic, hair dresser, barber shop, vehicle-service business or any other type of business, I encourage you to shop local first by checking out the list of businesses located right here in Casa Grande. Support your local businesses, and you are helping your entire community to maintain the outstanding quality of life we enjoy in Casa Grande.

Home is where you are Whether you’re a longtime resident, new arrival or winter resident, call Casa Grande your home! Whether you rent a

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GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

home, RV, apartment or own your own place, anytime you are fixing up, buying furniture or looking for services, remember Casa Grande is your town.

Buying locally really does make a difference The ease of getting around Casa Grande is less stressful than driving in the metropolitan areas to the north or south of us. I want you to be aware of the impact you have on your future and the future of Casa Grande when you buy locally. Every time you spend a dollar in Casa Grande, you are making a positive impact on our local economy.

Out of every dollar you spend in Casa Grande, a portion of the taxes paid goes toward our police and fire protection, streets, schools and other services that we sometimes take for granted.

Keep up with the new businesses and amenities available in Casa Grande. The 2018 Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Com-

munity Guide is an excellent resource to help you to become familiar with those businesses that support our community as members of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce. The guide will also assist you in locating the businesses that have the goods and services you may need. This publication is available mid-January, and is distributed free of charge at the Chamber office. We encourage businesses and individuals to rely on the publication and distribute it to others. You can also “flip” through the digital 2018 directory at casagrandechamber.org. This guide also provides information about the community, such as statistics and demographics, education, medical facilities, maps, an annual event calendar and much more.

For your free copies of the NEW 2018 Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Business Directory & Community Guide, stop by the Chamber office at 575 N. Marshall St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Experienced, Quality Care for the Entire Family Living & Serving in Casa Grande for over 60 Years After-hours Emergency Treatment Available Most Insurance Accepted Services Provided by an Arizona Licensed General Dentist

We love the community in which we live. It is a wonderful town with wonderful people. That’s one of the reasons so many winter visitors come back every year to the beautiful Casa Grande valley.

Also; superb climates (most of the year), lower cost of living, convenient location just outside of the major metropolitan areas.

That’s why here at Dick and Mitchell DDS, all of our dentists and employees have always lived in the area, because we love it here.

Back when our office was founded in 1953 by Carl Tomkinson, people didn’t really have a choice which dental office they visited – there was only one. Over 60 years later, now that people have so many choices, we are glad they continue to choose us.

We thank you for being such a valuable part of our community.

Whether your family is looking for a dental office permanently or just need help while you are here, we’re here when you need us.

(520) 836-7111 721 N Olive Ave. Casa Grande, AZ 85122

www.dickandmitchelldds.com

WHAT’S UP DOWNTOWN

by Rina Rien, Director, Casa Grande Main Street

T

hey can park 150 classic cars in perfect harmony, fend off bee attacks at the food court and empty APS trash boxes with a single bound. If Historic Downtown is the heart of Casa Grande, then our volunteers set the rhythm that keeps it beating. From merchant ambassadors that help coordinate events, to volunteer docents dressed as historical characters, the multitude of experiences awaiting you downtown would not go on without them.

The benefits to our organization are obvious. But what does a volunteer get out of the deal?

“I love the social aspect and opportunity to meet new people with the same interests” said Mary Hynek, aka “Pearl T H E

H E A R T

O F

Heart” during the historical tours. “It’s rewarding to work with an organization like Main

H I S T O R I C

D O W N T O W N

18 TH A NNUAL CASA G RANDE M AIN S TREET

Street Fair/Car & Bike Show STREET FAIR

Saturday, January 20 10 am - 5 pm Sunday, January 21 10 am - 4 pm

CAR & BIKE SHOW

Saturday, January 20 (only) 10 am - 3 pm

FREE SHOW & SHINE

St re et

d 2n

No Solicitation Allowed at this Sanctioned Event.

t ree St

Call Main Street office for more information – (520) 836-8744.

• Budweiser Beer Garden • Food Courts • Children’s Area • Continuous Entertainment

Sa ca to n

No Pets, Skateboards or Bicycles Allowed at the Show.

Flo re nc M eS ar sh tre all et St re et

Florence Boulevard

Sunday, January 21 10 am - 3 pm

Over 200 Exhibitors • Paintings • Jewelry • Sculptures • Pottery and more!

Sponsors

110 W. 2nd St. Casa Grande, AZ (520) 836-8744 cgmainstreet.org

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GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

Street, whose mission in the Historic Downtown is one I truly believe in.”

In the coming weeks, our volunteers will be working overtime as we gear up for our 18th Annual Street Fair and Car Show on January 20 and 21. Day Out Downtown is dark in January, and will resume Third Thursdays, February-April 2018. Be sure to check our web calendar at cgmainstreet. org for the latest on events like our Happy Hour Stroll, and “like” our Facebook Page to get updates on the latest businesses and activity happening downtown.

Casa Grande Main Street is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working on downtown revitalization and historic preservation. The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown experience. Strengthening public participation and making downtown a fun place to visit are as critical to Main Street’s future as drawing new business, rehabilitating structures and expanding parking options.

Car Show volunteers hamming it up… doesn’t it look like they’re having fun?

“I love the social aspect and opportunity to meet new people with the same interests” said Mary Hynek, aka “Pearl Heart” during the historical tours.

Historic Downtown…

Experience the Difference

110 W. 2nd St., Casa Grande 520-836-8744 www.cgmainstreet.org

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

THINK REGIONAL

by Evelyn Casuga, 2nd VP, Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth and Sr. Advisor-Community Relations, Office of the President, Central Arizona College We have an unprecedented opportunity to be part of shaping what is to become one of the top 10 economic regions in the United States, identified as the Sun Corridor.

32

A

t the upcoming Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth Annual meeting in February, we have a unique opportunity to hear from our state and regional economic development neighbors, whose organizations are primary catalysts driving Arizona’s economy today. Sandra Watson, President & CEO of Arizona Commerce Authority; Chris Camacho, President & CEO of Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Joe Snell, President & CEO of Sun Corridor Inc., will share their insights and recommendations to propel Arizona into a world-class economic engine. The gathering of this panel should create quite the buzz.

To come prepared with an inquiring mindset to this event in February, let’s begin with how do Pinal County leaders and partners integrate not only into the conversation, but also identify desired outcomes that resonate and benefit current and future residents. We’ve been hearing about the thousands of potential employment opportunities to be located in the region over the next decade. Are we ready? Where are the gaps? Who will take on these issues? Where will resources come from to support business expansions and relocations? And one of the more persistent conundrums explored several times here – is our talent pool ready now and into the future to meet yet-to-be-defined skill sets for yet-to-be-developed jobs by existing, transforming and emerging companies?

Part of the answer lies in recognizing that we are full participants in one

GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI LIVVING ING • BIZ!

of the most promising mega-regions in the U.S. Perusing the websites of Arizona Commerce Authority (azcommerce.com), Greater Phoenix Economic Council (gpec.org) and Sun Corridor Inc. (suncorridorinc.com), the excitement is palpable. How is Pinal County positioned?

As the county economy improves from the not-so-distant Great Recession (it took longer here to recover), challenges in this century are of a different nature, scale and speed.

Technology, globalization, generational and cultural shifts dominate and only scratch the surface of rapid transformations. Ramping up time for Pinal County is not an option. Can we leap ahead?

Pinal County and this Central Arizona region do stand poised for greatness. We have an unprecedented opportunity to be part of shaping what is to become one of the top 10 economic regions in the United States, identified as the Sun Corridor.

We must recognize first, however, that the traditional, tactical approach to economic development is not enough to succeed in a global, highly competitive world with footloose companies and knowledge workers, who have choices of where to locate and live.

But we as a region have choices, too.

We can choose to collaborate with non-traditional partners in innovative ways. We’re already seeing an alignment of forward-thinking leadership emerging. We can choose to elevate our economic development efforts

to a strategic regional approach that enhances our competitive positioning.

Also, we can choose to link this region to the strengths of our northern and southern metro neighbors (i.e. technology, higher education and Mexico relations).

Many readers are very aware of efforts already underway to collaborate locally on transportation, education and workforce, health services and economic development. But parochialism has its limitations. Inspired combinations between new and traditional partners can set a course for the next 25-30 years and explore innovative approaches with more impactful results.

From the 2012 Focus on Success Strategic Plan for Economic Development Plan Vision for what is now the Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth, the 20-year aspirational statement states: “The Pinal Sun Corridor has a diverse robust economy and is a principle hub within Arizona for global logistics. It is anchored by a superior multi-modal transpiration network, world-class educational systems, state-of-the art healthcare and a skilled workforce. A culture of collaboration enables community leaders and their business partners to work together effectively to champion regional competitiveness and create quality jobs.”

Do we have the desire and will to get there?

Join Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth at our February 2018 Annual Luncheon to hear more.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R I Z ONA C I T Y • C A S A GR A N DE • CO OL ID GE • E L OY • F L OR E NC E • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

COMING MARCH 2018 Special themed sections include:

Featured Medical, Health & Wellness Professionals Weddings & Events, AND MORE!

The City of Casa Grande would like to thank GOLDENCORRIDORLIVING.com all of the participants in the 23rd Annual Electric Light Parade! The winners are: The school where everybody knows your name!

THE MAYORS AWARD Absolute Construction #55

VISION

“APS POWER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN” AWARD Desert Sun Heating and Cooling #7

STAFF

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD Wilson Crane Service LLC #67

Every student will be prepared to succeed at the nation's top institutions of higher learning.

15 Highly Qualified and caring teacher 7 Administrators and supportive Office Staff

PARTNERSHIPS

• AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination • YE (Youth Entrepreneurs) • CAC (Central Arizona College) • CAVIT ( Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Exceeded CGUHS, VGHS and the Pinal County passing rates for AzMERIT in both Reading & Math.

• National Mathleague qualifiers three years in a row.

• Student who placed 2nd in State at the Speech and Debate competition.

ATHLETICS

Football, Volleyball (Conference Champions), Cheerleading, Cross Country, Basketball (3 on All-State team), Wrestling, E-Sports, Soccer (2nd in State), Softball, Track & Field (Individual State Champions)

PEOPLES CHOICE 3,900 total votes, 805 for winner Cross Roads Church #36 MOST ORIGINAL 1. Casa Grande Head Start #13 2. The Grande Innovation Academy #9 3. The Villas by Mary T #6

MOST CREATIVE CHRISTMAS COSTUME 1. Casa Grande Jewelry & Pawn #32 2. St. Michael’s & All Angels #42 3. Casa Grande Youth Commission #25 BEST PUBLIC SAFETY 1. Eloy Fire Dist. #100 2. Coolidge Fire Dept. #98 3. Casa Grande Fire Dept. #101 BEST CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 1. Casa Grande Union H.S. Marching Band #9 2. VFW 1677 #18 3. CGMS Wildcat Cheer #64

See more news on page 133…

MOST HUMOROUS 1. Mission Royale #14 2. University of Arizona Cooperative Ext. #21 3. EL Zaribah Shriners #63

CLUBS

Student Council, National Honor Society, Bowling, Ping Pong, World Travel Club, Rodeo, SADD, Yearbook

Mission Heights Preparatory High School

1376 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (520) 836-9383 • www.mhprep.com

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GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Sophisticated, Glamorous & Dramatic

1227 E Clearview Drive, Casa Grande $438,888 This expansive home is sophisticated, glamorous and dramatic. Ideally located, it is also inviting, charming and cozy providing the perfect environment for casual living and lavish entertaining. The main floor features 3,124 square feet, the nicely finished basement has an additional 725 square feet and the detached guest house provides another 389 square feet. There are 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a three car garage. The backyard is truly wonderful and boasts a huge covered patio, a sparkling pool, putting green, and a carefree children’s playground.

KAY KERBY SARAH CAMPBELL 520.560.0769

520.424.6577 | kay_sarah@coldwellbanker.com

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com Š2017 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.

Special Section:

THE BEST (OR WORST) DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2018 – YOU DECIDE!

by Staff Reports Bronze Accents

Now that you’ve replaced all your fixtures, brass is making a comeback in home design décor –only this time, it’s a warmer matte metal, rather than shiny imitation gold. The classic metal will bring some pizzazz to an otherwise dull room and is a welcomed change from the standard brushed nickel.

Designers recommend using brass sparingly.

Consider mixing it with oil-rubbed bronze or incorporating it into your home as an accent.

Floral Prints Light Wood Cabinets

While white cabinets remain popular, light wood finishes are quickly gaining ground.

The wood finish adds warmth and texture to make the space feel more inviting and less sterile. When considering cabinet style, you should know the shaker has evolved – think shaker 2.0 – this year. The newest style looks like a shaker, but with a bit of extra roping or an additional ledge to refine the look.

Bold, contrasting-color florals are making a big statement. The key is moderation. Gone are the days when your drapes, bedspread, pillows and chairs all matched (thank goodness)! Mix neutrals and basic tones with your bold statement for that happy balance. Play it safe with a throw pillow or blanket, vases, comforters and other items before committing to something more permanent.

Statement Floors

Forget the walls, look to the floors! Herringbone hardwood flooring patterns, bold geometric tile and designer epoxy finishes are a great way to make a room pop. White flooring, while difficult to maintain, is HOT with tile in the kitchen and baths and white wood-flooring in living areas.

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GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

Open Kitchen Shelves

Show off your dish collection with open kitchen shelves. The open-shelf home design trend gives you more storage options, especially for large or bulky items. And this is a popular storage solution for modern and rustic kitchens.

Textured, Patterned Wall-Coverings

This is not your grandmother’s wallpaper.

Abstract patterns, large dimensional florals and textures will be everywhere in 2018. A single wall or focal point makes a room come alive. Today’s wallpapers come with beads, texture and even sand (pictured here).

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Fresh Colors

Deep colors will be the go-to for designer walls in 2018. The 2018 Pantone Color of the Year is Ultra Violet. According to Pantone, “Ultra Violet communicates originality ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”

Other retro shades showing up again are Avocado Green and Harvest Gold.

This time the colors are warmer and deeper, rather than the brassy versions from the 70s.

Gray is still the new beige and white remains extremely popular to balance out all of the color.

Natural Elements

Natural elements are popular for their beauty and timelessness. Ideas to incorporate the outdoors into your home include stacked stone limestone walls and limestone floors, pops of green throughout, reclaimed wood accents and even floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors to offer dramatic views of the outside.

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

WHAT’S OUT •

EDISON BULBS. Instead, try locally-made artisan light fixtures. Choose something that speaks to you or fits in with the style of your home décor.

•

ALL WHITE ROOMS. This year, it’s about color. Incorporate moody blues, Ultra Violet or accent colors from your floral accents into your space.

•

BRUSHED METALS. Opt for warmer metals like bronze and gold accents instead.

•

SMOOTH AND SLEEK. While contemporary is still in, designers are ramping up texture in rooms. No more shiny floors, lacquered cabinets and leather furniture in a stark room.

•

CHEVRON. Think florals or other creative patterns.

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

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Special Section: Home & Garden

WHY SOLAR WORKS – BETTER THAN EVER

by Sean Johnson, Energy Consultant, Advanced Energy Systems

P

hotovoltaic technology has continued to evolve, and has peaked with the recent advancements in thin film technology, or solar panels.

Of course, innovation and engineering will continue to make them more efficient and less expensive to manufacture, but we have come very long way. Batteries have finally hit the market. The federal tax credit has survived a round of tax reform, and in general, things are looking up for the U.S. economy.

Because of the loss of revenue and failure to re-invest in the electrical infrastructure that we all so desperately depend on, and for other reasons, there have been surcharges, demand charges, limits and ongoing rate case appeals. The bottom line is the utilities need your continued monthly revenue to maintain their bottom line. What about your bottom line? Let’s talk about your bottom line. Better yet, let’s look at the bottom line of an actual customer we have living in the Golden Corridor.

Dan lives in Casa Grande. He has a 3,000-square foot home with a family. Dan’s electric bills were running $325-$350 a month in the summer, and $150-$175 in winter months.

This resulted in an average bill of $241 or $2,886 a year paid to the utility. Dan purchased a 12.06-kilowatt system to be roof-mounted on his home. Dan’s monthly bill is now $30-$35 a month depending on what connection fees and taxes the utility can assess.

How do you pay for it? All of

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CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

our financing offers a zero down payment. Typically, the monthly payment is less than what you are currently paying your utility.

Ask yourself these two questions.

1. How long have you been paying for electricity?

2. What do you have to show for that investment?

• A 12 kW system is $31,800 • 30 percent federal tax credit of $10,540 • 10 percent state tax credit ($1,000 max) $1,000 • Apply tax credits to principle new balance $21,260 • Estimated monthly payment for 12 years $190 • Net monthly/ annual savings $50/ $600 Now ask yourself these questions: 1. How long will you pay for solar? 12 years 2. What do you have to show for that investment? A system that creates electricity, adds equity to my home and protects me from future utility rate increases.

This is one example of a financing option, but we have several available. What would you do with an extra $3,000 a year.

Note: Numbers are based on current utility and material rates.

Loan payment information may change depending on plan and interest rate. Future savings is based on historical utility increases of 3 percent per year.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Some plumbing and electrical challenges can make a grown man feel like a child.

When you find yourself needing help call the Pros at Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical.

CALL US TODAY! 520-836-5802

toll free: 1-800-839-5802

“Integrity, Excellence, Strong Work Ethic”

FREE QUOTES call for more details

Call us for trustworthy service.

Our people are exceptional. We are still learning from the Master….. Bob Brutinel.

Mention this LIVING ad and get $20 off first hour of service! (up to and including the 1st hour)

600 E. 1st St., Casa Grande, AZ 85122

ROC 067458 R-37R • ROC 068025 C-37 • ROC 067457 R-11 • ROC 074815 C-11 WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

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Special Section: Home & Garden

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

DURING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Sometimes unlicensed contractors may try to avoid pulling permits by saying they’re not necessary for this particular type of job.

M

any Americans decide to remodel or build additions to their homes in the summer, as the weather is more accommodating for that kind of work.

But when summer starts, scammers also come out of the woodwork, and it’s not uncommon for homeowners to be ripped off by an unscrupulous contractor.

The most common scam is to ask for money up front and then abscond, never to be seen again. Also, many shoddy contractors will underperform, providing poor workmanship at an exorbitant cost and try to illicit more money from you in the process.

If you are planning a remodel, you should look out for these common scams.

Up front payments A typical job will require about 10 percent of the cost up front, just as a good faith payment that you are scheduling the contractor’s time.

But the scammer will ask for 30-50 percent of the project price up front, saying that he has to order materials

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CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

and/or rent machinery to get the job started. Then the scammer will disappear and not be seen from again, or they will start the project with shoddy workmanship, or the contractor is not financially stable and may plan to skimp on the work later.

Reneging on terms When a homeowner and a contractor discuss a project, it’s common for the contractor to suggest decorative details that will make the work stand out. But what often happens is that those details never make it into the final contract and – surprise!

– they don’t make it into the final project either.

When you see that the contractor isn’t adding those details in, you confront them and they tell you they didn’t include those features in the price. They’ll then try to elicit more money for that extra work.

Do your homework - Solicit at least three bids for your project and check Angie’s List, industry associations and previous clients’ references before hiring. Visit the contractor’s completed projects during the bid review process, particularly when it’s a big job.

You should also talk to friends who have had done work recently to get recommendations.

Check status and references - Check your state contractor’s board to see if a contractor is required to have a state or local trade license to do your job, and then verify his or her status with the appropriate licensing agency.

Ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance and bonding (if applicable). Ask for and check references for past jobs and also suppliers they often use.

Being told no permit is necessary In most jurisdictions, you have to get a work permit for any large construction project. Building officials want to know about all projects so that they can check on safety practices.

Sometimes unlicensed contractors may try to avoid pulling permits by saying they’re not necessary for this particular type of job. This would be typical for an interior project.

If they want to avoid pulling permits for an outside project, they may tell you it’s the homeowner’s responsibility. But it’s not. A permit must be obtained by the party doing the work.

So what can you do to avoid being ripped off? Angie’s List and HouseLogic.com, a site run by the National Association of REALTORS, has the following advice to avoid getting ripped off:

Negotiate a detailed contract - It should specify the various responsibilities of both the contractor and the homeowner, start and completion dates, terms that tie payments to job progress and completion, details of the work that’s being performed, itemized materials and any warranty information, and whether subcontractors will be used.

Also require that the contractor is responsible for obtaining all of the required building permits.

Ask for a detailed outline of costs - Never prepay more than $1,000 or 10% of the job total, whichever is less. That’s the legal maximum in some states, and enough to establish that you’re a serious customer so the contractor can work you into his schedule - the only valid purpose of an advance payment.

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CORRID OR LI V ING • SPECI A L FE AT URE GOLDEN CORRIDOR

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Special Feature

Custom Creations

Casa Grande new home builder lives his dream building dream homes Interview by Rock Earle • Story by Katie Mayer

A

s you drive around Casa Grande, you may notice something sprouting up out here. And, no, we’re not talking about cotton.

We’re talking about new houses. In fact, there is so much new construction in the area that we’ve coined it “the renaissance of custom home building in Arizona’s Golden Corridor.” But just who is at the forefront of this movement? It is Absolute Homes. You’ve likely seen their signs outside many new builds in the area or admired their work and not even known it. We wanted to learn more, so we caught up with owner/contractor Jim Suor. From the latest trends in master bathrooms to the surprisingly affordable costs of building your own home, we learned a lot about this exciting time in custom home building from the man leading this local movement.

J

im Suor was just 10 years old when he found an old Honda 750 street bike in his uncle’s shop.

It had been sitting in the corner for ages, but it piqued the boy’s interest.

So he asked his uncle if he could ride it.

“He said if I get it running, I could ride it,” Suor recalled. “Obviously, the bike was way too big for me.”

But as a naturally hands-on kid, Suor somehow got it running. And he will never forget the look on his uncle’s face when he fired it up.

“I remember him saying, ‘Your mom is going to kill me for letting you ride this,’” Suor recalled with a chuckle.

A couple years later, Suor launched his first business. Using a lawnmower purchased from a garage sale, he started cutting grass. He amassed about 10 regular clients, who kept him busy all summer, and he then shoveled snow in the winter and took on odd jobs, like painting and rebuilding cars, for extra money throughout high school.

“I used to find things that didn’t work, like record players, small engines or a saw, and I would take them all apart

and somehow put them together again and make them work,” Suor said. “I can remember doing that as early as age 7.”

His curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit paid off. Today, the founder of Absolute Homes has built about 300 houses since 2002 in Arizona, with about 95 percent of them in Pinal County. Suor’s homes are all custom, and span from the very simple to detailed creations in excess of 10,000 square feet.

“I have truly simplified and streamlined the process,” Suor said. “One thing I would tell everyone building a custom or semi-custom home is to enjoy it!”

His newest project coming soon is a development called Arroyo Verde Estates. Located at McCartney and Weaver roads, it is a community with 94 oneacre lots, minimal HOA and custom and semi-custom homes from the high $300,000s. He is also building a new design center/showroom at 402 E. Florence St., where clients can select the materials for the interior and exterior of their homes.

Although Suor is helping families

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

lay down roots in the Golden Corridor today, his own roots were laid down in the south suburbs of Chicago. His first serious experience in the construction industry began just before his freshman year of high school. He joined a family business that finished basements, built decks and fences and did remodels as a side job.

“I began working with them and, right away, I was hooked,” he said. “We worked one or two afternoons during the week and every Saturday for as long as I can remember.”

His first summer of college at Southern Illinois University, Suor went to work for a local framing company.

“They worked us to death, but we learned a ton, and we knew we didn’t want to frame the rest of our lives,” he said with a chuckle.

He later went to work with another contractor on large remodels and additions, and even though he was studying business, he continued to love with the construction industry.

In 1998, he graduated and accepted a job with Chrysler Corporation. After working on the East Coast and in Chicago, he relocated to Casa Grande in 2002.

His aunts and uncles on his father’s side have lived in the area since 1974.

“I had been visiting Casa Grande since I was 3 years old,” he said. “I used to spend the summers here with my family.”

One of Suor’s bosses set him up with an opportunity to train to be a general manager for a Dodge dealer, but the gig only lasted three days.

“I was bored to death with the retail side of the business,” Suor said. “At

His newest project coming soon is a development called Arroyo Verde Estates.

Located at McCartney and Weaver roads, it is a community with 94 one-acre lots, minimal HOA and custom and semi-custom homes from the high $300,000s.

CORRID OR LI V ING SPECI A L FE AT URE • GOLDEN CORRIDOR

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Q&A with Jim Suor

W

hat is the hottest new feature today? Master baths with a huge walk-in shower with no door and not having a tub in the master bath.

What feature would you have built several years ago that is now totally passe? Laminate flooring and formica/ solid surface countertops.

Any macro trends in new-home design/Southwest living? The white and gray theme is still very popular with younger couples. Farmhouse-style homes are becoming very popular, as well.

Today’s Custom Home Tell us about your typical new-home buyer. What kind of home are they looking for?

•

INTERIOR SPACE: Almost everyone wants an open floor plan with split bedrooms.

•

LOT SIZE: Most of my clients want elbow room, usually ½ acre-2 acres. Even if we are building a smaller home in town, we look for large lots (9,000 square feet and up).

•

LOCATION: Clients, including myself, really love Casa Grande. They love the rural aspect, but also living with the amenities of Casa Grande and even the Valley.

•

WHO: I would say my clients are about 50/50 locals versus imports. Either locals looking to step up into a newer home with more land or other folks looking for a new start or retirement.

Many have families and even small children. I just finished a house for a young couple that has a 6- month-old baby.

•

GARAGES: Garages are definitely the rage right now. I try to always start with a three-car as a minimum, and even do a lot of four-cars stancontinued on page next page...

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CORRID OR LI V ING • SPECI A L FE AT URE GOLDEN CORRIDOR

CUSTOM CREATIONS…Continued age 26, I thought about what I wanted to do, and decided to give construction a shot.”

He added, “It worked out pretty good.”

He applied and studied for his contractor license, which he received in May 2002. Today, he not only has a thriving homebuilding business, but a vibrant family life as well. He is married to his wife Shyla, and together they have two children, Anthony, 19, and Trey, 15.

He is passionate about fitness, and has completed strongman and powerlifting competitions. He is now considering taking on a physique competition.

“I like having goals to strive for,” Suor said. “I also love muscle cars.”

Suor said his dream car has been a first ‘69 Camero since he was just 12 years old.

“I bought a ‘67 in 2010,” he said.

“I have been working on it a little at a time, but it’s a work in progress.”

He added, “I don’t have a lot of free time, but do love spending time with family and friends when I do.”

But, of course, Suor also loves his work. He still remembers the first actual house he built, one year into his career.

“A family friend asked me if I wanted to bid on their house, and of course, I

said, ‘Yes,’” Suor said. “I basically told them I would build it for almost nothing, just to get a house under my belt and in my resume.”

He added, “It’s still one of the nicest homes I have built, and they still love it.”

Suor said that many people think they need to be wealthy to have a home constructed by Absolute Homes, but the truth is Suor and his team can build anything from starter homes to luxury palaces.

“There is a house for every budget,” he said. “The process is also quite simple.”

And buyers can visit the design studio to pick out everything they want, both inside and out.

Suor is also passionate about giving back to the community that his given him so much and supports a number of local organizations, such as the Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Club of Casa Grande and various education and veterans organizations.

“I have been trying to figure out how to legally auction off a custom home, so proceeds go to a local charity,” he said.

To reach Jim Suor, call 520-836-6511, email arcinc2002@gmail.com or visit absoluteconstructionaz.com. Attend the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Home, Health & Garden Show and visit him at his booth.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Today’s Custom Home (continued) dard. Detached garages are also a huge hit. Anyone with an RV, toys, classic cars or just hobbies wants the big, detached garages. It adds a lot of resale value to an existing home, as well.

What are other trends in finishes? Traditional stained cabinets are timeless, and will always be a standard. Whites and grays are still popular. Porcelain wood-tile flooring is in huge demand. Oil-rubbed bronze plumbing/light fixtures are most desirable. Fireplaces are more common than one might think. Probably 50 percent of our homes have fireplaces, electric, gas or wood-burning. Gas is most popular.

Do folks have natural gas or propane? Only a few communities in the county have gas. Most people still like this option, but propane is always available no matter where you decide to build. Tanks are traditionally leased for a very small annual fee.

What subdivisions/neighborhoods/ areas here are hot right now? Chaparral Estates, Val Vista Estates, Saddle Creek, Los Montanos and areas

by Central Arizona College. Coming

•

CONFIGURATION: Almost always single-story.

It’s more efficient, and has the space on a larger lot. As for basements, I’m a huge fan. I have only built a few in Arizona, but feel it’s a no-brainer. I don’t know why more people don’t want them.

It’s a little cheaper than first-floor pricing and much easier to keep cool. Both homes I built for myself had basements.

•

FLOOR COVERINGS: We continue to do more and more porcelain tile and almost no carpet.

Porcelain is the most durable, maintenance-free and a cost-effective material to use. Some still like carpet in the bedrooms, but it’s hard to keep clean in the Arizona dust. The trend is throw rugs over the tile for that carpet feel.

•

COUNTERTOPS: Almost always granite or quartz. Durability and pricing is No. 1. Solid surface (corian) is almost nonexistent anymore.

•

OUTDOORS: A large percentage want a pool/ spa for sure. We can even build those into a home loan. I would say outdoor living (ramada, bar, fire pit, landscaping and barbecue) is in even more demand than a pool. People still realize there is a large maintenance expense with pools.

•

LAWNS: Synthetic grass is for sure the rage and trend. The product looks better every year and is extremely durable. Just like a pool, real grass has a large maintenance expense associated with it.

•

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: My clients tend to wait on solar. Some add it later, after they have lived in the house for a while. If my clients are at all interested in solar, I pre-pipe for that possibility.

Pre-piping will keep some of the ugly conduit off the roof if you do add solar.

•

HOAS: Most clients do have a negative attitude associated with HOAs. They can be good and bad. They keep property values up and keep certain homeowners in line. Areas with CC&R’s only have no real way to enforce the rules without an HOA.

Soon: Arroyo Verde Estates.

Have lot prices increased lately? What about construction costs? Unfortunately, both are increasing. Lot costs have started climbing in the last four months, and build costs steadily climb with material increases and labor demands.

What percentage are custom homes versus spec homes? Almost everything we build is custom/pre-sold. We usually build one spec at a time.

How do you market your specs? Is the local REALTOR community important? Most of our marketing/advertising is done via our signage in front of our homes and online -- website, Facebook, etc. Local REALTORS are extremely important. We receive many of our leads/customers from the local REALTOR community.

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

continued on page 128...

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Special Section: Home & Garden

33RD ANNUAL FLORENCE HISTORIC HOME TOUR BRINGS HISTORY ALIVE

by John Nixon, Recreation Superintendent, Town of Florence

E

arly Florence, Arizona was driven by the discovery of silver and supported by a strong agricultural base. The resulting economic opportunities, born of a growing town, attracted a diverse population, which is reflected in many of today’s Florence homes and other structures.

The architectural styles of Florence’s historic homes reflect more than the adobe and brick foundations. Archaeologists often study

46

architecture to learn more about past societies and communities.

Historic homes and buildings speak volumes about the lives of this community’s earliest inhabitants.

Florence history will come alive at the 33rd Annual Historic Florence Home Tour on Saturday, Feb. 10 when visitors can view over 17 homes and historical structures, each with unique architectural styles. The tour begins at Jaques Square located at 291 N. Main St. Day-of ticket sales will

CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

begin at 9:30 a.m., while the tour is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors may walk the tour route or ride trolleys to the outlying historical structures. Information will be provided by tour guides on each of the three trolleys.

The theme for the home tour, “Florence: An Arizona Hidden Treasure” reveals the little-known intriguing and entertaining facts about the town contained within the walls of these homes.

In addition to the home tour, the Maricopa High School Theatre Company will perform three re-enactments of “The Baron of Arizona.” The performances will be at McFarland State Park at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. McFarland State Park is located at Ruggles and Main Streets in Florence. The Theatre Company is led by Arizona Master Teacher Cynthia Calhoun, whose group has received state and national recognition for its performances.

“The Maricopa High School Theatre Company is excited to be a part of the Florence Historic Home Tour for the first time, and to present an original production of “The Baron of Arizona,”’ Calhoun said. “We look forward to telling an important story in Arizona’s history, set in the backdrop of the Old West of Florence.”

At 2 p.m., the Pinal County Historical Museum will host a special presentation of the Wild Horse and Burro Inmate Program.

This is a fascinating example of government agencies partnering to not only care for and train

Local wedding venue, the Windmill Winery, is hosting a wine garden from Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Padilla Park which is located at 6th and Main Streets in downtown Florence. wild horses and burros for adoption, but also gives select Department of Corrections inmates the opportunity to care for and train the animals. Program supervisor Randy Helm will discuss the program and present a special display of saddles and cowboy gear from a bygone era.

The Florence Arts and Culture Commission will offer a Quick Draw Artist Contest and Silent Auction at 10:30 a.m. Artists have 90 minutes to begin and complete a portrait or landscape and the finished products will be auctioned off at the end of the contest. Spectators are welcome to watch as these talented artists create impressive works of art. The contest is at the Jacob Suter House, located at 270 N. Pinal St. Home Tour tickets are only $15 for adults the day of the event or $10 in advance. Advance tickets are available at the Pinal County Historical Society and Museum, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the Florence Library and Community Center. Tickets may also be purchased online at: florenceazhometour.bpt.me.

For questions or more information, please contact John Nixon, recreation superintendent at the Florence Community Services Department at 520-868-7699 or go to florenceaz.gov/hometour.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Special Section: Home & Garden

PUT OUR PASSION AND EXPERTISE TO WORK FOR YOU!

by Rusty Riggs, President, Capital R Construction

A

t Capital R Construction, we enjoy what we do, and it shows in the finished product. We are passionate about building, and feel we can bring you a construction team that is ready to meet your building needs, from commercial projects to tenant improvements.

For our customers, we will strive to develop a foundation of trust with you by offering construction services designed to support your building projects and help you achieve your goals. Our goal is to be the best construction company for you, and this is only possible by working together with you to understand your needs and then build the project that meets those needs, within budget and on time.

We realize that it is takes hard work, integrity and a commitment to excellence to build a quality product. We believe in building lasting relationships and being dedicated to the success of each project.

At Capital R Construction, you will find it easy to work with our professional, reliable and innovative construction team. We have

experience in offices, medical clinics, retail centers, schools, restaurants and more. We provide you with quality professionals who can focus on the details, coordinate the complex and understand the importance of a timely completion.

Whether you need to make a few minor changes to an existing office space or do a complete build-out of an empty shell, Capital R Construction excels in meeting the challenges that tenant improvements bring. We can remove walls, redesign layouts, move plumbing fixtures or whatever is needed to complete the transformation. You can depend on our team to help you transform the look and feel of your office space into the environment and that fits your needs and inspires your success.

Capital R Construction is a qualified KB-1 general contractor in the state of Arizona.

This license allows us to build commercial buildings, commercial remodels and tenant improvements. At Capital R Construction, our goal is to build foundations of trust with you, as we want you to trust us with your next commercial project.

We provide you with quality professionals who can focus on the details, coordinate the complex and understand the importance of a timely completion.

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WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

OR LI V ING SPECI A L SEC TION • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

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Saturday, January 20th!

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ISSUE 13 • HOMES & LAND OF THE PHOENIX EAST VALLEY

TOP 8 REASONS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

HOME Find. Buy. Protect.

Protecting Your

Property Rights Title & Escrow Services Commercial Service 1031 Exchange

Direct Title Services Account Servicing

Land Development/Trust

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eing a landlord isn’t for everyone. There is a lot more involved with managing a property than just collecting the rent. When you invest in rental property, you wear many hats. If the day-to-day management of your investment is not a direction you want to go, consider hiring a professional property management company.

421 E. Cottonwood Lane Casa Grande, AZ 85122 Office: 520.426.4600 I Fax: 520.426.4699 Email: latisha.sopha@titlesecurity.com

Here are a few ways they can help: 1. TENANT SCREENING Proper screening of tenants helps to avoid messy problems months into the lease.

2. KNOWING THE RULES The Arizona Landlord-Tenant Act is the most important law for rental properties. Property managers know the law and how to follow the statute to protect both the property owner and tenant’s rights under the law.

3. NO 3 A.M. CALLS Getting a phone call at 3 a.m. about a leaky toilet will make most property owners grouchy. Property managers have established procedures for tenants to report maintenance issues and emergency situations.

4. REGULAR MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS Property managers have contractor resources to provide prompt and competitive maintenance and repairs. Due to the volume of business with these companies, many times they are able to negotiate a discount that is passed

50

GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

5.

6.

7.

8.

along to the property owner.

MARKET RENTS Property managers are intune with market conditions and rental rates and are able to keep your home priced competitively.

COLLECTIONS AND EVICTIONS Property managers stay on top of rent collection. In the event of nonpayment, they follow the legal steps to evict the tenant and get the property ready to rent again.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE PROPERTY This is critical for out-ofstate owners. Even if you are just down the street, your property manager will look at the home with a critical eye for any needed maintenance before it becomes an issue.

ACCOUNTING RECORDS Your property management company will provide you with monthly and annual financial statements showing rent collected, fees paid and repairs, making filing your taxes much easier!

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(520) 426-0014 THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Hire a property manager RENT with Coldwell Banker ROX Realty and have peace of mind with our experienced management team.

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©2017 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.

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Special Section: Home & Garden

TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE CREDIT SCORES

by Dawn Svoboda, Branch Manager/Loan Originator, Academy Mortgage

Credit mix is the variety of credit accounts you have.

More than one type shows you can manage a range of credit products.

52

A

higher credit score means lower mortgage interest rates, better credit card offers and better insurance rates. Not all credit problems are the same, because the reasons for a low score vary, depending on your personal credit history factors, your current financial situation and your money management style. But no matter what the reason is, there are three basic steps everyone can take to create your own personalized plan to improve your credit score.

1. Learn about things that negatively impact your credit score.

Your credit score is based on five keys factors, and they hold the solution to improving your credit. If you can get these five things right, your score will go up naturally and easily over time.

• Payment history is the most important credit factor, because it shows whether you pay your debts on time, every time.

• Credit utilization describes the amount of credit you’ve used in relation to your total credit limit.

• Credit age shows how long you’ve maintained your credit accounts, and older is better

CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

•

•

than younger.

Credit mix is the variety of credit accounts you have. More than one type shows you can manage a range of credit products.

Inquiries show how often you apply for credit and what types.

Find out your credit score for free today on Credit Sesame.

2. Check to see exactly which credit factors are causing your low credit score.

When you check your free annual credit reports (available at annualcreditreport.com), you will begin to see what is causing your credit score to be low. When you compare them with your free credit report card on Credit Sesame, you will learn what you need to do to improve your credit score. Our service is 100 percent free, and there’s no hidden charge. Rest assured, you never have to input a credit card number or your full Social Security number, and all data you provide is safely encrypted.

3. Follow the steps in this guide to fix your issues Read through this guide and see which actions will work for your

particular credit and financial situation, and get started improving your credit score as quickly as possible.

These things negatively impact your credit score every time, Not all credit problems are the same. Late payments, collections, bankruptcy, a large number of credit inquiries, a high credit card utilization rate and even credit report mistakes all have a negative effect on your score.

The following are the worst things that can happen to your credit score: • Letting an account go delinquent.

• Maxing out a credit card.

• Picking up a negative public record (foreclosure, bankruptcy, judgment, lien, wage garnishment).

• Becoming the victim of identity theft.

The first step is to diagnose the reason for your less-than-perfect credit score.

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THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Heating & Cooling

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Special Section: Home & Garden

HOW TO FILE A

FIRE INSURANCE CLAIM 14 Vital Tips Just because property was not directly damaged by flame doesn’t mean it’s not covered under your property insurance policy.

E

very late summer and early fall wildfires rage in many parts of the West and Southwest, as the fires running almost the length of California this year show. Thousands of homes have burned to the ground and thousands of people have been displaced.

During this time of crisis, when you’ve lost what is for most people their largest investment, you’ll need to make sure that you get your claim paid fast so you can rebuild your life.

Dos and Don’ts When Filing a Claim

If your home or property has been affected by wildfires, you’re likely planning to file an insurance claim. Here are some tips to help you maximize your compensation and get your settlement in a timely manner.

1. Safety first. Don’t re-enter your fire-damaged home without first checking with fire officials. They will schedule an initial walk-through with you. Before you go in to your fire-damaged home, read this Red Cross guide: http://www.redcross.org/images/ MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/ m38840101_picking-up-the-piecesafter-a-fire.pdf 2. Prevent further damage. You have a duty to prevent unnecessary damage to your property, so: • Promptly clean up accumulated water.

• Tarp or cover roof holes as necessary to keep water from getting into the interior.

• Move any intact property away from open or broken windows or holes in the roof, so it does not get damaged by subsequent rain.

• Replace or board up broken windows • Keep vandals and squatters out of the property. Repair fencing, gates and access, as necessary.

3. Gather information. Document your claims, as much as possible.

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CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

To begin with, your initial claim request will require the following information: • Date of loss • Type of loss or damage (e.g., fire, smoke, water) • Location of damage • Injuries, if applicable • Other parties involved (witnesses, fire department officials, etc.)

• Condition of the home, prior to the incident • Itemized list of damaged or destroyed property • Any temporary repairs made, the reason for these repairs, and their cost • Official police or fire inspector reports.

4. Call us or your carrier. Don’t delay filing your claim. The sooner you file for reimbursement, the sooner you will receive it.

5. Take notes. Write down the claim number, and keep careful notes of every conversation, including whom you spoke with by name.

6. Throw nothing away. Don’t discard anything until it’s been inspected by an appraiser.

7. Claim smoke and water damages. Just because property was not directly damaged by flame doesn’t mean it’s not covered under your property insurance policy. You may have to throw away furniture, drapes and carpeting, replace flooring, drywall and wallpaper and undergo expensive mold remediation. Account for all fire damage.

8. Assess the value of any lost trees or shrubs. These are also generally covered by homeowner’s insurance policies.

9. Don’t forget outbuildings. Include damaged or destroyed sheds, storage buildings, detached garages - as well as their contents - and even septic tanks and systems in your claim.

10. Check your car. If you have com-

11.

12.

13.

14.

prehensive coverage on your car, your auto insurance carrier should reimburse you for the fair market value of a totaled vehicle, or pay for damages (subtracting your deductible).

Get an advance payment. Most insurers will advance you a substantial amount even while your final claim is still being processed.

This allows you to start repairs right away to prevent further damage to your home, and may help you pay unexpected expenses such as emergency lodging.

Track your expenses. Keep receipts of any additional expenses you may incur as a result of being forced to evacuate your home. Most policies provide coverage for additional outof-pocket expenses as a result of a fire or other covered peril. Examples of such temporary expenses include: • Hotel bills • Laundry and dry-cleaning expenses • Restaurant meals while you can’t prepare meals at home • Travel expenses.

Have the carrier pay you directly. Some contractors will offer to do repairs for no money up front as long as you sign a contract authorizing them to bill your insurer directly. The practice may seem convenient, but usually doesn’t benefit the consumer.

Consider effects on home-based business. Your business insurance may help you with lost inventory, equipment and lost income from business interruption.

For more information or to explore your insurance coverage options, call ROX Casa Grande Insurance at 520-836-7660 or 800-690-7660 or visit roxinsurance.com

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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Special Section: Home & Garden

Mankel Mechanical offers service branch thanks to help from family

by Paula Leslie, Co-Owner, Mankel Mechanical

I

agreed to write an article for this issue before I knew what kind of week I was going to experience. It’s definitely been a week of Mondays. Being self-employed in the construction industry has its own unique set of problems, and the plumbing industry seems to be the Cinderella of the construction trades. We get called for the clogged drains, water heaters that don’t stay lit, toilets that constantly run, faucets that leak and water lines that burst. I’m not complaining.

However, most of my 18 years owning a

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CORRID OR LI LIVING V ING • SPECI A L SEC TION GOLDEN CORRIDOR

plumbing company have been spent doing new construction projects. Eighty percent of my revenue was from laying new pipe, not repairing old. Eddie never had the desire to pursue the service part of the plumbing industry, and finding the right person to represent our company in people’s homes and businesses was a challenge, but we knew there was money to be made in the repair business. So Eddie and I pitched the idea of a service branch of Mankel Mechanical to our sons. They liked the idea of (sort of) being their own bosses (Mom still holds the purse strings), and came up with a name and developed a business plan.

This year, our sons, Shea and Vaughn, launched their own service offshoot of Mankel Mechanical – Two Brothers Plumbing. While Shea is still mostly working in the new construction field, he does find himself doing plumbing repair. Most of the time you will be greeted by Vaughn at your door if

you call the Two Brothers phone number.

The boys had the van painted silver with the Two Brothers logo, which they designed themselves; they had uniforms embroidered and business cards printed. Two Brothers will unclog drain lines, use a jetter to clean sewer mains, camera a sewer main, repair or replace leaking plumbing fixtures and water lines, repair or replace water heaters, and repipe houses. They can also help you remodel your bathroom or kitchen. Their expertise is not limited to residential projects. They both have done new plumbing and plumbing repair in restaurants, schools and other types of businesses. Shea and Vaughn have a combined 20 years of experience in the plumbing industry and two of the best smiles in the state of Arizona. Give them a call next time you need some home or business improvement in regards to your plumbing fixtures.

We haven’t pulled out a glass slipper from a drain line yet, but there is always tomorrow…

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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Out & About CURT FRANKLIN

DEBRA RHODES

Your best photos of 2017!

If you would like to contribute images of area events, people, pets and scenery, please post on our Facebook page or email to: editor@roxco.com CYNTHIA SILLER

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GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Health • Wealth • Education

PATRICK

JOHN SOTO

JEREMY WILDEN

OLIVIA WAUER

JOHANNA MONTIJO KAREN BEARDON CONWAY

LETICIA GUZMAN

MARCELA GUERRERO-POTTER

MEGAN SANDERS

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PEDRO HERNANDEZ

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SUMMER NICOLE

MARY TAYLOR WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

NATALIE MACKYNEN

MARGARET URBANO

VIRIBETH PEINADO GOLDEN CORRID OR LI V ING

59

The LIVING Interview (continued) ...continued from page 27 ity that covers up to 700 acres with a lot of buildings on it for engineering is not big in the automotive world, because of the way they are. So, those opportunities with the smaller and medium-sized firms, who need a place to go, we think is very important.

GC LIVING: Is there any public component where a couple of guys or a group of car enthusiasts can say, “Hey, we want to take our cars out and race?”

PAT JOHNSON: You know, we are going to have some open track days. We do have that on our schedule. The weekends become open, and those are the times when we’ll have events that are more tailored to individual things. And how we’ll do that, we haven’t decided. We don’t know if the idea is we’re going to set up a system, or you can pay to come down and so much for a day or so many laps, or whatever. I have not fully fleshed that out yet, but there will be opportunities.

My partner is very dedicated to the Sports Car Club of America, and he races in that. He races a Formula Mazda, I believe.

It’s an open wheel car. It looks like a little Indy car. They call them little, but they still do 160 miles an hour, so… [Laughs] I guess that’s fast enough.

GC LIVING: [Laughs] GC LIVING: So, the project has been well-publicized and discussed within the county. You actually met with the different supervisors and their constituents to discuss the project.

PAT JOHNSON: Yes, we had several public hearings. We’ve had one in every district, along with meeting the supervisors individually to tell them what we’re going to be doing, and explain the project in detail, because, as you can tell, it’s a massive project with a lot of moving parts. But we also had a number of neighborhood meetings out in the area, and although almost nobody lives out there, that’s within the county requirement. We went out an extra two miles almost from the site.

We had a number of people out at the meetings. And I think, for the most part, all of them were very much in favor of it.

We’ve been before the community board that gave us approval there. I think we had one abstention, and the rest of them were positive for it. We’ve had a number of hear-

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OR LI GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR LIV VING ING • THE INTERV IE W

Concept drawing of Attesa.

ings before the planning and zoning people, and again, it’s been very positive. But we’ve been kind of an open book on what we’re doing, and telling people there’s a website up at attesa.com that explains a lot of what we’re doing. I’m usually available by phone. I’m not that hard to get a hold of.

We’ve tried to do this in a manner that is consistent with the environment. We’ve had biological tests done. We’ve tried to work with our neighbors, as I mentioned earlier, with the Tohono O’odham Nation.

We have talked to just about everybody around us. And, these are difficult projects, but I think we have accomplished a tremendous amount trying to keep our project – I’m not going to say green – but at least not black, you know? We’re doing the best with that we can. We’re planning on developing everything with leading standards and sustainability.

GC LIVING: When do you anticipate the real part of construction? I mean, there’s been so much work done, even going back to 2008, testing and studies and the engineering.

PAT JOHNSON: Originally, I was hoping that we could get out of the ground this coming spring. With a couple of more recent delays, with some of the planning and the doing, it looks like it’s going to be the third quarter 2018. I’ve got a lot of dirt to move out there, and so what we’ll do is give the county our preliminary plan, and then we go in and have it at-risk graded, and if they come back and say, “Well, you gotta change

this,” then it’s on us. So that’s how we plan to get a step up.

GC LIVING: As we get ready to close here, I have another fun question. In a perfect world, if you were to wave your magic wand, when’s the first race?

PAT JOHNSON: Well, three years from, say, September of ‘18, so three years from that is, what? ‘21?

GC LIVING: Do I get seats?

PAT JOHNSON: Well, of course. Yeah, you have to have seats! But, regarding time frame, there are so many people out there who don’t have the entitlements in hand, they just have dreams, yet they’re trying to get races. I have had some meetings with people from the various race sanctioning bodies, but the caveat is that none of them really are serious about you until you bring them around, and show you are real. And it takes about two years to three years to get on their schedule, because they have to shuffle things around, and they really have to want to come to you. But once you get on that schedule, if you’re not ready, oh my goodness, are you in trouble. [Laughs] GC LIVING: This is truly, “Build it and they will come.”

PAT JOHNSON: That’s for sure. And there’s always a guy with a set of plans under his arm, saying to race people, manufacturers and performance companies, “If you’ll give me the contract, I’ll build it.” Well, that isn’t how these guys work. It’s the other way around. [Laughs] 

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Special Section: Home & Garden

AVOID KITTEN

“CAT-ASTROPHES”

by Gigi McWhirter

It is important that you interact with your pet to help him or her develop strong bonds and social skills.

K

itten “cat-astrophes” can be greatly reduced with these simple suggestions: Once you adopt your little bundle of joy, and if possible, before you take him or her home to meet the other people and pets in your home, take your kitten to your veterinarian for a wellness check. During the visit, your kitty will receive a physical exam, vaccinations and parasite prevention. These things are essential for the long-term care of

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

a cat. The doctor will also advise you of how often to boost vaccines, what vaccines your kitten will receive at each visit, when to do lab work, such as fecal exams, and when to run a FELV-FIV test.

Spay or neuter your pet! Kittens as young as 4-6 months of age can start having litters of kittens – imagine a kitten having kittens!

Thinking that because your cat does not go outside is not a good enough reason. Once she comes into heat or

his hormones kick in, they take on the “when there is a will, there is a way” line of thinking, and will take any opportunity to get outside and find a mate - much like a hormone-filled teenager with the skills of a ninja! One great date, and she can have a litter of several kittens who become cats who, in turn, need care for 15-plus years or end up in a shelter or running the streets making more unwanted kittens. If you feel like you want to have a house full of cats and kittens, go to a shelter and adopt.

They will be spayed and neutered. Cats are super-skilled at reproducing. Do the responsible thing and have them spayed and or neutered.

Make sure to play with your kitten.

Let the kitten explore the house and meet the other animals and people in the home. If you live alone, invite friends over to meet and play with your pet. It is important that you interact with your pet to help him or her develop strong bonds and social skills. It is also good for both you and for the kitten. Remember, your pet will always love you!

Just because kittens are often free or it may not cost a lot to adopt one does not mean that your pet does not need maintenance. Healthy food and medical care are necessary to ensure that your kitty stays as healthy and happy as possible. Cats do not come with a great job with incredible benefits.

These things are important for the long-term care and health of your cat, so do not skip them. Always consult with a veterinarian, not Dr. Google, before making medical decisions.

Happy tails to you and your “purrfect” pet!

OR LI V ING SPECI A L SEC TION • GOLDEN GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR VING

61

BANNER CASA GRANDE MEDICAL CENTER DELIVERS SAFE AND QUALITY CARE

by David Lozano, Earned Media Senior Manager, Banner Health

C

hoosing the best hospital for care is important to many people. What some folks may not realize is that outside of recommendations a neighbor, friend or relative may have about a hospital or a doctor, or reviews that you may see on the internet, some organizations do grade hospitals as a courtesy service to the public. Those grades reflect the safety and quality of care that hospital is able to provide its patients.

The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on the quality and safety of American health care, is one such organization that recently released its fall 2017 Hospital Safety Grades. Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is proud to announce that we received an “A” grade from this organization, which means that our hospital ranks among the top health care providers in the country, when it comes to quality and patient safety.

“Our mission is simple – focus on what we can do to not only make health care easier for the consumer, but also safer,” said Rona Curphy, CEO of Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. “Quality and continuum of care are extremely important to us. We want to make

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GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI LIVVING ING • YOU!

sure that a patient’s stay here is positive, that we were able to provide everyone with the care they needed and deserved, but that they also were not readmitted back to the hospital later on for the same illness.”

Every year, The Leapfrog Group asks more than 2,600 acute-care hospitals across the nation to voluntarily complete a survey on patient safety information. Banner Casa Grande is one such hospital that provides this information. A panel of patient safety experts, most of them medical doctors, select 27 measures of publicly-reported hospital safety data. That data is then calculated and peer reviewed to determine the outcome grade of each measure. A few of the things the safety experts from The Leapfrog Group measure before issuing their hospital safety grade, include: • Whether a computer was used as part of a patient’s treatment or care • Whether a nurse and/or doctor used proper hand hygiene before administering patient care • Doctor and nurse communication • Good communication from a doctor or nurse about medications a patient may be taking

The Leapfrog Group said that these ratings or grades educate people and allow patients to be able to choose the safest and highest quality hospital before they have a procedure, like maternity care or an elective surgical procedure. In addition, The Leapfrog Group encourages potential patients to look at these safety ratings in the event they or a loved one may ever require emergency care, and to also talk with their primary care physician about hospitals that are available to them.

“We also encourage patients to look at these grades, and talk to their doctors about the care they’ve received or could receive at Banner Casa Grande,” Curphy said. “We know that those who live in our communities have choices when it comes to picking the safest and highest quality of medical care that’s best for them or their loved ones. We want our patients to know that should they ever need us for safe and quality care, we’re here for them.”

A full description of the data and methodology used in determining The Leapfrog Group grades is available online at hospitalsafetygrade.org. For more information about services offered at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, please go to BannerHealth. com/casagrande.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

BECAUSE

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Open 9am - 9pm • 7 days a week 1676 E. McMurray Blvd, Casa Grande

Urgent Care

PINAL COUNTY ADOPTION DAY CELEBRATES FOREVER HOMES

by Donna McBride, Program Administrator/PIO and Supervisor for the CASA Unit, Pinal County Juvenile Court, Casa Grande City Councilwoman

C

ourts across the country celebrate National Adoption Month each November.

Thanks to CASA of Pinal County and a host of other agencies, 69 children were adopted into forever homes on Nov. 18 at the Superior Courthouse in Florence.

After nearly nine months of planning, the courthouse came alive with nearly 400 families and volunteers.

Brown Family (Norm and Tim with children TJ, Adrian and Ruby)

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GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI LIVVING ING • YOU!

From clowns, cartoon characters and princesses to arts/crafts and family-fun photos – it was truly a celebration. While the day is full of fun and good times, it is still a formal court hearing that resulted in months of legal requirements for the foster family. Once the formal adoption was complete with four superior court judges, the celebration began!

Each family was escorted through

the morning with their own “family ambassador.” Students from Santa Cruz High School served as ambassadors this year. Poston Butte Culinary Arts students created kid-friendly snacks while the Casa Grande Knights of Columbus added popcorn and snow cones to the menu. Cool Image cheerleaders were on hand to cheer on the day. Quilts for Kidz spent hundreds of hours creating handmade quilts for every single child.

One family knows all too well what this day means. Norma and Tim Brown of Casa Grande were lucky enough to adopt three children: TJ, Roby and Adrian. And since that time in 2006, they have taught their family to be thankful and give back to the community. The last several years the Brown family has stopped by Adoption Day to share their good fortune with other families. Each of the kids has brought teddy bears to share with other adoptive children, which were paired up with those adopting three children, just like them.

This day also had special meaning for several volunteer advocates with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. After advocating for their child, some for years, they were part of the adoption celebration.

Anne Lewis was a brand new advocate 2.5 years ago, when she walked into the home of a grandmother who had already raised nine children and now had two grandchildren ages 2 and 4. After endless trips to court, Adoption Day marked her final trip with the girls and grandmother. The girls have grown from shy toddlers to happy, animated children who felt surrounded with love from their Nana

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

“Celebrating a Family for Every Child”

Anne Lewis with her child

and a large extended family.

“I feel blessed to have been a part of this process and to see the court system working to provide stability for a family,” Lewis said. “I entered the courtroom for the last time as their CASA, and left as a friend. They taught me so much about the joys and rewards of being a CASA.” Each family received a gift bag filled with coupons, gift certificates, homemade quilts, teddy bears, books, hats and a complimentary family photograph. Adoption Day was a collective

effort of agencies like Pinal County Juvenile Court, Pinal County Superior Court, Pinal County Attorney’s Office, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Pinal County Clerk of the Court, Arizona Department of Child Safety and The Shanker Law Firm.

In all, there were 17 groups and 123 volunteers that made this special day happen. No doubt these families are creating new traditions and dreams for the years ahead. For the Adoption Day Committee, we’re already making plans for next November!

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI V ING YOU! • GOLDEN

65

KEEP THE GIVING SPIRIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

by Andrew H. Jones, Community Relations Coordinator, Sun Life Family Health Center

Nonprofit organizations are everywhere Almost every cause or charity you can think of has a nonprofit organization that you can support and donate money to.

But, you may be thinking, “I work hard for my money. Why should I give it away?” Although, on the surface, this seems like a valid point, there are benefits in donating to a nonprofit organization. Not only does it feel good, but you may also be able to receive a tax reduction.

So how do you choose a nonprofit to support?

First and foremost, choose a specific cause you feel is important and are passionate about.

Whatever the cause, by donating to a nonprofit organization, you are directly helping produce a remedy for a problematic issue at hand by giving monetary support.

Plus, it feels good. There’s no doubt about it that you’ll think, “Dang, it feels good to help others and donate to a nonprofit organization.” Don’t keep that good feeling a secret. Let your friends and family know that they, too, can feel good by donating to a charity that matters to them.

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GOLDEN CORRID CORRIDOR OR LI LIVVING ING • YOU!

You might get a tax deduction Depending on the size of your donation and the type of nonprofit you choose, you may even get a reduction on your income taxes. If you are considering donating to a charity, do some research before you give. You can check out sites like guidestar. org to make sure the charity you have chosen is a verified nonprofit who will put your donation to good use.

So how about choosing Sun Life?

Sun Life Family Health Center is asking you to support your local community health center.

In the past year, the organization served 46,578 individuals, many of whom would have no access to care if it were not for Sun Life Family Health Center. You may be surprised to know that last year 2016, 30 percent of Sun Life’s patients cared for were children. Sun Life’s Community Dental program served 1,195 children. Sun Life participates in the Reach Out and Read program; our pediatricians give

a book to each young pediatric patient at his or her well-child visit. In addition, in 2016 through Sun Life’s dedication to wellness and education, we provided 3,344 people with diabetic education classes. This year 2017, marks Sun Life’s 4th annual Crucial Catch free breast cancer screening event in partnership the American Cancer Society and the National Football League.

What many people do not know about Sun Life is that in addition to primary care services, Sun Life also offers integrated clinical pharmacy as well as integrated behavioral health services that provides care and treatment for an average of 18 patients daily for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In addition to these services throughout our 13 locations, Sun Life continues to offer patient assistance programs.

In 2016, 58 percent of donations came directly from Sun Life’s very own staff. This is a testament to the fact that at Sun Life, our staff truly abides by and believes in our mission to provide high quality health services, wellness and education to all people.

We are asking for your support and generosity in helping us make a difference in your community. We want to do so much more. Your donation can help Sun Life Family Health Center make a big difference.

If you are interested in donating to Sun Life Family Health Center, contact Renee Louzon-Benn, Director of Community Outreach by email at Renee.Louzon-Benn@ SLFHC.org or call for more information 520-381-6366.

Please consider a donation to Sun Life Family Health Center

What many people do not know about Sun Life is that in addition to primary care services, Sun Life also offers integrated clinical pharmacy as well as integrated behavioral health services that provides care and treatment for an average of 18 patients daily for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

2018

GOLDEN CORRIDOR

WINTER

VISITORS Guide e m o WelcBack!

2 0 18 C A S A G R A N D E E V E N T S January • Home, Health & Garden Show / Car & Truck Show. Saturday, January 13, 10am to 3pm. Arizona Home Furnishing Outlets at CityGate, west side of I-10 on Jimmie Kerr Blvd., Exit 198, 2300 E. Tanger Dr., Casa Grande.

Admission is free to attend. Contact the Chamber at 520-836-2125 or www.casagrandechamber.org.

• Casa Grande Main Street 18th Annual Historic Downtown Street Fair & Car Show. January 20-21 (Saturday & Sunday). Live entertainment both days. Saturday 10am to 5pm. Sunday 10am to 4pm. Classic Car Show Saturday only, 10am to 3pm. (Free) Show & Shine Car Show Sunday, 10am to 3pm, Contact Casa Grande Main Street, 520-836-8744, www.cgmainstreet.org.

• 33rd Annual Agri-Country Bluegrass Festival. January 27-28 (Saturday -Sunday) Pinal Fairgrounds & Event Center, 520-723-7881. www.PinalFairgrounds.com.

• Concert in the Park 1/19 6pm at Peart Park.

February • Wuertz Farm’s 15th Annual Gourd Festival February 9-11 (Friday-Sunday) Pinal Fairgrounds & Event Center, Friday and Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. For more information call 520-723-4432 or visit www.wuertzfarm.com.

• Casa Grande Cowboy Days and O’Odham Tash, Western and Native American heritage events.

O’Odham Tash Parade 10 am Florence Blvd. Saturday, February 17 - Sunday, February 25 Casa Grande Rodeo Grounds, Ed Hooper Park, 2525 N. Pinal Ave., 520-836-7013. www.casagrandecowboydays.com.

• Concert in the Park 2/16/18 6pm Peart Park.

March • 60th Annual Cactus Antique Aircraft Fly-In, City of Casa Grande Municipal Airport, 3225 N. Lear Ave., Casa Grande.. Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3. For schedule, visit www.cactusflyin.org.

W VG

2

• 11th Annual Fine Arts Explosion in Peart Park. March 10 (Saturday) 9am to 5pm and March 11 (Sunday) 9am to 4pm. Juried Fine Art show and sale. Free admission. Contact Casa Grande Main Street 520-8368744 or Mark White 520-705-1343. www.casagrandemainstreet.org.

• Annual Pinal County Fair March 21-25, Pinal Fairgrounds & Event Center, 520723-7881, www.PinalFairgrounds.com.

• Catfish Rodeo 3/10/18 at 6 a.m. at Dave White Park.

• Concert in the Park 3/16 at 6 p.m. at Peart Park.

• Family Easter Celebration 3/31 at 9 a.m. at Paul Mason Sports Complex.

April • Spring Citywide Clean Up (Parks and Recreation 520-421-8677)

• Movie in the Park 4/27 at 6 p.m. at Paul Mason Sports Complex.

May • High schools and college graduations.

• Water Safety Day 5/19 11 a.m.

Palm Island.

• Pool opens 5/26 at 12:30 p.m.

Palm Island.

June • CG Parks & Recreation Department Summer Programs/ Adult Sports Leagues (520-421-8677).

• Dive In Movie 6/15 7 p.m. at Palm Island.

July • 4th of July Celebrations (City of Casa Grande 520-421-8677)

• July 4th at the Pool 7/4 10 a.m. at Palm Island.

• Dive In Movie 7/13 7 p.m. at Palm Island.

August September • The Museum of Casa Grande re-opening for the season (520-836-2223)

• Day of Play 9/7 6 p.m. at Carr McNatt Park.

• Movie in the Park 9/14 6 p.m. at Paul Mason Sports Complex.

• Doggie Dive In 9/15 2 p.m. at Palm Island.

October • Annual Taste of Casa Grande (Against Abuse 520-836-1239) • Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce 27th Annual Business Showcase (520-836-2125)

GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE

• Movie in the Park 10/12 6 p.m.

Paul Mason Sports Complex.

• Fall City Wide Clean Up 10/20 8 a.m. DPSAC..

• Trunk or Treat 10/24 10 a.m.

Vista Grande High School.

• Halloween Family Fright Night 10/31 6 p.m. Downtown Casa Grande.

November • Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Fall Golf Tournament November 2 (520-836-2125) • Veteran’s Day Parade • Ride for the Warrior. Live music plus much more. Details to be announced. www.rideforthewarrior.com, 520-705-0669.

• Movie in the Park 11/9 6 p.m. Paul Mason Sports Complex.

• Civil War in the Southwest November 17 & 18 (Saturday & Sunday).

For more information regarding this two-day event, contact Picacho Peak State Park at 520-466-3183 or visit https://azstateparks.com/picacho/ events/civil-war-in-the-southwest • Banner Casa Grande Medical Center Turkey Trot (520-381-6603)

December • Christmas Tree Lighting and APS Electric Light Parade, Saturday, December 1 (City of Casa Grande 520-421-8677).

• Christmas on Main Street. December 1 (CG Main Street 520-836-8744) • Annual Toy Parade & Auction. Sunday, December 2 (520-421-2772) • Breakfast with Santa. (Parks and Recreation 520-421-8677, www.casagrandeaz.gov) Courtesy of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce.

Today, 55-plus is whatever you make it. Here’s to making it your own. Kick back and relax with family and friends and your favorite activities. Or blaze new paths through community service and renewed interests. However you define retirement, we say, “go for it.” We’ll help you achieve it with affordable, energy-efficient homes in amenity-packed neighborhoods, including Mission Royale right here in Casa Grande. Ten brand new floor plans from the $190s to the $250s.

MISSION ROYALE

2611 E. Questa Trail, Casa Grande, AZ

meritagehomes.com/activeadult

1- 87 7-291- 8747

Home, features, and community information are subject to change, and homes to prior sale, at any time without notice or obligation. Additionally, deviations and variations may exist in any constructed home, including, without limitation: (i) substitution of materials and equipment of substantially equal or better quality; (ii) minor style, lot orientation, and color changes; (iii) minor variances in square footage and in room and space dimensions, and in window, door, utility outlet, and other improvement locations; (iv) changes as may be required by any state, federal, county, or local government authority in order to accommodate requested selections and/or options; and (v) value engineering and field changes. Pictures and other promotional materials are representative and may depict or contain floorplans, square footages, elevations, options, upgrades, decorations, window treatments (such as shutters, drapes, etc.), landscaping, pool, spa, furnishings, appliances, and other design/decorator features and amenities that are not included as part of the home and/or may not be available in all communities. All square footages are approximate. ©2017 Meritage Homes Corp. All Rights Reserved. AZ ROC Lic #B-166223 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING

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CONTENTS 2 Casa Grande Events 4 Important Phone Numbers 6 Driving Distances 7 Weather 10 Attorney // Automotive // Retail 12 Maricopa Events 13 Services 14 10 Things To Do In Arizona 15 Casinos 16 Golf 17 Health & Beauty 18 Golden Corridor Map 20 Simple Keys To Understanding Homeowner’s Insurance 23 Home Improvement // Real Estate 24 10 Things To Do In Arizona’s Golden Corridor 25 Dining 26 Attractions // Entertainment // Visitor Centers

// Jewelry

27 Lodging // Church // Storage // Clothing

// Fitness

28 Museums 29 Hiking 30 Coolidge, AZ 32 Medical // Dental 33 Education 34 Pet Services 35 Financial Services // Prof. Services //

Organizations

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Utilities

Municipal

APS

City of Casa Grande - main

520.421.8400

520.421.8600

ED-2

Airport

ED-3

Animal Control

ED-4

Fire (non-emergency)

San Carlos Electric

Library

Hohokam Electric

Police (non-emergency)

520.426.3616

520.723.7741 520.424.9021

520.426.9300

520.466.7336

520.421.8777

520.723.6209

520.421.8710

520.723.7751

520.421.8700

Southwest Gas

City of Coolidge - main

877.860.6020

520.723.5361

Arizona Water Company

Airport

Global Water Company

Animal Control

520.836.8785 866.940.1102

520.723.6075

520.723.6075

GREATER CA SA

GRANDE REGION 2018 Winter Visitors Guide Produced and Published in conjunction with: Visitor Media Group, an affiliated business of ROX Media Group, LLC | p.844.729.9769 Elaine Earle, Publisher | p. 520.840.1796 Elaine@roxco.com | roxmediagroup.net

Published annually. Every effort is made to make this publication as accurate as possible. ROX Media Group, LLC and affiliated company / companies (collectively, the “Publishers”) will assume no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Publishers. The Publishers make no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised in this publication. Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of ROX Media Group. Advertisements are provided by the subject companies and the Publishers shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

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GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

GRETCHEN SLAUGHTER REALTOR® 520.483.6054

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

Fire (non-emergency)

City of Maricopa - main

Library

Ak-Chin Regional Airport

520.723.5311

520.723.6030

520.568.9098 520.568.1000

ANNALISA TAPIA REALTOR® 520.560.2960 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

Medical AZ Pet Poison Control 480.732.0018

Police (non-emergency)

Animal Control

Banner Casa Grande Medical Center

City of Eloy - main

Fire (non-emergency)

Banner Poison Control

520.723.5311

Airport

520.466.3082

Animal Control 520.466.4152

Fire (non-emergency) 520.466.3544

Library

520.466.3814

Police (non-emergency) 520.466.7324

888.431.1311

520.381.6300

520.568.3333

602.253.3334

Library

VA Clinic

520.568.2926

520.836.2536

Police (non-emergency) 520.568.3673

Pinal County - main

520.509.3555

Animal Control 520.509.3555

Sheriff (non-emergency)

520.866.5111

Miscellaneous Information 411

AZ Highway Road Conditions

Emergency: Medical, Police & Fire

911

AZ Department of Transportation 888.411.7623

Motor Vehicle Department 520.836.0515

Pinal Gila Council for Senior Citizens

520.836.2758

Social Security Administration

877.405.0403

Valley Humane Society 520.836.0904

511

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DRIVING DIS TANCES

IN MILES

Moab, UT

515

Las Vegas, NV

Durango, CO

345

475

Grand Canyon Village, AZ

277

Los Angeles, CA

Flagstaff, AZ

420

193

Albuquerque, NM

455

Phoenix, AZ

48

San Diego, CA

347

Casa Grande

Yuma, AZ 176

Tucson, AZ 69

CASA GRANDE DEMOGRAPHICS PO PU L ATI O N 5 4 , 53 4

FE M A LE 51. 5%

M A LE 4 8 . 5%

MEDIAN H O US E H O LD I N CO M E

OW N E R OCC U PI E D H O US I N G 6 6%

RENTER OCC U PI E D H O US I N G 3 4%

S TAT S : U . S . C E N S U S B U R E A U & C A SAGR A NDE A Z .GOV

$ 4 6 ,017

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PINAL COUNT Y DEMOGRAPHICS P O PU L ATI O N 418 , 5 4 0

FE M A LE 4 8 .1%

M A LE 51.9 %

OW N E R OCC U PI E D H O US I N G 72 . 5%

MEDIAN H O US E H O LD I N CO M E $51,19 0

SOURCE: US Climate Data

WEATHER AVERAGE HIGH (F)

AVERAGE LOW (F)

PRECIPITATION (IN.)

JANUARY

67

37

0.79

FEBRUARY

72

40

0.83

MARCH

77

45

0.98

APRIL

86

50

0.28

MAY

95

59

0.20

JUNE

104

67

0.12

JULY

105

76

0.79

AUGUST

103

74

1.97

SEPTEMBER

98

68

0.83

OCTOBER

88

55

0.79

NOVEMBER

75

42

0.75

DECEMBER

67

37

0.94

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your local full servicetravel agency

! y a d o T l l a C 442 W. Kortsen Rd., Ste.101 • Casa Grande, AZ 85122

520.836.8517 • WWW.ROXTRAVEL.COM Peg@roxtravel.com • Jerry@roxtravel.com • Tori@roxtravel.com

HELPING PINAL COUNTY’S injured and their families

since 1972

Injured? ... We Can Help!

“Why Cole & Leal?”

• You'll talk to your lawyer, not a staffer • We're local, not an out-of-town storefront

Injur y Lawyers dedicated personal injury representation Free Consultation • Se Habla Español • No Recovery, No Fee 420 West Casa Grande Lakes Boulevard North, Casa Grande, Arizona 85122

520.836.8002

www.coleandleal.com

• We're not afraid of tough cases • Millions recovered on behalf of Pinal County residents • We're experienced trial lawyers and don't always "settle"

• Service and mobile service • 1000s of parts in stock!

• Locally & Family owned for over 30 years • RV Sales and Consignments

Not just an aisle of RV accessories, a full RV parts and accessories store!

973 W. Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande (520) 836-7921 • www.norrisrv.com

• Knowledgeable team to help you • Sales, Service, Parts, Accessories, Propane • We repair and install RV awnings, appliances, plumbing, tow bars, satellites, and much more!

20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING

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AT TORNEY FITZGIBBONS LAW OFFICES 1115 E Cottonwood Ln Ste 150, Casa Grande (520) 426-3824

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

RETAIL CASA GRANDE HEALTH MART PHARMACY 1485 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-4646 HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS 26541 Agoura Rd, Calabasas (818) 836-5494 IRON CITY POLARIS 3151 N Piper Ave Ste, Casa Grande 620-272-5551

DAVID SCHLAGEL REALTOR® 520.280.9049

LIQUOR FACTORY 930 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-9088 MERCADO Y CARNICERIA EL PIMA 116 N Casa Grande Ave, Casa Grande (520) 426-9332 ON SIGHT SHOOTING SCHOOL 312 W 10th St #6, Casa Grande 520-423-6945

JONES FURNITURE 709 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-8720

8AM-5PM MON-FRI

Foreign & Domestic KEEP YOUR CAR READY FOR ALL SEASONS!

10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE INVOICE PARTS & LABOR INCLUDED, NO LIMIT ON DISCOUNT.

520-836-6250

312 W 2nd Street, Casa Grande, AZ 85122 EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

CONNIE RUSH

ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR®

520.560.0433

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

Need Storage?

AUTOMOTIVE 123 MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES 1609 E. Florence Blvd. Ste. 7, Casa Grande (480) 227-1803 BRAKEMASTERS - CASA GRANDE 1649 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 494-3502

 Air controlled Units Available  State-of-the-art Security  Open 7 days

A Storage Place of Casa Grande 1688 N. Pinal • 520-836-6080 (Next to the Post Office)

1551 Arizona Blvd, Coolidge • 520-723-6888 (next to Walmart)

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CASA GRANDE RV SALES 5944 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 423-0404 CG AUTO PLEX 861 W. Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande (520) 836-3975 CROSS ROADS AUTO CENTER 1026 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 836-2112 EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE LLC 3192 N. Pearce St, Eloy (520) 466-3524

FREEWAY CHEVROLET 1150 N 54th St, Chandler (480) 735-0399 GARRETT MOTORS 197 N Arizona Blvd, Coolidge (520) 723-5401 JJ’S ADOBE AUTO 1830 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 836-5626 PREMIER AUTO 1648 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 423-8181 RICH’S AUTO REPAIR 312 W. 2nd St., Casa Grande (520) 836-6250 WHEEL POLISHING AND REPAIR 816 West Gila Bend Hwy, A-4, Casa Grande (520) 426-0048

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARICOPA JANUARY

MARCH

JULY

Family Fishing Day Maricopa's Family Fishing Day clinic will be hosted by Arizona Department of Fish and Game. The 14th annual event will take place on Saturday, January 13, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Salsa Festival The 14th annual Salsa Festival will take place on Saturday, March 24, 2018, from 2:00 pm - 8:00 p.m.

Great American 4th Maricopa's annual Independence Day celebration at Copper Sky Park. The 12th annual Great American 4th will take place on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, from 6:00 pm - 10:00 p.m.

3rd Annual Senior Info/ Expo on Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall.

2017 Community Awards Banquet on January 20, 2018 at Elements Events Center at Ak-Chin Circle 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

FEBRUARY 5k Copa Color Fun Run & Food Truck Festival The 4th annual Copa Color Fun Run & Walk will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2018, from 9:00 am 12:00 p.m.

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2nd Saturday Market (November - May) Second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

APRIL MMF2 The 2nd Annual Maricopa Music & Beer Fest April 6-8 at Copper Sky Recreation Complex 44345 M.L.K. JR BLVD.

MAY - JUNE Movies under the Stars The City is pleased to present the "Movies Under the Stars" series each May and June.

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OCTOBER Stagecoach Days (includes 2nd Sat Market, Shutter Shots) The City of Maricopa's Stagecoach Days is a twoweek series of activities held annually in October to commemorate and celebrate the founding of our community and its rich cultural history.

Concert Series in the Park The concerts in the park series will include a variety of musical genres, (a diverse program is one of our primary goals) and various levels of performers.

Mud Run Participants will have the opportunity to run, walk, and crawl through two miles of mud and obstacles. Since the Mud Run is geared towards all fitness levels, no training is needed. Participants are also encouraged to wear costumes to this event. The best costume will receive an award!

Mysterious Mansion Mayhem Halloween has been celebrated since our country's inception, and there is no reason to let the tradition end now! The City of Maricopa would like to engage all of the citizens of Maricopa in a hauntingly good time, by recognizing and appreciating all of the efforts put into great holiday home decorating.

DECEMBER Merry Copa The 5th annual Merry Copa Holiday festival will be held December 1, 2018, from 4:00- p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Holiday Homes on Parade Residents of the City of Maricopa are invited to participate in this annual house decorating contest.

Participants are encouraged to be original and creative with decorating the exterior of their home with seasonal characters, scenes, and props.

Years

Celebrating Over 10 in Casa Grande

SERVICES BRIGHT BEGINNINGS 420 W. Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande (520) 421-3014

QUALITY FIRST DRYCLEANERS 1115 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 374-2474

COBBLESTONE CLEANERS 973 E Cottonwood Ln Ste 111, Casa Grande (480) 227-6059

SERVICE MASTER 816 W Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande (520) 421-0828

FIVE STAR CARPET CLEANING 17990 W Havasupai, Casa Grande (520) 560-8887 GOOD TIMES ROLLIN’ LLC 10280 W. Altadena Dr., Casa Grande (520) 251-8767 HORSEPOWER CARPET CLEANING 2992 N. Summer Ln., Casa Grande (520) 426-1984 MANKEL MECHANICAL 1185 E Brenda Dr, Casa Grande (520) 251-2807

SOUTHWEST POOLS PO Box 11442, Casa Grande (480) 415-2369 STAR TOWING 1201 N VIP Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-1730 THE LANDMARK EVENT CENTER 301 N. Picacho St, Casa Grande (520) 705-5789 YARD SHARKS AZ 5949 S Ozzie Ln, Casa Grande (520) 280-2565

$

10 EXPIRES 12-31-18

OFF CARPET & TILE

3

ROOMS FOR $95*!

*CARPET ONLY APPLIES

TAKING THE TIME TO GO AN EXTRA STEP THAT OTHERS DON'T. WE CLEAN WATER STEAM RINSE SO YOUR CARPET IS LEFT FEELING SOFT AND CLEAN!

24 HOUR WATER EXTRACTION AVAILABLE

ServiceMaster 1st Choice

520.421.0828

Like us on Facebook at ‘ServiceMaster1stChoice’ to receive a 10% discount

20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING

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Arizona

TENTHINGSTODOIN

1

BISBEE One of Arizona’s most colorfully eclectic historic communities, Bisbee began its life with traces of lead, copper and silver in the late 1800s. Through the ups and downs of the mining industry Bisbee has endured and blossomed into culturally rich community offering visitors a mix of art, music, history, architecture, outdoor activities, dining and nightlife.

C A N YO N D E C H E L LY

The Canyon de Chelly National Monument is home to spectacular cliff dwellings found on and at the base of steep-sided canyons up to 1,000 feet deep. This is the best known of over a hundred cliff dwellings, mostly in inaccessible locations, which were occupied from around AD 350 to 1300.

5

FO U R CO R N E R S You can stand in four states at one time at Four Corners Monument, situated on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona.

Unique amongst Arizona’s many landmarks, Four Corners Monument is the only place in the United States where four states intersect at one point: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.

G R A N D C A N YO N

The biggest attraction in Arizona is the Grand Canyon, carved out by the Colorado River over the centuries. Most visitors see the canyon from the South Rim, where there are numerous lookout areas all along the road and walkway running along the canyon’s edge. It is also possible to hike down into the Grand Canyon or take a helicopter flight over and through it.

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7

H O OV E R DA M Hoover Dam is a testimony to the ability to construct monolithic projects during adverse conditions. Built during the Depression; thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the ASCE as one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.

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LONDON BRIDGE Created by Robert McCullough, in 1968 Lake Havasu City was the recipient of the world-famous London Bridge, disassembled in London and reassembled here.

“Arizona’s Playground” can give you all the adventure you can handle, from boating and off-roading, to hiking and fishing, making this one of the most family-friendly Arizona vacation and recreation spots.

M E T E O R C R AT E R

Meteor Crater is a meteorite impact crater approximately 37 miles east of Flagstaff and 18 miles west of Winslow in the northern Arizona desert. The crater is about one mile wide and 570 feet deep. Scientists say the impact was about 50,000 years ago and the explosion was equal to 2.5 megatons of TNT.

6

M O N U M E N T VA L L E Y Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the border between Arizona and Utah. Wild West landscape includes jagged rock formations, dramatic buttes, and sand dunes. Visitors can do a self drive tour through the valley, take a guided tour or photography tour, or simply appreciate some of the views from the passing highway.

PE T R I F I E D FO R E S T

Large pieces of petrified wood, along with fossilized plants, fish, and reptiles, have been revealed in great numbers in what is today Petrified National Forest in the Painted Desert. The park access road allows visitors to drive passed many of the highlights and short interpretive trails allow for close up looks at a variety of unique sights.

10

4

8

TOMBSTONE Tombstone, a silver mining boomtown, quickly became notorious as a rough and tumble town, the best claim to fame was the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral (which actually took place in a vacant lot next to the corral), involving Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. The OK Corral exhibit is there, as are many of the old saloons and the old courthouse, now a museum.

CASINOS WILD HORSE PASS 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler 800.946.4452 1 www.wingilariver.com

HARRAH’S AK-CHIN 15406 N. Maricopa Rd.,Maricopa 480.802.5000 3 www.caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin

LONE BUTTE 1077 S. Kyrene Rd., Chandler 800.946.4452 www.wingilariver.com

APACHE GOLD 5 US-70, San Carlos 928.475.7800 www.apache-gold-casino.com

2

4

See Pins On Page 18-19

ROXsells.com

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

AIESSA GUERRA REALTOR® 520.265.6112 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING

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GOLF WHIRLWIND GOLF CLUB 5770 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler 520.796.4653 1 www.whirlwindgolf.com

SAN MIGUEL 1505 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy 520.466.7734 www.sanmiguelgolf.com

AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB Hwy 238, Maricopa 480.367.8949 2 www.akchinsoutherndunes.com

ARIZONA CITY 13939 S. Cleator Rd., Arizona City 520.466.5327 www.myazcitygolf.com

THE DUKE AT RANCHO ELDORADO 42660 Rancho El Dorado Pkwy., Maricopa 480.844.1100 3 www.thedukegolf.com

DOVE MOUNTAIN 6501 Boulder Bridge Pass, Marana 520.572.3500 13 www.thegolfclubatdovemountain.com

FRANCISCO GRANDE 12684 W. Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande 520.381.8200 www.franciscograndegolf.com DAVE WHITE MUNICIPAL 2121 N. Thornton Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.9216 www.casagrandeaz.gov/rec/golf-course

4

RANCHO VISTOSO 955 W. Vistoso Highlands Dr., Tucson 520.797.9900 www.vistosogc.com

5

SADDLEBROOKE 64500 E. SaddleBrooke Blvd., Tucson 520.825.3048 www.saddlebrooke.org

GOLF CLUB AT JOHNSON RANCH 30761 W. Golf Club Dr., San Tan Valley 480.987.9800 6 www.johnsonranchgc.com GOLF CLUB AT OASIS 5764 E. Hunt Hwy.,Florence 480.888.8890 www.clubatoasis.com

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SADDLEBROOKE RANCH 59642 E. Robson Cir., Oracle 520.818.6403 www.saddlebrookeranchgolfclub.com PALM CREEK 1110 N. Henness Rd., Casa Grande 800.421.7004 www.palmcreekgolf.com

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POSTON BUTTE GOLF CLUB 6100 Merrill Ranch Pkwy., Florence 520.723.1880 8 www.postonbuttegc.com

APACHE STRONGHOLD GOLF CLUB Located 5 miles East of Globe on Highway 70, San Carlos 800.272.2438 18 www.apachestronghold.com

MISSION ROYALE GOLF COURSE 11 S. Mission Pkwy., Casa Grande 480.951.4444 9 www.missionroyalegolfclub.com

TIERRA GRANDE 813 W. Calle Rosa, Casa Grande 520.723.9717 19 www.tierragrandeaz.com

ROBSON RANCH GOLF CLUB 5750 W. Robson Blvd., Eloy 520.426.3333 www.arizonagolf.com/courses/eloy/ 10 robson-ranch-golf-club

See Pins On Page 18-19

GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE

Dave White Golf Course EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

AMANDA MASHORE REALTOR® 520.709.9499

2121 N. Thorton Rd | (520) 836-9216

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

Bring in this coupon to receive a free bucket of range balls.

Redeem by May 31, 2018.

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

SUE PITTULLO

ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR®

520.560.0957

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

H E A LT H/ BEAUTY BAY OF ISLANDS MASSAGE & SPA 992 E Cottonwood Ln., Ste 106, Casa Grande (520) 836-7000 GREEN ORCHID SALON 117 W. Cottonwood Lane #14, Casa Grande (520) 518-5335

SHEAR GOSSIP 119 E. 4th St., Casa Grande (520) 424-4101 WHOLE HEALTH ALLIANCE LLC 1895 N Trekell Rd Ste 3, Casa Grande (520) 450-7153

KELSIE PATE FNP-C MEDICAL AND AESTHETICS 119 E 4th St, Casa Grande (520) 836-6576

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6

Apache Junction South Mountain Park

1

2

1

6

Supe

Chandler

1

1

9

60

Mesa Gilbert

Tempe

Queen Valley

7

11

2

1

8

5

87

79

8

San Tan Valley 3

347

238

5

6

2 5

3

1

Maricopa

10

1

3

1 9 347

3

7 10

Casa Grande 4

5

84

13

1

87

2

8

6 5

3

287

4

18 3

Florence

Cactus Forest

4

4

11

9

79

8

10

4 5

8

12

2

Arizona City

13

7

87

Eloy

2

3

2

4

Picacho Peak State Park Ironwood Forest National Monument

6

14

Coolidge

3 2

12

4

ks Rd

7

Lin Park

10

.

6

Marana

1

THERE ARE TREASURES IN...

ARIZONA’S GOLDEN CORRIDOR W VG

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10

Saguaro National Park 16

10

4 60

Globe

Miami

erior

19 70

77

Ray 177

GOLF

Kearny

HIK ING C A SINO 77

SHOPPING Mammoth

AT TR AC TION VISITOR CENTER

7

17 11 15

14

16

Catalina 5

6

Oracle

7

San Manuel

MUSEUM

15

In Arizona’s Golden Corridor - the area between Phoenix and Tucson - winter visitors and residents alike can find unlimited opportunities for for fulfilling whatever you enjoy!

Physical activities, gaming, shopping, entertainment, exploration it’s all here. Check out the fine establishments shown on our handy Golden Corridor Treasure Map - and tell them you saw it here!

This map should not be used for navigation or legal purposes. It is intended for general reference use only; any exact locations should be researched fully before setting out. Not all roads may be shown or named. Some roads may be private, incomplete or unimproved. Forest, park and reservation boundaries are generalized. The user of this map bears the full responsibility for his or her safety. © Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved. ROX Media Group.

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SIMPLE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE Winter visitors who own real estate in Arizona have unique insurance needs that should be discussed in detail with your insurance agent. Some items to discuss include: • Is your home vacant part of the year?

• Do you store a vehicle either at your home or with a third-party storage facility? Do you suspend the registration while it is stored?

• Do you rent out your home when you aren’t using it?

This includes short-term rentals such as VRBO and AirBnB.

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o make sure you have the right type and right amount of homeowner’s insurance, you need to understand what it does and doesn’t cover. Regular homeowner’s insurance will cover damage from tornadoes, fires and burglary, but it will not cover the calamity of hurricanes, floods, terrorism or nuclear meltdowns.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

• Make sure to get enough coverage to re-build your home from bottom to top.

• Choose “replacement cost” instead of “actual cash value.”

• Regularly inventory your possessions and their replacement costs. Consider a special rider for valuables such as jewelry, furs and family heirlooms.

• Understand “loss of use” provisions. These provisions will dictate how long your insurer will pay rent while your home is rebuilt or repaired.

BEST OFFERINGS

• Look at on-line quotes and shop around, in general.

Do some research to make sure the company is financially sound.

• Consider the possibility of raising your deductible to keep rates low.

• Get discounts by purchasing homeowner’s and auto insurance from the same company.

• Consider an umbrella policy to protect against lawsuits.

• Ask if special discounts are available. Some companies offer discounts to longtime customers, seniors, and non-smokers.

• Monitor and maintain a good credit score • Unless you plan to file a claim, don’t report damages.

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WHAT ISN’T COVERED • • • •

Home office equipment Damage from neglect and poor maintenance practices Losses caused by pests such as insects, rodents and pets Sewer backups and mold

IN CASE OF DISASTER

• Get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible.

• Begin checking for damage and take photos to document calamity. Make quick fixes and temporary repairs to mitigate further damage.

• Be cautious of repairmen charging exorbitant rates and con artists impersonating insurance adjusters.

• Read the fine print before signing anything! Be careful not to sign away future compensation upon receipt of the first check.

• If a settlement offer is clearly unfair, don’t accept it.

Learning a few simple principles in advance can save you a bundle, should disaster strike. Speak with your insurance agent to gain a better understanding of your homeowner’s insurance needs.

We Specialize in Home and Auto Solutions for Winter Residents.

Coverage available for Park Models and Golf Carts too!

We’ll give you a $ 10 ga grocery card whe s/ 442 W KORTSEN RD SUITE 101 come to our offic n you e an (BEHIND WALGREENS AT PINAL & KORTSEN) us quote your ins d let urance!

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HOME • AUTO • RV • PARK MODELS • GOLF CARTS • ATVS • MOTORCYCLES Offer #Shop17 and is limited to the first 25 respondents. Must provide coupon code at the time of quote to qualify. Offer subject to rules and regulations of the Arizona Department of Insurance. Offer valid for households that have not received a new quote for ROX Casa Grande Insurance in20the past 9 months. Limit one gift card per household. Expires 2-28-18.

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IRONWOOD VILLAGE

A small, intimate community with a big lifestyle. Resort-style active adult living, luxurious clubhouse with huge heated pool and spa, entertainment room, kitchen, barbecues, multipurpose areas for dances and gatherings, card rooms, billiard room, two exercise rooms, arts and crafts center, and library. Centrally located in Casa Grande and gated 24/7. Perfect for year-round or seasonal living!

1526 E. Sage Drive, $175,000 Georgia F. Schaeffer, Associate Broker, GRI, georgias@coldwellbanker.com 520.560.3333 Patio/Greenbelt 2 BR 2 BA 1,475 SF., corner lot.

Desirable, gated 55+ Ironwood Village is ready for you! With north/south exposure, this home sits on a corner, greenbelt lot. The popular, open concept floor plan has neutral paint, 18” tile in all wet areas, upgraded carpet, vaulted ceilings, 2 bay windows, 2” blinds, sunscreens, ceiling fan, a breakfast bar, 42” raised panel cabinets with pull-outs, an R/O system & includes all appliances. Centrally located, resort-style living today!

1558 E. Manor Drive, $185,900 Cathy Taylor, Associate Broker, REALTOR®, cathyt@coldwellbanker.com 520.560.2083 Ideal location at the intersection of two greenways in the quiet 55+ community of Ironwood Village. This home has it all...perfect size, perfect condition and maintenance free lifestyle! Plantation shutters throughout, architectural upgrades, wood floor in great room, ceramic tile and porcelain tile in the wet areas. Split floor plan with en-suite’ bath for guests. Large enclosed patio, professionally landscaped with custom pavers. Inground lighting enhances evening dining in the covered alcove. Bay window in master bedroom, over-soffit and under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen.

Short walk to large clubhouse offering social activities and beautiful heated pool with spa. All appliances convey.

1424 N. Desert Willow Street, $190,000 Dawn Zimbelman, REALTOR®, ABR, dawnz@coldwellbanker.com 520.431.2875 Beautiful amenities 2 BR 2 BA + office/den, 1,789 SF Ironwood Village Plan 5 with vaulted ceilings, freshly painted, new carpet, 3” plantation shutters, diagonally laid tile, Corian counters, maple cabinets, stainless appliances and loads of storage. Split master is spacious with large master bath and walk-in closet. Den/ office can be separate parlor for the adjacent second bedroom and bath. Insulated garage door. Private patio backs to green park area. Gated 24/7 with resort-like clubhouse.

1556 E. Brenda Drive, $182,000 Robin Armenta, REALTOR®, robin.armenta@coldwellbanker.com 520.414.8628 Beautiful home in Ironwood Village. 3BD 2BA home with 1,738 SF. Bedrooms are split.

Open concept, breakfast bar. Nice kitchen, big pantry. Large master suite with double vanity, huge walk in closet. All appliances convey. Beautiful clubhouse, heated pool and spa. Resort Living at its Best.

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com ©2018 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. W VG

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HOME IMPROVEM E N T A-1 SALVAGE 736 W Cholla, Casa Grande (520) 421-1681

K & M ROOFING Po Box 11423, Casa Grande (520) 836-6643

ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS 15679 N 83rd Way Ste 5, Scottsdale (602) 501-0787

PHOENIX PATIO SYSTEMS PO Box 2860, Chandler (480) 812-0100

AL & RILEY’S A/C 40 N Brown St, Casa Grande (520) 836-8450

RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN 1460 N. Renaissance Blvd, Albuquerque (505) 881-3200

APEX HOME IMPROVEMENT LLC 1285 E Barcelona Ave, Casa Grande (520) 709-5895 BRUTINEL 600 E 1st Srett, Casa Grande (520) 836-5802 CAPITAL R CONSTRUCTION 1779 E Wildflower Ln, Casa Grande (520) 483-1512 DESERT SUN HEATING, COOLING 1102 W Jimmie Kerr Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 466-1489

RESCUE PLUMBING (520) 560-8577 RSC MECHANICAL SERVICES INC 1664 E. Florence Blvd., Ste. 4-104, Casa Grande (520) 518-1668

COLDWELL BANKER ROX PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande (520) 421-9000

ANNIE-MAC HOME MORTGAGE 211 N Florence St Ste 102, Casa Grande (520) 836-7776

ELITE REAL ESTATE PROS Kathi Buckner 502 E. Cottonwood Ln., Ste. 11, Casa Grande (520) 836-6325

COLDWELL BANKER ROX 1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande (520) 421-9000

WWW.JUSTPLUMBINGAZ.COM

UNITED RENTALS 1429 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 426-0014

ACADEMY MORTGAGE - CG 442 W Kortsen Rd Ste 104, Casa Grande (520) 421-1171

CALICHE SENIOR LIVING 1640 N. Peart Rd., Casa Grande (520) 314-9040

• WATER HEATERS INSTALLED FROM $700 • SOFTENERS WITH CHLORINE FILTRATION FROM $950 • SALT FREE SYSTEMS FROM $1,250 • ROS FROM $250

TEEPEE SAND AND GRAVEL PO Box 11228, Casa Grande (520) 836-3879

REAL ES TATE

AZ DISCOUNT HOMES Casa Grande (480) 788-4773

THE ONLY COMPANY WITH STANDARD LIFETIME PARTS & LABOR WARRANTY

MERITAGE ACTIVE ADULT 2611 E. Questa Trl., Casa Grande 1 (877) 291-8747 TITLE SECURITY 421 E Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande (520) 426-4600

Service is my Specialty I won’t just find you a house, I will find you a home 17 years experience with buyers and sellers

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

JOYCE SOUTH

520.705.1272 Joyce.South@coldwellbanker.com 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

SUSAN L. ABDALLAH REALTOR 520.705.1388

®

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

©2018 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.

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TENTHINGSTODOIN

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Arizona’s Golden Corridor

C ASA GR ANDE RUINS Coolidge — An Ancient Sonoran Desert People’s farming community and Great House are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether the Casa Grande was a gathering place for the Desert People or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of canals and trading partners is but part of the mystique. The Casa Grande was abandoned around 1450 C.E. PI C AC H O PE A K

Picacho Peak’s most noted historic event occurred on April 15, 1862, when Confederate and Union scouting parties met in the Battle of Picacho Pass during the Civil War. Picacho Peak is not a volcanic cone, but is part of a volcanic flow that has been partially eroded away. It has long been known for its spring display of wildflowers.

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TOM MIX MONUMENT A roadside memorial to silent film cowboy Tom Mix is south of Florence. On Oct. 12, 1940, Mix was driving his 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton when he came upon construction barriers at a bridge washed away by a flash flood. He was unable to stop in time and died in the crash. Located south of Florence along Highway 79.

S T. ANTHON Y’S GREEK ORTHODOX MONA S TERY The monastery is dedicated to St. Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism, the renowned 3rd century anchorite. There are chapels dedicated to Saints Seraphim of Sarov, Demetrios of Thessalonica, John the Baptist, George the Great Martyr, Nicholas the Wonderworker, and Panteleimon the Healer. The main church is dedicated to Saints Anthony and Nectarios the Wonderworker. 4784 N. St. Joseph’s Way.

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M C FA R L A N D S TAT E H I S T O R I C PA R K

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The history of the park’s building provides visitors with a look into the past.

The building represents a transition between Sonoran and Anglo-American architecture with its wood-shingled pitched roof surmounting traditional adobe brick walls. Soil from the area was used to make adobe bricks which were laid on a trench foundation filled with river rocks.

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G O L D F I E L D G H OS T TOW N A N D M U S E U M

Apache Junction — A living-history experience with restored 1800s-era buildings from a former gold-rush community. Tourists can ride a narrow gauge train, pan for gold and experience life as it was during the busiest days of the Goldfield town.

B I O S PH E R E 2

One of the world’s only scientific research facilities in which scientists work in a sealed environment to study earth’s ecosystems, such as oceans and coral reefs, mangrove wetlands and Savannah grasslands.

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BOYCE THOMPSON SOUTHWES TERN ARBORETUM Discover the intricate beauty and many faces of Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Featured are plants from the world’s deserts, towering trees, captivating cacti, sheer mountain cliffs, a streamside forest, panoramic vistas, many natural habitats with varied wildlife, a desert lake, a hidden canyon, specialty gardens and more.

T H E A PAC H E T R A I L (S TAT E RO U T E 8 8) This 40-mile trail winds along urban roadways and ends in the rugged desert mountains. Travelling past the deep reservoir lakes of Canyon and Apache Lakes the narrow, winding unpaved includes the town of Tortilla Flat and continues to Roosevelt Dam. With steep cliff drops and little in the way of safety barriers it is not recommended for large RVs, SUVs, or caravans.

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THE MATTHEW B. JUAN - IR A H. HAYES MEMORIAL PARK Located in Sacaton on the Gila River Indian Community, this is a memorial to the men and women who served in the Armed Forces, protecting our great nation. Ira Hayes was one of the men in the iconic photograph raising the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima in WWII.

DINING A LATTE VINO 958 E Rodeo Rd, Casa Grande (520) 788-6677 CARLITO’S MEXICAN GRILL 1328 E. Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-3185 CULVER’S OF CASA GRANDE 2453 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 426-4225 GALLOPIN’ GOOSE 1980 S Arizona Blvd, Coolidge (562) 299-8579 MCMASHERS 1355 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 426-1472 OCHOA’S RESTAURANT 512 E Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande (520) 836-9867 TOMMY’S BISTRO 913 E 8th St, Casa Grande (520) 280-8658

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A T T R A C T I O N S E N T E R TA I N M E N T RAWHIDE 5700 W. N. Loop Rd.,Chandler 480.502.5600 www.rawhide.com CASA GRANDE RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT 1100 W. Ruins Dr., Coolidge 520.723.3172 www.nps.gov

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ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM 2021 N. Kinney Rd.,Tucson 520.883.1380 10 www.desertmuseum.org SCHNEPF FARMS 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., Queen Creek 480.987.3100 11 www.schnepffarms.com

SHAMROCK FARMS 40034 W. Clayton Rd., Stanfield 602.477.2462 3 www.shamrockfarms.net

FLORENCE PIONEER MUSEUM 715 S. Main St., Florence 520.868.4382 12 www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org

SKYDIVE ARIZONA 4900 N. Taylor St., Eloy 520.466.3753 www.skydiveaz.com

CG HISTORY MUSEUM 110 W. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande 520.836.2223 13 www.tmocg.org

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QUEEN CREEK OLIVE MILL 25062 S. Meridian Rd., Queen Creek 480.888.9290 5 www.queencreekolivemill.com

ST ANTHONY’S GREEK MONASTERY 4784 N. St. Joseph’s Way, Florence 520.868.3188 14 www.stanthonysmonastery.org

THE WINDMILL WINERY 1140 W. Butte Ave., Florence 480.313.2303 www.thewindmillwinery.com

ARIZONA ZIPLINE ADVENTURES 35406 S. Mt. Lemmon Rd., Oracle 520.308.9350 15 www.ziparizona.com

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ROOSTER COGBURN’S OSTRICH FARM 17599 E. Peak Ln., Picacho 520.466.3658 7 www.roostercogburn.com BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM 37615 E. US Highway 60, Superior 520.689.2811 8 www.ag.arizona.edu/bta ULTRASTAR MULTI-TAINMENT CENTER 16000 N. Maricopa Rd.,Maricopa 520.494.7827 9 www.ultrastarakchin.com

OLD TUCSON 201 S. Kinney Rd., Tucson 520.883.0100 www.oldtucson.com

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CASA GRANDE MAIN STREET 110 W. 2nd St., Casa Grande 520.836.8744 www.cgmainstreet.org COOLIDGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 684 W. Northern Ave., Cooldige 520.723.3009 www.coolidgeperformingartscenter.org See Pins On Page 18-19

VISITOR CENTERS GREATER CASA GRANDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 575 N. Marshall St., Casa Grande 520.836.2125 1 www.casagrandechamber.org SUNLAND VISITOR CENTER 3725 N. Camelot St., Eloy 520.466.3007 www.sunlandvisitorcenter.org

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FLORENCE VISITOR CENTER 24 W. Ruggles St., Florence 3 520.868.9433 www.visitflorenceaz.com COOLIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 351 N. Arizona Blvd., #5, Coolidge 520.723.3009 4 www.coolidgechamber.org See Pins On Page 18-19 W VG

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BLACKBOX FOUNDATION 111 W Florence Blvd #7, Casa Grande (520) 428-7050

PINAL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 512 S Eleven Mile Corner Rd, Casa Grande (520) 723-7881

CASA GRANDE MAIN ST 110 W 2nd ST, Casa Grande (520) 836-8744

RIDE FOR THE WARRIOR (520) 560-2256

COOLIDGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 684 W. Northern Ave, Coolidge (520) 723-2424

WESTERN COLLECTIBLE & FIRE ARMS 11040 Single Tree Trl., Dewey (928) 848-0070

COWTOWN TAVERN 36796 W. Hwy 84, Stanfield (520) 424-3233

ZONTA CLUB P. O. Box 11342, Casa Grande

PARAMOUNT THEATER 420 N Florence St, Casa Grande (520) 450-0705

JEWELRY AMY’S JEWELRY 1649 E Florence Blvd Ste 3, Casa Grande (520) 836-2780

GEORGIA F. SCHAEFFER ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR®

520.560.3333

DAWN ZIMBELMAN REALTOR®

520.431.2875

MARICOPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 44480 W. Honeycutt Rd., #106, Maricopa 520.568.9573 5 www.maricopachamber.org TRI-COMMUNITY VISITOR CENTER 1470 W. American Ave., Oracle 520.241.1142 6 www.visittricommunity.org

520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13881 N. Casa Grande Hwy., Marana 520.682.4314 7 www.maranachamber.com ARIZONA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 13640 S. Sunland Gin Rd., Arizona City 520.466.5141 8 www.arizonacitychamber.com

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EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

LODGING

STOR AGE

FRANCISCO GRANDE 12684 W Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande (520) 381-8101

24-7 AUTOMATED STORAGE 1040 N. VIP Blvd, Casa Grande (520) 836-8647

CHURCH CALVARY CHAPEL OF CASA GRANDE 962 W. Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande (520) 836-9676

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS - CASA GRANDE 1555 N Colorado , Casa Grande (520) 421-1239

A STORAGE PLACE OF CG 1688 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 836-6080

CLOTHING PAULA’S FUN FASHIONS 10601 W Bataglia Dr, Arizona City (520) 876-4000

FITNESS 24-7 FITNESS 2080 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande (520) 836-0613

PLANET FITNESS - CASA GRANDE 1325 E. Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (928)451-2222

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

ROBIN ARMENTA REALTOR® 520.414.8268 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

Arts • Entertainment • Music • Drama & More

Peter, Paul and Mary Remembered

Sat., Jan 13, 2018

Cirque Shanghai

Wed., Jan 24, 2018

Riders in the Sky

Fri., Feb 16, 2018

Improvables

Sat., Feb 24, 2018

Come Back Buddy Thurs., Mar 1, 2018

For a complete schedule or to purchase tickets, visit: www.EventsAtCAC.com For the 2017-2018 Season Brochure, call: 520-477-SHOW

SWith econd entrée Purchase of First Entrée Must present original coupon. Second entrée must be of equal or lesser value than first entrée.

Not valid on holidays or with any other offers.

Valid until May 31, 2018.

Reservations highly recommended. 520-381-8110

www.franciscogrande.com 12684 West Gila Bend Highway • Casa Grande, AZ 85193

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MUSEUMS

T

his area has several museums, ranging from art to history to Native American to natural resources.

The Museum of Casa Grande Preserves and exhibits the history of the Casa Grande region and the early days of Arizona. Numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits, including old black schoolhouse.

1 110 W. Florence Blvd. www.tmocg.org

Santa Cruz Valley Historic Museum and Visitor Center Housed in the Old Toltec Elementary School and featuring multi-cultural history of the Santa Cruz Valley.

3725 N. Camelot St., Eloy. 2 www.scvhmuseum.org Casa Grande Art Museum Shows and displays from various local artists. Located in the house built by Gus Kratzka in 1929 as the family residence and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

3 319 W. Third St. www.casagrandeartmuseum.org Artisan Village of Coolidge Numerous activities and home of the Pinal Geology & Mineral Museum and Copper

State Heritage Museum.

351 N. Arizona Blvd., Coolidge (Arizona Blvd. 4 and Northern Ave). www.artisanvillageofcoolidge.org www.pinalgeologymuseum.org Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum and Archive Preserving the Ak-Chin way of life through the centuries and sharing values and 5 identities with visitors.

47685 N. Eco-Museum Rd., Maricopa. www.azcama.org/museums/akchin Pinal County Historical Society Museum Indian exhibits, extensive bullet and barbed wire collections, cactus furniture, quilts and antique clothing, prison artifacts including hanging

nooses, two-seater gas chamber chair, and prison registers, outdoor display of antique farm machinery, a blacksmith shop, 1928 Pioneer Cabin, vintage fire engines.

6 715 S. Main St., Florence. www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org Huhugam Heritage Center The Gila River Indian Community’s tribal facility for the preservation and display of important cultural artifacts and art. A repository for prehistoric and historic artifacts, cultural materials and vital records, a museum to display the materials to the public.

4759 N. Maricopa Rd., 7 Chandler. www.gilariver.org/index.php/ enterprises/huhugam-heritage-center

See Pins On Page 18-19

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HIKING PHOENIX SOUTH MOUNTAIN 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix 602.262.7393 www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/ 1 locations/south-mountain CASA GRANDE MOUNTAIN 2090 E. Arica Rd., Casa Grande 520.421.8600 www.casagrandeaz.gov/rec 2 /parks/cgmountain SAN TAN MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK 6533 W. Phillips Rd., Queen Creek 480.655.5554 3 www.maricopa.gov/parks/santan PICACHO PEAK I-10 @ Picacho Peak Rd.,Eloy 520.466.3183 www.azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE

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CATALINA STATE PARK 11570 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson 520.628.5798 www.azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA

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LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK (SUPERSTITION MTNS) 6109 N. Apache Trl., Apache Junction 480.982.4485 6 www.azstateparks.com/Parks/LODU

EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

BEA LUECK REALTOR® 520.560.5671 520.423.8250 | ROXsells.com

TABLE TOP MOUNTAIN - IRONWOOD NATIONAL MONUMENT I-8 @ Vekol Valley Rd., Maricopa 623.580.5500 www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/ 7 recreation/hiking/table_top.html

See Pins On Page 18-19

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CIT Y OF COOLIDGE, ARIZONA The Artisan Village of Coolidge located at 351 N. Arizona Blvd., is OPEN Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Come and “Ignite Your Creativity” at the Village and participate in classes on glass fusing, stained glass, wire wrapping, metal working, lapidary, weaving, doll making, jewelry making, painting, drawing, mosaics and much more! The Art Gallery is now open and has a wide variety of amazing art highlighting artists from the Artisan Village as well as other master artists from around the region. You’ll be able to find that special, one-of-a-kind gift for yourself or someone on your gift list. The Pinal Gem & Mineral Museum and the Copper State Heritage Museum will provide a glimpse into the amazing natural wonders and history of our region. To see a more detailed schedule visit artisanvillageofcoolidge.org.

Artisan Village Pinal Gem & Mineral Museum will host its third annual Touch Outer Space & Gem & Mineral show March 10. You will be able to touch samples from Mars, the moon and the asteroid Vesta from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Dr. Carleton Moore is bringing specimens to the museum. There will be dealers selling minerals, meteorites, fossils and lapidary material from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Admission to the event and museum is free.

There are exhibits of rocks, minerals and fossils. Special exhibits include fluorescent minerals, Arizona minerals and Arizona geology. There is a kids treasure hunt and a fossil

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dig where every kid can find and take home a small fossil collection. The Earth Science Museum will be represented at this show

by Lynne and Terry Dyer with their traveling museum of rocks, minerals and fossils along with Mardy Zimmermann with the egg carton program, where you can make your own rock/mineral collection for $1. The Art Gallery and studios will also be open during the event. artisanvillageofcoolidge.org.

Breakfast is served by the Coolidge Lion’s Club in front of the main hangar at the airport, which features a wooden World War II hanger, a symbolic relic of the airport’s former days as the Coolidge Army Airfield.

Visitors can enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage for just $8 between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.. For more details, visit coolidgeaz.com/airport.

Coolidge, Home to the Casa Grande Ruins

The Coolidge Historical Museum is located at 151 W. Harding Ave. and is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April. Located in Coolidge’s first courthouse and jail, the museum houses displays on the history of Coolidge and even has a 1900s farmhouse where you can experience what living was like in the early part of the 20th century. Come visit the museum and take a step back in time!

It remains a mystery! The Big House is America’s First Prehistoric & Cultural Preserve.

Guest speakers will provide the following presentations: Protecting a Way of Life, Celebrating Women’s History, The Ancient Hohokam Ballgame of Arizona. They will hold demonstrations for creating horsehair baskets, beaded jewelry and pottery. A silversmith will also conduct a demonstration. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/cagr/index.htm

Coolidge Historical Museum

Coolidge Airport Fly-In

Looking to spread your wings and try something new? Every first Saturday of the month, now through May, aviation enthusiasts can head to the Coolidge Municipal Airport for the Coolidge Fly-In. The monthly event features aircrafts from all over the state and country as pilots fly in for breakfast, fuel, and, of course, show off their planes to aviation photographers and flight fanciers.

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This information has be brought to you by the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce (520) 723-3009 • www.coolidgechamber.org 351 N. Arizona Blvd., Coolidge, AZ 85128

Coolidge, Arizona POINTS OF INTEREST

CASA GRANDE RUINS- EVENTS

110 0 W R U I N S D R I V E , CO O LI D G E (52 0) 723 - 3172 - H T T P S:// W W W. N P S .G OV/C AG R /

JANUARY 17

JANUARY 31

FEBRUARY 14

MARCH 1-4

MARCH 2-4

Lecture- Tamika Lamb-Sanders In Her Shoes: Celebrating Women’s History 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Lecture- Allen Denoyer Building Replicas of Salado Period Structures 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Lecture- Todd Bostwick The Ancient Hohokam Ballgame of Arizona 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Demonstrator –Maggie Keams Navajo Weaving & Bead Work 10am to 3pm

JANUARY 18-21

FEBRUARY 1-4

FEBRUARY 15-19

37th Annual Coolidge Cotton DaysFun for the whole family-Parade, Carnaval, Food Booths, & other vendor booths. coolidgechamber.org

Demonstrator – Kenneth Quanimptewa Hand-carving of Authentic Hopi Kachinas 10am to 3pm

Demonstrator –Pat Yellowhorse Handmade Native American Jewelry 10am to 3pm

Demonstrator –Amos & Rebecca Hasken Weapons & Jewelry 10am to 3pm

JANUARY 24

FEBRUARY 7

FEBRUARY 21

Lecture- Barbara Jaquay Sheep Ranchers and Herders of Arizona 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Lecture- Jay Cravath Along the California Trail 12:00pm to 1:00pm

FEBRUARY 8-11

Demonstrator –Laura Yazzie Bead Work & Jewelry 10am to 3pm

Lecture- Royce & Debbie Manuel “Protecting a Way of Life” Kinship Responsibilities 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Demonstrator –Fredrick Henry Silversmith 10am to 3pm

FEBRUARY 23-24

UPCOMING EVENTS IN COOLIDGE JANUARY 6TH (FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH TILL MAY) Coolidge Airport Fly- In Come have breakfast & enjoy the view (all you can eat pancakes sausage/ bacon $8.00) 8am to 10:30am Coolidge Airport 6300 N. Coolidge Airport Rd. Coolidge www.coolidgeaz.com/airport

MARCH 10TH Artisan Village, Pinal Gem & Mineral Museum 3rd Annual Touch Outer Space & Pinal Gem & Mineral show 10am to 4pm 351 N. Arizona Blvd., Coolidge artisanvillageofcoolidge.org

ARTISAN VILLAGE OF COOLIDGE IS OPEN SATURDAYS FROM 9AM TO NOON

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MEDICAL BANNER / CGRMC 1800 E Florence Blvd, Casa Grande (480) 321-0160 COTTONWOOD MEDICAL CENTER 560 N Camino Mercado Ste 7, Casa Grande (520) 836-5538 DOCTOR’S CHOICE MOBILITY & MEDICAL SUPPLIES 820 W. Cottonwood Ln Ste 10, Casa Grande (520) 836-4907 EAST VALLEY FAMILY MEDICAL 1968 N Peart Rd #3, Casa Grande (480) 963-1853 HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix (602) 530-6920 JENKINS CHIROPRACTIC 1891 N Trekell Rd #2, Casa Grande (520) 836-2969 MIRACLE-EAR - CASA GRANDE 1179 E Cottonwood Ln #3, Casa Grande (480) 420-3292

OASIS PAVILION NURSING & REHABILITATION 161 W Rodeo Rd, Casa Grande (520) 836-1772 PREMIER CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER 803 N Salk Drive Bldg A, Casa Grande (520) 836-6682 SIRCLE PAIN CLINIC 820 W Cottonwood Ln Ste 6, Casa Grande (520) 509-6380 STEWART CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC 1415 N Trekell Rd, Casa Grande (520) 509-6160 SUMMIT REHAB 1295 E. Florence Blvd Ste 1, Casa Grande (520) 836-3009 SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER 865 N Arizola Rd, Casa Grande (520) 381-0366 THE HEARING CENTER 1201 N Pinal Ave, Casa Grande (520) 431-9897

DENTAL AGAVE DENTISTRY 2028 N Trekell Rd Ste 107, Casa Grande (520) 876-9955

DM FAMILY DENTISTRY 1968 N Peart Rd Ste 22 Bldg F, Casa Grande (520) 426-0404

CASA GRANDE FAMILY DENTISTRY 1355 E. Florence Blvd. #107, Casa Grande (520) 836-0100

PREMIER ORTHO 1968 N Peart Rd Ste C105, Casa Grande (520) 421-0880

DESERT SKY DENTAL 1550 E Florence Blvd #104, Casa Grande (520) 423-0022

YANG AND HORSLEY DENTISTRY 325 E. Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande (520) 836-9685

DICK & MITCHELL DDS 721 N Olive, Casa Grande (520) 836-7111

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GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE

EDUC ATION ASU PREPARATORY ACADEMY 2612 W. Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande (480) 965-2200 CASA GRANDE ELEMENTARY 220 W. Kortsen Rd, Casa Grande (520) 836-2111 CASA GRANDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 1362 N Casa Grande Ave, Casa Grande (520) 316-3301

LEGACY TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS (480) 270-5438 MISSION HEIGHTS PREPARATORY 1376 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande (520) 836-9383 ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CATHOLIC SCHOOL 501 E 2ND St., Casa Grande (520) 836-7247

CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE 8470 N Overfield Road, Coolidge (520) 494-5485

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE CASA GRANDE VALLEY 798 N Picacho Street, Casa Grande (520) 876-5437

DIGICARE BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH 2419 N Sandstone Pl, Casa Grande (719) 251-4055

THE STUDIO OF DANCE, LLC 2083 N Sabino Ln, Casa Grande (520) 371-1280

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GRANDE INNOVATION ACADEMY 950 N. Peart Rd., Casa Grande (520) 381-2360 ©2018 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.

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PET SUPPLIES & SERVICES DOGGIE DUDS & SUDS 177 W Cottonwood Ln #12, Casa Grande (520) 316-0944

STEPHANI’S POOCH PARLOR 118 N Sacaton Ave, Casa Grande (520) 423-0305

MARICOPA ANIMAL HOSPTIAL 19950 N. John Wayne Pkwy , Maricopa (520) 568-2224

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FINANCIAL SERVICES EDWARD JONES - FRED TUCKER 614 E Silver Reef, Casa Grande (520) 836-0917

PR O F. S E R V I C E S $

FOOTHILLS BANK 1433 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande (520) 423-4900

ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST ABUSE PO Box 10733, Casa Grande (520) 836-1239 Pinal 40 (520) 560-2996 PINAL COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION P.O. Box 11487, Casa Grande www.pcvmf.org BLACKBOX FOUNDATION 413 N. Florence St., Casa Grande 520.428.7050 www.blackboxaz.org

CASA OF PINAL PO Box 10173, Casa Grande (520) 866-7076

AMERICAN FAMILY INS-HOBBS 275 E Cottonwood Ln Ste 1, Casa Grande (520) 423-0122 CGI COMMUNICATIONS 106 W 2nd St, Casa Grande (520) 421-3333

COLE & LEAL, PA

SEEDS OF HOPE 702 E Cottonwood Ln, Casa Grande (520) 836-6335 SILENT WITNESS Casa Grande

O’NEIL & STEINER, PLLC 318 E Cottonwood Ln Ste 100, Casa Grande (520) 836-7947 PINAL ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH Casa Grande (520) 836-6868

Joseph M. Leal 420 W. Casa Grande Lakes Blvd., Casa Grande 520.836.8002 www.coleandleal.com ELEGANCE N IMAGES 315 N Florence St Ste 2B, Casa Grande (520) 450-1494

PINAL PARTNERSHIP PO Box 904, Florence (520) 518-1235

MY GOLDEN ERA PO Box 12276, Casa Grande (520) 421-9302

LINDA TAWNEY PORTRAIT STUDIO 2754 N. Signal Peak Rd., Casa Grande (520) 560-0304

PINAL COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION (480) 332-6916 ROX CASA GRANDE INSURANCE 442 W. Kortsen #101, Casa Grande (520) 509-1000 ROX TRAVEL CG 442 W. Kortsen Rd. #101, Casa Grande (520) 509-1000

CASA GRANDE ALLIANCE 1460 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande (520) 836-5022 www.casagrandealliance.org

6786 W. Appaloosa Trail Coolidge $388,000 SADDLE CREEK RANCH HORSE PROPERTY PLUS POOL 4 BR, 2.5 BA, 2,394 SF ONE ACRE Simply beautiful! One-acre horse property with room to ride! Cul-de-sac lot in Saddle Creek conveniently located near CAC, I-10 and shopping. Custom iron entry door, slate tile flooring, granite counters, knotty alder cabinets, 10-foot ceilings, plantation shutters, extended covered patio with built-in BBQ, extra kool decking surrounds the Pebble Tec play pool. 3 car side-entry garage with storage room. Block fencing.

GEORGIA F. SCHAEFFER ASSOCIATE BROKER, REALTOR , GRI, ABR, CDPE, SRES, SFR ®

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1919 N. TREKELL RD. CASA GRANDE ©2018 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. W VG

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GOLDE N COR R IDOR LI V ING 20 18 W IN T ER V ISI TOR S GUIDE

Celebrating 25 Years 1993–2018

MISSION STATEMENT:

Promoting opportunities to improve lives through relationships and community development.

Staff & A Firm Foundation Current Board Members: Pastor Rick Lemberg C.C. Willis, Jr.

Ruth Sheppard

Ada Knuth

Kathi Arp

Kathy O’Connor

Marjorie Taylor

Dolores Bradford

Helen Frazey

Betty Silguero These names are a blast from the past, so you might not recognize them.

Pastor Rick Lemberg

They are the visioning pastor and original members of the Seeds of Hope Board of Directors, a group formed in 1992 to begin a project that would give the poor a hand up, rather than a hand-out. We owe these 10 individuals a debt of gratitude for planting the seeds that grew into Seeds of Hope, a Christian organization promoting opportunities to improve lives through relationships and community development.

Seeds of Hope was created by the community, based on the principles of Christian community development. The opening of the hot-lunch program in 1993 marked the first in a long line of programs and accomplishments that span 25 years. Our success is based on the enthusiastic support and participation of community members.

In the following pages, we highlight people from our past, our present and our future.

We dedicate these pages to the over 50 board members, five executive directors, hundreds of volunteers, donors and friends over 25 years who have made Seeds of Hope what it is today.

2

STAFF: Mark Vanderheyden, Executive Director Terri Durham, Office Coordinator Antonia Nunez, After School Coordinator, Los Angeles de Esperanza Coordinator Patricia Peterson, Hot Lunch Coordinator BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Cindy Schaider, President Esther Turner, Vice President James Fults, Treasurer Isaac Perez, Secretary Ruby Lerfald Vicki Cooper Daniel Sanchez Terri Larke Arvin Van Ry ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 702 E. Cottonwood Ln., CG • 520.836.6335 MONDO ANAYA COMMUNITY CENTER 1487 N. Crane St., CG • 520.421.0500 www.seedsofhopeaz.com

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

The History of Seeds of Hope A TIMELINE

1987-1990 ���������Having a passion for ministering to the poor, Pastor Rick

Lemberg is hired by First Presbyterian Church. The Seeds of Hope steering committee starts within First Presbyterian Session.

1992-1993 �������David Brubaker is hired as first Seeds of Hope Executive

Director. First Board of Directors is established, and Seeds of Hope is incorporated. Community needs assessment is completed. Three programs are started: benevolence coordination, hot lunch (at First Baptist Church) and supervised community service for juvenile offenders, called Youth Engaged in Service (YES).

1994 �����������������������Cabana neighborhood “projects” are identified as highly

dangerous and troubled. Brubaker family moves into this neighborhood. Daily youth clubs are started in the Brubaker home. Cabana Coalition is started to clean up the neighborhood. Four drug dealers are evicted within six months.

1995-96 �������������Former “crack house” in Cabana is established as a community center.

1997 �����������������������Peer leadership program begins; community garden is

started; Tres Casitas transitional apartments are opened.

2000-2004 ���Hot lunch is moved to Calvary Baptist Church (on Second

Street). Cabana neighborhood starts a home-ownership program. Community center is moved to Casa Grande’s west side neighborhood (on Melrose).

2005 ���������������������Mark Vanderheyden is hired as Executive Director.

2007 ���������������������Grandparents raising Grandchildren program begins.

2009 ���������������������Stanfield free clinic begins at First Baptist Church, Stanfield.

2012 �����������������������Mondo Anaya Community Center is opened.

2014 �����������������������Jobs for Life begins.

2017 �����������������������Los Angeles de Esperanza senior adult program is started.

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

3

By the Numbers* • 10,000 = Approximate number of hot meals served each year • 385 = Individuals served at the hot lunch each year • 200 = Number of volunteers from our community • 85 = Children enrolled in our after-school program • 75 = Patients seen each month through our two free clinics (Stanfield and Casa Grande) • 35 = Seniors involved in our Los Angeles de Esperanza senior center • 12 = Graduates of the Jobs for Life program • 10 = Teens currently in our peer leadership program • 4 = Number of staff members, full or part-time • Countless = Lives touched and changed through Seeds of Hope * All numbers are approximate, averaging the past 3 years

4

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

Volunteers From the beginning, Seeds of Hope placed a high value on volunteers. We recognized that there were many in our community who desired to make a difference and, given the right opportunity, would embrace the opportunity to improve the lives of others.

Today, we can say with confidence that volunteers are our most valuable asset!

Hours donated for 2017:

6,168 FOR THE YEAR 514 EACH MONTH 119 EACH WEEK Total monetary value for 2017:

$145,318

Total active volunteers for 2017:

105

In 2017, Seeds of Hope had over 200 people volunteer their time for both ongoing and special projects. Of those, 105 volunteer on a regular/weekly basis.

Community Events

In 25 years of service to our community, Seeds of Hope has become a recognizable charity. Being committed to improving our community spiritually, educationally and socially has made us a leader in organizing annual community-wide events, like the Thanksgiving Day lunch and the National Day of Prayer.

The annual Thanksgiving Day lunch brings together other partner organizations, such as The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Home of Hope, The Elk’s Lodge and dozens of volunteers to host the less fortunate in our community. Seeds of Hope has organized this day for 15 years.

The National Day of Prayer community-wide event brings together all corners of Casa Grande for an evening of prayer for the most important and influential corners of our society. The first Thursday in May has been the traditional day set aside for the National Day of Prayer. Seeds of Hope began organizing an evening of prayer and music in 2010. The event was originally held in Peart Park, but after a few years of unpredictable weather, the event was moved to First Presbyterian Church.

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

5

Mondo Anaya Community Center When Seeds of Hope opened the Mondo Anaya Community Center (MACC) in Albert Cruz Park in 2012, our vision was to develop a stronger sense of community in that west side neighborhood. For the previous 10 years, our programs operated out of a small 1,100 square-foot home on Melrose Street. During that season, 25 kids from Saguaro Elementary walked to our location for our after-school program every day, and about 14 grandparents raising grandchildren and their families met monthly to work together on the challenges of raising children once again. Our programs couldn’t grow any larger simply because there was no room to grow!

When we opened the MACC doors in November, the after-school program swelled to 75 kids almost overnight! Suddenly we had room to expand not just our current programming, but also add new opportunities for many community partners to bring their resources to our neighborhood.

In addition to Seeds of Hope programming, these organizations have used the MACC to provide or host services in 2017: • Monthly wellness clinic led by Dr. Bessie Burk, Rocio Arveson and a host of volunteers from Sun Life Family Health.

• The Consulado de Mexico en Tucson brought a team four times to help individuals file legal documentation from Mexico.

• The Florence Project provides pro-bono legal help for children of incarcerated parents.

• United Way provides child-care resources to those who are daycare providers.

• Providence Reformed Baptist Church hosts its Sunday services here.

• Casa Grande Elementary School District summer feeding program.

• University of Arizona Cooperative Extension nutrition classes.

• Youth Haven Kid’s Klub program is hosted here.

• Weekly men’s Bible study.

Our location in the park has become a neighborhood treasure. As we look to the next 25 years, we will be continue our partnerships with churches, agencies and volunteers.

MONDO ANAYA COMMUNITY CENTER 1487 N. Crane St., CG • 520.421.0500

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www.seedsofhopeaz.com SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

Changing a Neighborhood, for Good Gunshots. Drug dealers. Crack houses. Boarded up homes and dirt yards. Families feeling afraid and powerless.

Locally known as “the projects,” this describes the Cabana neighborhood in the early 1990s. Located west of O’Neil Park in Casa Grande, the neighborhood was owned by an absentee landlord, and most of the residents rented with the help of government assistance. There were at least four known drug dealers in the area, and they commonly engaged in gun battles and turf wars.

Doug Price, Cottonwood Elementary School Principal, was concerned about his students. He said, “The children from Cabana tell me they’re afraid to sleep by the window at night due to gunshots. We have to do something.”

This is when Seeds of Hope entered. In 1993, the Board of Directors identified “the projects” as an area of major concern. Task forces were formed to conduct a community needs and asset assessment. Seeds of Hope Director David Brubaker and his family moved into a home in the target neighborhood. Residents identified a need for after-school programs for youth, so the Brubakers started a youth club in their home.

They befriended their neighbors and empowered them to take their community back.

After six intense months and a collaborative effort among Seeds of Hope, Cottonwood School, the Casa Grande Police Department and the property management company, all four drug dealers were evicted.

Seeds of Hope acquired one of the former “crack houses” and turned it into a community center.

Community Center Director Vangie Saucedo was hired in 1996. The youth club was expanded to include teens, through a partnership with the Salvation Army.

The neighborhood continued to flourish. The area looked so different. The Cabana property owners started a home-ownership program and slowly replaced

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

the renters. By 2003, the neighborhood had improved significantly and no longer needed help from Seeds of Hope. The community center was relocated to Casa Grande’s west side, on Melrose Street.

This is Christian community development at its best. It was achieved through relocation of staff, redistribution of community assets and attention, along with reconciliation of neighbors to one another and pro-social institutions, like churches. This is what Seeds of Hope is all about — improving lives through relationships and community development.

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

7

Arizona Gives Day Arizona Gives Day is a statewide 24-hour online-giving campaign to raise dollars and tell our nonprofit story to people across our state.

Every dollar donated that day is counted toward incentives and prizes. In 2017, Seeds of Hope won an additional $10,000 for raising the second-most money in our category.

JOIN US FOR

Celebratin g 25 Years 1993–2018

LARGEST ONLINE FUNDRAISING EVENT!

There are several ways you can participate in our biggest annual fundraiser.

•

• • •

First, you can give right from your phone, tablet or computer. You can even schedule your donation ahead of time!

Second, you can ask others in your circle of influence to give.

Third, you can advocate for us by telling others what we do.

Finally, you can pray. We believe that with God all things are possible!

Mark your calendar for April 3, 2018.

Donations to Date: 2014 - $8,053 2015 - $27,953 + $10,000 prize 2016 - $54,133 + $8,000 prize 2017 - $45,130 + $10,000 prize About Arizona Gives: Arizona Gives and Arizona Gives Day is a collaboration between the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum that began in 2013. This partnership has helped raise more than $10.1 million for Arizona’s nonprofit sector. This statewide, 24-hour, online giving campaign takes place in early

April each year. The program is supported by our presenting sponsor FirstBank, along with a variety of other sponsor organizations.

Arizona Gives helps people find, learn about and contribute to the causes they believe in, while enabling nonprofits to share their stories and engage the community through a unique online giving platform.

Donors can create an account to pre-schedule donations, set-up recurring donations and make changes to their giving throughout the year, or they can check out as a guest and give immediately. Donors can also use

advanced search filters to find nonprofits by the criteria they choose, such as location, focus area or even which organizations qualify for an AZ tax credit.

Any qualified 501(c)(3) organization located in or providing services to Arizona can register to receive donations through AZGives. org. All nonprofit organizations are verified for eligibility before being allowed to participate on the website, ensuring that donors are giving to legitimate organizations.

For more information on donating, please visit: www.seedsofhopeaz.com

Annual Dinner The Seeds of Hope Annual Dinner is so much more than just a meal and fundraiser. It is an annual showcase and celebration of the lives changed by Seeds of Hope and the volunteers who made those changes come about. Each year, dynamic speakers inspire attendees to continue serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities.

Every event has a bit of fun thrown in, too! In 2015, we went “way out West.” In 2016, we were surrounded by superheroes (and found a few local heroes among us). In 2017, a trip to the islands included a huge waterfall on stage, a 35-member ukulele band and a tiki village, where shoppers found great

8

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

silent auction items! In 2018, we celebrate our 25th anniversary during a soiree at Robson Ranch, complete with live music by the Time Bandits -- a local rock band.

The most extraordinary thing about the annual dinner is when 250 individuals from different backgrounds and different faiths join together, in one mind and without a hint of discord. Despite religious differences, they all agree on this one thing: Seeds of Hope is meeting the Biblical mandate from Matthew 25:40, which says, “That which you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to me.”

25 for 25 Campaign

of gift level

lunch.

X

med at Mondo Anaya Center (for 1 year)

Harvester Society Gift Levels Farmer $5,000

Grower $3,500

Irrigator $2,500

Planter $1,000

Recognition

X

X

X

X

X

nner recognition

X

X

X

X

X

er recognition

X

X

X

X

X

on: monthly mentions on social media

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Benefits of gift level on: ads and materials

X

$5,000

Harvester Society Gift Levels

ck at Mondo Anaya Center

ck at Mondo Anaya Center

X

X

nner table of 8

X

X

Website Recognition

The Impact of Your Gift

Tiller $500

X X

Farmer X X $5,000

Grower $3,500

X

X

Supports an entire classroom of adult learners completing job skills training

$3,500

Supports 75 grandparents and their grandkids with two month's worth of activities, Irrigator advocacy, Planter Tiller and training

$2,500

$2,500

X

$1,000

$500

Sponsors a child in the X program forX afterschool 1 year.

X X Serves 45 patients at the StanfieldXClinic.

X

Annual dinner recognition X X X $1,000 X sponsor Casa Grande has a long history as a farming X Xgiven recognition through communia media package ty, so it is only fitting that the Seeds ofXHope leadership nament foursome X Newsletter recognition X including X X website, newsletter and givers should belong to the Harvester Society. The Harlinked to SOH website X X $500 Provides 100 meals at the hot social media mentions. Othvester Society is a way to acknowledge and appreciate lunch. X Recognition: monthly mentions on social media X X X X er levels receive benefits donors. med at Mondo Anaya Center (for 1 year) X such as golf tournament or Recognition: ads and materials X X X X annual dinner tickets in addition to the media package.

“We started the Society at our annual dinner in February 2017,” said at Cindy Schaider, Board Center President, “and Small brick Mondo Anaya X X we had 10 members by the end of the year.”

Giving is cumulative throughout the year, and counting Large brick at Mondo Anaya Center X Gives Day in April.

X For example, one begins on Arizona In honor of its 25th Anniversary, the organization is of our donors gave $250 on Arizona then Annual dinner table of 8 X X Gives Day, X launching the 25 for 25 Campaign. This initiative is $500 throughout the year, and an extra $250 in Novemdesigned to build support by expanding membership in ber toward the Arizona Tax Credit.

Golf Tee-sponsor X X This makes this X donor the Harvester Society. The goal of 25/25 is to have 25 a Harvester Society Member, Planter level, for 2017!

Golf tournament X X members by the end offoursome 2018.

Every Harvester Society member gets an exclusive Your site linked to SOH website X X The Harvester Society has five giving levels (Farmer, lapel pin, a window cling and certificate. You can join Grower, Irrigator, Planter and Tiller), each with correthe 25/25 campaign and Harvester Society by calling Room named X sponding benefits. at ForMondo example, Anaya donors ofCenter $500 are(for 1 year) the office at 520-560-6335.

Benefits of gift level

Harvester Society Gift Levels Farmer $5,000

Grower $3,500

Irrigator $2,500

Planter $1,000

Tiller $500

Website Recognition

X

X

X

X

X

Annual dinner recognition

X

X

X

X

X

Newsletter recognition

X

X

X

X

X

Recognition: monthly mentions on social media

X

X

X

X

X

Recognition: ads and materials

X

X

X

X

X

X

Small brick at Mondo Anaya Center Large brick at Mondo Anaya Center

X

X

Annual dinner table of 8

X

X

X

Golf Tee-sponsor

X

X

X

Golf tournament foursome

X

X

Your site linked to SOH website

X

X

Room named at Mondo Anaya Center (for 1 year)

X SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

9

Current Programs choose to continue their education. For some, that will be more than most of their family members. Power Hour has given our underserved kids confidence that they can perform at the same academic level as others in their class.

Hot Lunch After-School Program

2017 stats: 85 individual children participated 7, 619 visits 18 children showed report card improvement The after-school program has instituted an initiative this past school year aimed at helping students achieve academic success. Power Hour is a non-optional 60 minutes of homework help, tutoring and reading enrichment. Power Hour uses volunteers to give undivided attention to small groups of kids in the same grade.

This intentional effort to raise test scores has proven to be a success for many of our kids. Ultimately, we want our after-school kids to graduate from high school and

10

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

2017 stats: 385 unique participants 9,849 meals served 306 devotions given 320 emergency food boxes, 235+ hygiene kits The hot lunch program serves a heated meal to the

hungry, six days a week and free of charge. Fountains of Living Water, a downtown Casa Grande church, allows us to use their kitchen and dining area to host the lunch. In addition to lunch, emergency food boxes are distributed to needy families from supplies donated by the community, which are kept in a pantry area. Just off the kitchen is a room dedicated as a clothes closet, where those in need are able to sort through items of clothing and take what they need for the season. Local RV-park residents also provide hygiene kits that include basic hygiene items like soap, shampoo and toothpaste.

Hot Lunch Serves hot, nutritious lunches six days per week for those in need.

After-School Program • Provides a structured learning environment for at-risk youth. Volunteers provide educational support through tutoring and homework help. They also teach pro-social behaviors.

• Develops peer-leader life-skills for teens ages 13-18. Teens receive leadership training and assist in and supervise daily activities.

Adult Education • Promotes self-sufficiency for individuals and families attending these programs.

• Jobs for Life – provides soft-skills training and equipping for men and women to find meaningful work in our community.

Jobs For Life 2017 stats: 2 semesters 10 graduates

Jobs for Life provides soft-skills training and equipping for men and women to find meaningful work in our community. Courses are taught by volunteers and members of the community. The curriculum is Biblically-based, and focuses on identity, character and community. Students learn soft skills, such as how to write a resumé, how to make a vocational plan, how to conduct yourself in an interview and how to communicate effectively. Our soft skills job-training program is helping to equip our community residents with the soft skills needed to make an impact in one of the many new jobs that will be coming to Casa Grande in the near future.

• Los Angeles de Esperanza – Improves the quality of life for senior adults (55+) living in poverty by reducing social isolation and improving health and nutrition.

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN • Supports grandparents who are raising grandchildren by providing advocacy and activities.

STANFIELD MEDICAL CLINIC • Offers free medical services monthly. Volunteer doctors and nurses see an average of 45 patients each clinic day.

Community Development THROUGH THE MONDO ANAYA COMMUNITY CENTER • Monthly wellness checks.

• Casa Grande Elementary School District summer feeding program.

• University of Arizona Cooperative Extension nutrition classes.

• Youth Haven Kid’s Klub program.

• Weekly men’s Bible study.

• Mexican Consulate immigrant processing location.

Los Angeles de Esperanza 2017 stats: 37 participants

Seeds of Hope began a new culturally appropriate senior adult (55+) social program this year that is designed to meet the needs of Casa Grande residents, who are living in poverty. It aims to improve their quality

THROUGH COOPERATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS • Annual community-wide Thanksgiving Day lunch.

• National Day of Prayer community event.

• Emergency Assistance Ministry, providing food and shelter to Casa Grande.

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Current Programs Continued

Dr. Douglas E Parkin, MD

Mondo Anaya Wellness Clinic Mark Vanderheyden, Executive Director

Terri Durham, Office Coordinator

2017 stats: Saw an average of 24 people on clinic days The wellness clinic teaches education and preemptive care as part of the patient’s overall health assessment.

By educating patients on how to take care of themselves to avoid chronic conditions in the future, individuals can make better nutrition choices and create exercise plans to keep themselves active.

Stanfield Medical Clinic

2017 stats: Provided individual services 408 times Each clinic day saw an average of 40 patients Food boxes were distributed by Stanfield First Baptist Church on most clinic days.

Antonia Nunez, Afterschool & Los Angeles de Esperanza Coordinator

Patricia Peterson, Hot Lunch Coordinator

of life by reducing social isolation and improving health and nutrition.

Los Angeles de Esperanza (Angels of Hope), offered in the Mondo Anaya Community Center, has an advisory board, which helps guide the development of programming that meets the cultural and unique needs of this population. Meeting Monday through Friday mornings, programming includes a coffee hour, board games, cards, puzzles and crafts. Basic instruction in computer literacy, internet safety and creating email accounts as well as social media tutorials are also provided.

Occasionally, workshops/presentations are provided by outside partners, such as Sun Life Family Health Center and University of Arizona, on topics such as health/ well-being, nutrition and exercise or fall prevention.

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Many people do not have access to medical care.

Without the Stanfield Medical Clinic, many patients with acute illnesses would go untreated, leading to chronic conditions. The volunteer doctors and nurses treat patients, write prescriptions and refer for further testing at local labs. Treating people with dignity and respect opens the door for spiritual conversations.

SEEDS OF HOPE IS PART OF THE

Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness In October 2017, Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland announced the creation of his homelessness task force. Composed of community members who work with homeless populations in various capacities, the task force is a way to consolidate efforts and make things more efficient and effective.

The task force includes 20 community members from different agencies and nonprofits, including Seeds of Hope Executive Director Mark Vanderheyden. The group is meeting regularly to identify the challenges faced by the homeless, to determine what helping resources exist and to find out what more is needed. Issues facing the homeless identified by the task force include things such as hunger, behavioral health concerns, shelter and employment.

The homeless population in the city is diverse, as are the reasons underlying homelessness. The definitions of homeless varies among government agencies. The group agrees on one definition: not having permanent housing.

The task force estimates there are 1,000 homeless individuals in Casa Grande.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of homeless individuals come through our hot lunch program,” Vanderheyden said. “And if we really dig deeper, we will find families who are doubled-up or adults who are sharing their homes with friends to avoid homelessness. It is a complex problem.”

The task force will create an action plan to include findings and resources. The Mayor will release the final report, which is expected to be completed in a few months.

“We have been helping the homeless for 25 years and have unique insights into their plight,” Vanderheyden said. “Seeds of Hope will definitely be a central part of this community’s plan to help the homeless.”

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Sharing is Caring

Steve and Cindy Schaider have a simple philosophy about life: sharing is caring. They have lived their lives that way, whether supporting their church, volunteering or supporting local charities. Together, they want to leave a lasting, positive mark in their community through their philanthropy.

Upon moving to Casa Grande in 1980, both were blessed with good jobs — Steve with United Parcel Service and Cindy in the human service field.

Throughout their working careers, the couple regularly gave their time, their talents and their treasure. While working, they were able to give monthly financial gifts and also take advantage of Arizona Tax Credits for their charitable giving.

Now that they are retired, they had to be both creative and focused on how to financially support their favorite causes. While continuing to support their church, they primarily focus on Seeds of Hope for their charitable contributions.

“We believe in giving locally to organizations who can really use the money,” Steve said. “We know that Seeds of Hope has a low administrative percentage, and that every dollar we give is used to help those in need.”

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Like others are doing, the Schaiders assign a portion of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from their 401K to Seeds of Hope. Each year, the bank sends the RMD directly to the charitable agency. Because the money is not actually distributed to the Schaiders as the 401K account holder, it is not counted as income and it is not taxed. Accordingly, the account-holder cannot claim a charitable deduction on his or her annual tax return.

“This is a painless and easy way to give,” Steve said, “because the money never gets into our bank account.”

Steve and Cindy have also provided for Seeds of Hope in the future.

“We don’t have any children together, and this is our way of leaving a legacy in our community,” Cindy said.

To accomplish their goal, they worked with local attorney Michele Emig to have Seeds of Hope listed as a beneficiary in their trust — caring to the very end, and beyond.

Six Ways to Continue Providing Financial Support 1. CASH

The Seeds of Hope Administrative percentage is around 10 percent. That means 90 percent of what you give goes directly to support programs.

Some ways you can give: • One-time gifts • Annual gifts • Monthly giving • Donate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) directly to Seeds of Hope from your investment account (has a tax advantage) • Give right now, today!

5. HARVESTER SOCIETY

This leadership giving-society is available for eligible gifts, and accumulates throughout the year.

Levels: • $ 5,000 – Farmer • $ 3,500 - Grower • $ 2,500 – Irrigator • $ 1,000 – Planter • $ 500 – Tiller

2. TAX CREDIT

Each level comes with a set of benefits, including a Harvester Society lapel pin.

Seeds of Hope donations qualify as a TAX CREDIT. Your donation, up to $800 annually, is deducted from the amount of tax you owe at the end of the year.

• It does not have to be given in a lump sum.

• It can be any amount up to $800 (married filing jointly).

• It is never too late to take advantage of this opportunity.

Talk to your tax consultant.

3. ARIZONA GIVES DAY

4. DONATE VIA OUR WEBSITE: seedsofhopeaz. com

6. GREENHOUSE PROJECT

This day features 24 hours of giving, and your donation has a cumulative effect.

• There are incentive prizes for organizations who collect donations. In 2016, we received an additional $8,000 due to your generosity.

• In 2017, we won $10,000 in incentives.

• Giving on this day is important.

• We will have special events – stay tuned!

Your endowment gift leaves a legacy for the children of the future.

Once we meet our goal of $1 million, the current programs benefit from fund interest.

Some ways you can contribute: • Cash donation • Beneficiary in your will • Bequeath real property • Bequeath valuables (jewels, artwork) Gov't Grants, 3%

Other Income, 7%

SEEDS OF HOPE FINANCIAL SUPPORT 2017

Other Grants, 7%

Churches, 12% Individuals, 28%

Fund Raisers, 16%

Other Grants Individuals AZ Gives Day Fund Raisers Churches Other Income Gov't Grants

AZ Gives Day, 27%

SEEDS OF HOPE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 702 E. Cottonwood Ln., CG • 520.836.6335 www.SeedsofHopeAZ.com

SEEDS OF HOPE 2018

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Relocation:

The Philosophy

Community change can only be accomplished by people who live in that community, building on their existing assets, rather than by outsiders.

Staff and volunteers must come from within the community.

Reconciliation:

The power of authentic reconciliation between God and us, and between people of every culture and race, is an essential component of effective

ministry in our hurting world. It is based in authentic relationships between and among people.

Redistribution:

to the community’s residents and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts.

Excerpted from the Christian Community Development Association (ccda.org)

Redistribution brings new skills, new relationships and new resources, and puts them to work to empower the residents of a given community in need to bring about healthy transformation.

Most importantly, Christian Community Development is committed to listening

Thank You to our Sponsors

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Al & Riley’s Air Conditioning & Sheet Metal, Inc.

Congratulations to Seeds of Hope for 25 years of service to our community. Here’s to another 25 years!

40 N. Brown Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.8450

Brutinel Plumbing & Electrical, Inc.

Brutinel congratulates Seeds of Hope for helping to provide 25 years of “Hope” to our community!

600 E. 1st St., Casa Grande 520.836.5802

Casa Grande Elementary School District

Thanks to Seeds of Hope for being a great partner in supporting the students and families of our Community. – The Casa Grande Elementary School District.

www.cgesd.org 520.836.2111

First Presbyterian Church

Congratulations on 25 years of changing lives!

702 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande 520.836.5981

ROX Group

The ROX Group businesses are proud to support the mission of Seeds of Hope! Thank you Mark Vanderheyden, Terri Durham and everyone at Seeds of Hope for everything you do for our community! We at ROX Group have been touched by you and your organization personally and also as an enterprise, and we realize that you do more than meets the eye. You and your organization do indeed “deliver more than Hope” to our community and continue to excel and exceed expectations in making Casa Grande a better place, and we appreciate everything you do for our community!

P.O. Box 11190, Casa Grande 85130

ROX Media Group

442 W. Kortsen, Ste. 101, Casa Grande 85122

ROX Casa Grande Insurance

442 W. Kortsen, Ste. 101, Casa Grande 85122

ROX Travel

442 W. Kortsen, Ste. 101, Casa Grande 85122

Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande 85122

HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY AWARDED MEDICARE PROJECT

by Debbie Shumway, Executive Director, Hospice of the Valley

H

ospice of the Valley is the only Arizona hospice selected to participate in a federal project designed to demonstrate that quality of life would be improved and healthcare resources conserved if hospice and palliative care was provided to patients at the same time as regular treatment from curative care physicians.

We believe that the comprehensive physical, emotional and spiritual care that clinicians and volunteers provide to patients and their families in their own homes will reduce pain and other symptoms. Hospice care – available round the clock – also prevents unnecessary hospitalizations and improves quality of life for those struggling with advanced disease.

Under current payment rules,

Medicare beneficiaries are required to forgo curative care to get hospice care.

Hospice of the Valley will call the program MediCaring. Services began Jan. 1. About 150 patients are expected to be served daily.

Medicare calls the program the Medicare Care Choices Model. The federal agency chose to expand the project scope from 30 to 140 hospices and to extend the duration from three to five years due to intense public interest. Hospice of the Valley was assigned to the second group of participating hospices.

Participation in the project is limited to traditional Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure and HIV/AIDS.

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

Up to 150,000 people will be served nationwide, according to Medicare. Patients can continue to visit their specialty physicians, continue chemotherapy or radiation, dialysis, rehabilitation or short-term facility stays. However, they do not have to actively pursue aggressive care to participate in the program.

The program is only offered to individuals living in their own homes, not to group home or nursing home residents.

Once enrolled, participants can stay on MediCaring for three years or elect to go on hospice exclusively at any time.

Medicare’s goal is to find out if beneficiaries would elect to receive palliative and supportive care services typically provided by a hospice if they could continue

to seek curative care from their providers. Medicare will study whether access to such services will result in improved quality of care, patient and family satisfaction, and whether there are any effects on use of curative services.

Information about MediCaring is available from community physicians and Hospice of the Valley by calling 602-530-6900.

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CAC OFFERS TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS PATHWAYS

By Dr. Armineh Noravian, Adjunct Professor and Carrie McIntyre, Student Service Generalist, Central Arizona College

T

he technology, engineering and computer information systems pathways at Central Arizona College (CAC) are developed to serve the students and the needs of the community and businesses in Pinal County and beyond. The goal in designing these pathways was to provide students a flexible and equitable approach to obtaining skills and knowledge that will help them attain their education goals. The flexibility of the pathways is reflected in the various entry and exit points into and out of the technology, engineering and information systems programs. The equity aspect lies in providing students awareness of possible futures, which they may not have thought about, and the opportunity of low risk exploration.

Students in Pinal County high schools interested in learning skills and obtaining certificates or associate’s degrees in advanced technology education can take various technology-related courses offered at CAC. The curriculum in these fields has been carefully crafted through input from relevant industries in the county to ensure that students obtain skills and knowledge that will meet the needs of the employers in the county.

Students within the technology area, however, will also have an opportunity to explore the possibility of entering an engineering transfer program or a computer information systems program, where they can obtain certificates, associate’s degrees or transfer. This means that technology students, with a minimum of risk, can test their ambitions and decide whether an engineering transfer program or a computer information systems program could be a better

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alternative for them. Similarly, students who enter engineering from high school, but find it unsatisfactory, can easily switch to the myriad of offerings in advanced technologies or computer information systems.

With CIS network administration, cyber-operations and informatics, students have a transfer path to UA South, which they can complete without leaving Pinal County. An instructor from UA South provides face-to-face instruction at CAC, while another part of the program is covered with online classes.

Although technology and the computer information systems are established programs at CAC, engineering is new. The engineering transfer degree uses a guided pathways approach, and provides students the opportunity to complete almost two years of their four-year engineering degree at CAC. All the courses taken in the engineering pathway at CAC will be 100 percent transferrable to ASU and NAU. All but one course is currently transferrable to UA. This means a significant

tuition savings for students and their families, which makes the engineering degree financially more accessible to many students in Pinal and nearby counties.

In addition to the various mathematics, science and computer information systems courses needed for the first two years of engineering, the new engineering curriculum has a redesigned Introduction to Engineering (EGR102) course and two new courses that are being offered in 2018. The EGR 102 course redesign provides a heavy project-based approach that integrates engineering and advanced technologies. This means that students will be able to practice the engineering design process by working with instructors in engineering and technology on various projects in diverse technical fields. This approach will expose students to both well-structured and real-world projects, broaden their perspective about engineering and technologies, help them identify areas of academic interest and provide them a broader

perspective and awareness of the vast possibilities in engineering and technology education at CAC. The new 2018 engineering course offerings at CAC also include two new engineering courses that are transferrable to ASU and NAU: (1) Digital Design - EGR120, which is a required course for electrical, software and computer engineering and computer science students; and (2) Circuits I - EGR222, a course which students in aerospace, civil, mechanical, biomedical, electrical, software and computer engineering are required to take.

In summary, the technology, engineering and information systems pathways at CAC provide students a number of entry and exit points that lead to certificates, associate degrees or transfer to four-year institutions, all within Pinal County. The quality and diversity of offerings in these technical pathways make it possible for employers to find a broad range of local talent within the county. It is also likely to make it attractive for new businesses to move to Pinal County.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Choose your path Transfer to any Arizona public university or train to enter today’s advanced workforce.

Speak to an advisor today.

www.centralaz.edu

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

Your Future Begins Today!

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WHERE ARE KIDS GETTING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS?

by Stephanie Collier, Project Coordinator (ACPP I), Casa Grande Alliance

O

ne of the biggest fears of parents is that their child will use drugs or alcohol and experience horrible consequences like dropping out of school, suffering brain damage, getting in trouble with the law, or even worse, they could die. There are many things parents and other caring adults can do to help prevent kids from using substances, including having conversations about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, monitoring of activities and friends and teaching resistance skills. Parents might also wonder, “Where are kids getting drugs and alcohol?

Can we cut them off from their supply?”

When it comes to alcohol use and the misuse of prescription drugs, youth that use say they get it most often from their friends or at a party. While this may not be surprising, the fact that 16.2 percent of youth in Casa Grande say they got alcohol from home and 14.7 percent got prescription drugs from home might come as more of a shock.1 Considering how common it is to find these frequently abused substances in most homes, how can we keep our kids from getting their hands on them?

If you have alcohol or prescription medications at home, think about where they are kept. A beer fridge in the garage or wine bottles on display are easily accessible. Keeping prescriptions in the medicine cabinet or on the kitchen counter makes them easy to get into. The safest place to keep these commonly abused items is locked up! Keeping alcohol and prescription drugs in a locked cabinet or drawer can effectively deter misuse. Combination

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locks, which are sold online, for prescription, liquor and wine bottles can also prevent misuse. Another way to prevent prescription drug abuse is by disposing of unused or expired medications by taking them to a medication drop box. To find the nearest medication drop box location, visit azdhs.gov/gis/rx-drop-off-locations/index.php Some other things that parents can do to prevent substance abuse at home are: • Be a good role model. If you use alcohol, set a good example to help teach your child healthy coping skills. Your actions inadvertently tell them what is and what is not acceptable. What are your actions telling them if every time you have a bad day you immediately come home and have a beer?

• Monitor your child’s activities. Always know where your child is and who they are with, and limit the amount of time your child spends unsupervised, even at home.

Two out of three teens ages 13-18 said it is easy to get alcohol from their own homes without their parents knowing.2 The City of Casa Grande has a Social Hosting & Unruly Party Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1397.09.05), which states that it is against the law to have underage drinking in your home, whether you knowingly supplied the alcohol or not. The entire ordinance can be seen at casagrandeaz.gov.

• Do not allow your child to drink at home.

Over half of high school teens who report

their parents allow them to drink at home (even just once in a while) report that they also drink elsewhere with their friends.3 In 2016, 14.5 percent of Casa Grande youth report obtaining alcohol from a parent or guardian.1 Allowing your child to drink at home might be done with good intentions, but it will send the wrong message, and can cause more harm than good to both you and your child.

• Set clear rules and consequences. Post the house rules in writing, and include a rule that there is to be no underage drinking or drug use in your home or outside of your home.

• Talk early and often with your child(ren) about drugs and alcohol. Teens whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs and alcohol are 50 percent less likely to use drugs, yet less than 43 percent of Casa Grande teens report having these conversations with their parents.4,1 These conversations need to happen sooner as well. The average age for Casa Grande youth who try alcohol for the first time is between 12 and 13 years old.1 If you would like more information on substances of abuse, substance abuse prevention, how to talk with your child about drugs and alcohol, or how to safely store or dispose of alcohol or prescription drugs, go to CasaGrandeAlliance.org or call 520-836-5022.

1. Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Arizona Youth Survey. (2016).

2. American Medical Association Survey (2005) 3. Students Against Destructive Decisions & Liberty Mutual Insurance, Teen’s Today Research.

4. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, Parents: What You Say — and What You Do — Matters to Your Kids. (March 2011).

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

She gets her hair from her Mom. Her eyes from her Dad. And her drugs from her Grandma’s medicine cabinet.

Youth who abuse prescription drugs report getting them from sources such as home, family and friends!

Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Referrals 1460 N. Pinal Avenue Casa Grande, Arizona 85122 520-836-5022 www.CasaGrandeAlliance.org www.facebook.com/CGAlliance Follow us on Twitter: @CG_Alliance Funding was made possible by the Partnership For Success Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the State of Arizona.

TIFFANIE’S TIPS FOR A S HEALTHIER YOU

by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, CPT/Certified Wellness Coach & Owner WickedFiTT

o, tell me what’s more important than your health and well being? I know all (well, most) of us have that little voice saying, “I should have more salad, fewer French fries, maybe a water instead of that soda, and I really should start working out.” But have you truly considered making some legitimate healthy lifestyle changes? (Full disclosure: We don’t need a new year to set goals. We have a new opportunity every single day to make little changes that lead to big results.) Making sure that you have a solid plan before you even think about getting started is the key. Once you have the specifics of your fitness goals set in stone, I have some health and fitness tips you can incorporate into your plan.

Write it down. The first step you should take toward reaching any goal is to understand what your goal is.

When it comes to exercise, set an intention by writing down your goal as well as your exercise plans for the week. Every Sunday, write down your workout intentions for the week.

Setting it in ink and having a clearcut plan will increase your sense of accountability, and you’ll be less likely to skip out or make up an illegitimate excuse.

Vary your workouts. Don’t do the same thing every day, and even switch your routine up from week-toweek, too. The fast track to burnout and injury is to do the same workout every day.

Sleep more. Sleep is your foundation. In today’s over stimulated world, sleep is often our basic core need that is most neglected. When we function with a sleep deficit for an extended period of time, our immune systems take a hit and we’re more likely to get sick. There is a long list of additional health issues associated with a lack of sleep, like weight gain and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Commit to changing one thing about your diet. Take baby steps!

When it comes to eating healthier, I advise against the “all or nothing”

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approach. It’s usually too extreme and not realistic for people. I suggest identifying one thing that you know you can improve and committing to it for one week. Then, choose something else for a week. Within a few months, you’ll have a new diet that you may actually stick with.

Aim to exercise at least 20 minutes per day. We tend to make big promises in the excitement of the New Year.

Sadly, this motivation doesn’t last us much past February. Rather than trying to commit to 60 or 90 minutes in the gym, which may not be sustainable when beginning a new exercise routine, try to aim for 20 minutes of activity each day. Twenty minutes is doable, so you are much more likely to stick with it. Consistency is key here. You will find that 20 minutes becomes 30, and so on. Think of it less as working out and more as working it into your daily routine.

Eat healthy fats. Revamp your diet with more healthy fats, like the kinds found in avocados, olive oil and nuts.

Ditch the low fat products. They are full of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Next time you have a sweet craving, try eating a healthy fat, like avocado or nut butter. You’ll feel more satisfied and satiated.

Never miss a Monday workout. It sounds crazy, but it will set the tone for the rest of your week. Starting out on the right foot will make you more likely to continue the trend through the rest of the week and over the long-term, too Don’t cut out entire food groups. I advise against making extreme changes or taking on difficult elimination diets. Just think about healthier eating as a whole.

Realize that there’s no quick fix for health and fitness. Above all else, no matter where you are in terms of health and fitness and no matter what your goals are, start off by acknowledging that whatever changes you’re aiming to make, it will take time. Make changes that you can maintain for a balanced existence that will last a lifetime.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

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WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

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PHOTO BY JERRY CHINN

STAY, PLAY, SAIL AWAY

by Tori Ward, ROX Travel, Cruise and Resort Specialist

I

t’s overcast outside, and the air smells like burning wood from the neighbor’s fireplace. But inside, it’s warm and my home is fragrant, thanks to a batch of “cheater” apple butter, which bubbles away in the crock pot.

It’s hard to believe that I’m thinking about summer vacations when most people are still skiing.

But, the fact is, I have been booking summer and fall vacations for 2018 since last spring when a friend asked about some ideas for spring break.

There are a lot of moving parts to a family vacation, and planning early not only helps minimize stress, but also could help you avoid disappointment if your venue is sold out and keep you from overspending when inventory dwindles.

If your family dream vacation is a theme park, cruise or island getaway,

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consider California. The drive, even with a couple of stops for little passengers, is only about a half-day. Or, choose a quicker option and enjoy an approximately one-hour flight.

Being an Orlando, Florida native, my children’s first flights were on Dumbo the Elephant at Walt Disney World.

As children get older, their ride choices become more daring, but the magic of Disney is ageless. There are dozens of

options available for a visit to Disney’s theme parks, including single-day park admissions and park hopper passes, which allow visits over a number of days and accommodations at the park.

Planning early is especially important if you want your little prince or princess to have breakfast or lunch with Disney princesses.

Besides theme parks, the other Disney venue that earns best family

PHOTO BY JERRY CHINN

Planning early is especially important if you want your little prince or princess to have breakfast or lunch with Disney princesses.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Traveling • Dining • Entertainment

EXPERT TIPS:

• Visit Disneyland later in the evening, when it’s cooler and families have left for dinner. You may even catch the fireworks display.

• Avoid long lines with the “reserve ride” options.

• Most theme parks will not allow outside food, unless you have a special dietary restriction.

• Renting a condo in Hawaii can save thousands of dollars, and many are located on the water with splitfloor plans for privacy.

After the excitement of Legoland, a day strolling through the San Diego Zoo provides your family an opportunity to see some of the world’s most amazing animals

PHOTO BY LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA RESORT

As a survivor of a Lego foot injury – if you are a parent whose children loved Legos you know what I’m talking about – I still love Legoland. It is an amazing theme park that allows your children to explore their creative side while also being exposed to interactive learning at the Sea Life Aquarium. The park has rides that will thrill all ages, from the Lego Technic Coaster, with its lessons in gravity and acceleration, to the Pirate Reef Adventure with a ship that races down a water flume between vessels, shooting water cannons in your general direction.

After the excitement of Legoland, a day strolling through the San Diego Zoo provides your family an opportunity to see some of the world’s most amazing animals. And when the family is tired of walking, the zoo has tour buses that travel the entire park with information about the exhibits. A Skyfari also allows you a bird’s eye view of the entire park.

If any of these adventures appeal to you and you want to learn more or find out the best options for your budget, give me a call and I’ll be happy to help you make your family vacation a cherished memory. Remember, early planning is the key to having more choices at the best prices.

PHOTO BY JERRY CHINN

vacation on the water every year, is a Disney Cruise. Guest sailing on select Disney Cruises of seven days or longer comes with the opportunity to book breakfast with a character. Disney offers a number of cruises from Los Angeles, but if your children are older and want an adventure not just on the high seas, but on the land as well, think about a Disney Alaska Cruise departing from Vancouver. There are dozens of activities for younger passengers as well as adults on a Disney Cruise and lots of food choices. During sea days, younger guests can become part of the magic of Peter Pan by placing themselves smack in the middle of the Jolly Roger, complete with costumes for dress up and a crow’s nest to slide down. The passages through the Alaskan wilderness provide a once-in-alifetime opportunity to witness glaciers calving and whales breaching in the ice fields surrounding the ship.

If your family loves the heat, even in Arizona summers, consider a vacation to the Hawaiian Islands. It’s not just a honeymooners’ paradise. It is an ideal destination for active families who long for water and mountain activities. One of the first vacations I took with my husband was to Kauai. On his birthday we booked a tour that included a kayak paddle down a river, then a hike to a zip line, followed by another hike to a waterfall, where we dove off a cliff into the natural pool below. The following day, we boarded a catamaran to cruise along the Napali coast.

Many families were along the journey, although only one 14-year-old joined me to lie on the deck bow plowing through the water as the spray washed over us. Many of the families jumped into the water when we anchored offshore. Heads bobbed up all around us and squealed with excitement at the abundant tropical fish.

If your vacation time allows only a week, and you’ve already visited Disneyland, another great option – a short trip away – is San Diego. Home to Legoland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, there are so many family-inspired choices.

Victoria “Tori” Ward is a cruise and resort specialist with an interest in traveling and seeing the world since she first began to crawl. For more information on these tips and others, contact Tori at tori@roxtravel.com or 928-254-9968.

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Finding a balance between respecting the past and welcoming the future

by Andy Estrada, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, City of Casa Grande and REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

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s a longtime resident of Casa Grande, my passion has always been the growth and development of Casa Grande. From a young age, I have been active in the community, and have gotten involved in many activities. While in high school, I was involved in multiple activities, including becoming president of the Catholic Youth Organization, an altar boy, softball coach and a dance instructor, only to name a few. After high school, I enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving my country proudly, I could not wait to come back home. I am currently serving as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the City of Casa Grande while working as a real estate agent.

It has been my honor to watch our little City of Casa Grande grow into what it has become today. Growth is inevitable, but as we grow, we must find a balance between respecting our past and welcoming new opportunities. In that regard, I feel that we must nurture our city into growing the right way and not stunting our city’s growth by holding on too tightly to the Casa Grande of the past. I feel strongly that it is important to support our city leaders who have the vision of a greater Casa Grande and help guide our growth in a positive direction. Holding the city back will not serve our residents well, and we may be left holding on to a dream.

My dream, as a resident of Casa Grande, is for the city to continue to prosper and to realize its full potential as an amazing community to live, work and play.

Q&A with Jim Suor ...continued from page 45 How many homes do you currently have going at any one time? We always have five to seven going at one time. Our goal is to start a new home every three to four weeks, and have been doing so for the last 18 months.

Which sub-trades to you do yourself? How many employees currently work for Absolute Homes? We do large percentage the work in-house. I have put crews/employees together over the last four to five years, and have continued to grow. We have our own concrete crew, framing crew, flooring/shower installers, cabinet installer, block wall and pavers installers, garage door installers and landscapers.

Explain the full range of services your firm provides: • Custom and semi-custom homes • RV/detached garages • Kitchen and bath remodels • Additions/remodels • Concrete work • Block walls/pavers • Full landscaping, from maintenance to new installs • Barbecues, outdoor kitchens, ramadas and synthetic grass Do you want to grow? If so, how big?

CONTINUED

You make dreams come true for homeowners.

Tell us about your own dream home.

“I would have an average-sized home that was very detailed with an Old World style. I love basements and huge garages. The basement would have a large bar with shuffleboard, pinball and other games for all my friends and family, a theater room and maybe a wine cellar. I don’t really drink wine, but I think they look really cool. I would also have a hidden/ safe room. I have built quite a few of these for clients and have had a lot of fun with them. Finally, I would have an enormous garage.”

We want to grow, so we can complete more homes per-year. This will enable us to keep pricing lower and affordable for our clients. We want to grow, but still give our personal attention to every home. That has helped us to be so successful.

Tell us about the regulatory environment - county versus city? Because of

continued on page 130...

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THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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Homebuilding in Casa Grande remains steady

Q&A with Jim Suor

CONTINUED

by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

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ne of my key initiatives has been to help promote Casa Grande, and to also promote our need for new homebuilders. We have the platted infrastructure-ready lots just waiting for a new homebuilder.

With our growing horizon, we will need businesses and homebuilding to grow!

The City of Casa Grande has had some homebuilders, like Mission Royale by Meritage Homes and Express Homes by DR Horton, steadily building, even if it has been slow-going for the last eight years. This year, we have also seen three new builders come into the market. Builders like Scott Homes, Brown Homes, and K. Hovnanian Homes have started building or are planning to build soon in our community.

We also have some custom builders who have been active. Builders like Shearer Development and Absolute Homes have been very active in the Casa Grande area.

Shearer Development has built in and around Casa Grande, and has most recently been very active in the Coyote Ranch Community. Absolute Homes has most recently announced a 94-home project called Arroyo Verde Estates, located off McCartney Ranch Road.

Absolute Homes is also building a new design studio in downtown Casa Grande on Florence Street – a very nice addition to downtown Casa Grande.

Our home construction challenges include using up all the platted infrastructure-ready lots, reducing our impact fees, construction labor (finding it and the cost) and material costs (due, in large part, to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma). Some of these, like reducing impact fees, are happening as we speak and will be addressed, but others will continue to be a challenge.

...continued from page 128 our clients’ demand for larger lots, our primary building envelope is county, rather than city. Pinal County cut their impact fees in half about two years ago, helping the building costs go down. The city fees have not changed much over the last few years, and are considerably more. The big difference with county versus city is the sewer system.The higher impact fees in the city include sewer hookups, whereas the county needs septic.

What else would you like people to know about you, your company and/ or the current state of homebuilding in our area? I love what I do. It is an extremely hectic and chaotic career, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

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I have an amazing wife and family that supports me and the business, and couldn’t do it without them. I love the day my clients move in. No project is perfect or without headaches, but that day makes it all worthwhile.

I also love the fact I can see any of my thousands of past clients in the store, and stop to say. “hello” and catch up.

We are here to stay. I have had my younger brother working for me for the last couple years, and plan to have him take over when I can’t walk anymore (I love it too much to quit any earlier). We even have my 6-year-old nephew wanting to work for us one day, so who knows! It’s time to build new. Prices on existing 10-12 year-old homes are virtually the same price for a brand new custom with a warranty.

Get on board now.

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

Following laws, while supporting businesses

by Matt Herman, Council Member, City of Casa Grande

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here are many misconceptions about the city government’s role in local development. The city is here to help and encourage responsible development, while making sure all local rules, regulations and laws are followed.

We don’t pick winners and losers, but we do make sure that businesses and residential developments are zoned correctly, or located in the proper place; built to code, or built safely and following all local laws. And we are a free market economy, so just because there are too many of one type of business does not mean we wouldn’t allow another one to be built.

The city should be as reasonable and as helpful as possible. We want to encourage responsible development. When an issue comes up, we should always work to find solutions.

A few years ago, a code change came up that would

WINTER 2018 • THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION

require fire sprinklers in residential structures over 5,000 square feet. This was tough, because we want to make sure fire codes are followed and homes are safe, but we must also be cognizant of financial realities and private property rights. I thought it was unreasonable to include garages and patios in that size calculation. So, we changed the proposed ordinance to work with the parties involved.

And the same is true with businesses. When a local business had a question about impact fees while improving an existing structure, we all worked together to make sure the fees did not cost more than the actual improvement. I did not think it was reasonable to make a tax-generating business pay impact fees for enclosing a shade structure that had previously been enclosed and was being used for the same purpose. I believe that we should always sit down and work on solutions when questions or issues arise.

The city should be as reasonable and as helpful as possible. We want to encourage responsible development.

When an issue comes up, we should always work to find solutions.

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PERSONAL ART IN HOME DÉCOR

by Corianna Lee, Director, Coolidge Performing Arts Center

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e all know HGTV for shows pieces, but in actuality, art can easily be one such as “Fixer Upper,” “Flip or of the most inexpensive accessories in the Flop” and “Property Brothers.” room, as well as the most personal, especially We eagerly anticipate the when they are created by you!

Yes, art work uniquely created by you can reveals at the end of the show, where the give your space the style or design we see space is completely transformed and stylized, on HGTV. Pinal County has an abundance of and wonder if we could ever see that type of artists who not only sell their work, but also transformations in our own homes. teach their concepts and strategies. Have you If you pay attention to the designs, there is ever attended a “paint and pour” event, where a unifying factor in every space – the deliberate and personeveryone creates a alized use of art beautiful painting of the Art is a powerful tool that brings in the space. same concept, but no focus to a space, defines our styles Whether it is two are alike? Attending incorporated into events like these proand tells our stories. What better vides the tools to create a specific color place to do that than in our homes the artwork at a minimal palette or an and personal spaces? cost and provides a eclectic conversation piece, it is fun experience in the always present in home design and décor. process. The outcome is a unique piece of Art is a powerful tool that brings focus to a artwork, created by you, that you can hang in space, defines our styles and tells our stories. your home and that also has a story behind it.

What better place to do that than in our Social media feeds are full of upcoming events homes and personal spaces? Designers agoand classes that feature the creation of art. nize over art work, and we are led to believe Newspapers publish community calendars with that such personal artwork can come at very upcoming art events constantly.

Another resource that offers classes in high costs. Original art work brings character multiple forms of art is the Artisan Village of to any space and should spark the imagination. Often we associate “art” with being a Coolidge, located at 450 N. Arizona Boulevard in Coolidge. The Artisan Village has exhigh dollar item, unique and one-of-a-kind

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isted for about four years, and is consistently developing new programs and classes, many of which are open on Saturday mornings or even by appointment. Classes are typically small and offer one-to-one, hands-on learning experiences with artists. Classes can be taken individually or as a series for arts such as lapidary, metal arts, mixed media, glass art, mosaics, painting and so much more!

For information on upcoming classes and programs at the Artisan Village of Coolidge visit artisanvillageofcoolidge.org.

Let’s not forget to mention that creating art can be therapeutic and healthy. Seeing a piece that you created in your home or space will evoke a sense of pride or even peace, thus making your art even more personal to you. Not only are there aesthetic benefits, but there are health benefits as well! Social art events also bring people together, which can result in meeting new people and developing new friendships.

Whether you attend a local painting class or a series of classes through an organization, you will be sure to create a unique piece of art that is a one of a kind. It may even be a focal point or conversation piece in your home, and could give the designers from HGTV a run for their money. Who knows?

You may also be an undiscovered talent!

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

PINAL COUNTY PRESS A R IZONA CIT Y • C A SA GR A NDE • CO OLIDGE • ELOY • F LOR ENCE • M A R ICOPA

CONTINUED…

Robson Ranch Arizona honored by “Where to Retire” magazine

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obson Ranch Arizona, located in Eloy, has been awarded a “Best Neighborhood” designation by “Where to Retire,” the only magazine in America geared toward helping people with retirement relocation decisions. The award recognizes outstanding master-planned and active-adult communities. A profile of the development is in the January/February 2018 issue, which became available nationwide on Dec. 12.

“Where to Retire” Editor Annette Fuller said Robson Ranch Arizona possesses qualities important to today’s retirees.

“Robson Ranch Arizona, a gated 55-plus community, is halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, providing easy access to interstates and international airports. It has a 39,000 squarefoot recreation center, an 18-hole championship golf course and a creative arts center, with studios for woodcarving, pottery and painting. A variety of home designs feature outdoor living and open floor plans. In 2017, two models received accolades from the National Association of Home Builders. One happy retiree from Texas told our writer, ‘We haven’t had time to explore Phoe-

nix and Tucson properly, because there’s so much to do right here,’” Fuller said.

A “Best Neighborhood” award winner is featured in each issue of “Where to Retire.” To be considered, the community has to be actively selling homes and have many or most amenities in place.

Each year, 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns to retire.

Generally, relocating retirees are healthier, better educated and more affluent than those who choose to not relocate. They bring significant economic benefits to their new states and hometowns.

Nationally, two dozen states and

hundreds of towns seek to attract retirees as a source of economic development.

Maricopa Arts Committee seeks members to promote art in community

T

he City of Maricopa has established the Maricopa Arts Committee. The mission of the Committee is to work to ensure that art impacts the life of Maricopa residents on a frequent basis, and to promote an environment that fosters freedom of expression, creativity and cultural inclusion through art.

“Art is key for the quality of life for our city, residents, businesses and future development,” said Vice Mayor Peggy Chapados, the chair

of the Arts Task Force that recommended the creation of a standing committee. “Maricopa is a city rich in all forms of art and art practitioners. Our arts committee members will work to identify ways that increase awareness and promote appreciation of all art forms as a vital component of our proud history and prosperous future.”

The new committee will: 1. Create a strategic plan that provides guidance to the Mayor and Council for the type of art pro-

grams that are viable and sustainable for Maricopa.

2. Provide a forum for community members to directly express their views and express ideas about the arts in Maricopa to local government.

3. Provide an annual report to the Mayor and Council that highlights art initiatives in Maricopa and identifies gaps to be addressed.

The Committee will be made up of seven members appointed by the Mayor and Council. To apply go

to http://www.maricopa-az.gov/ web/boards-commissions-committees and select Arts Committee and click “apply.”

Committee members must be a current City of Maricopa resident in good standing, property owner or business owner for a minimum of one year. Members must be at least 18 years of age and registered to vote in Pinal County. Members must complete the City of Maricopa Citizens Academy within two years of appointment.

REC CENTER...cont. from page 16

they do not come back to my jail, then that is a good thing for our county and our country.”

Sheriff Koutoujian called HUMV an effort to help veterans in custody “use their common bonds to address the issues that led to their involvement with the justice system and return them to a better path.”

He added, “I’m honored Sheriff Lamb would choose our program to model his initiative after, and look forward to continuing to

collaborate on our shared efforts to help those who have served our country.”

PCSO’s HUMV program is partnering with Cenpatico, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help create programs.

“The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services is happy to partner with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office for the opportunity to reach veterans at a crit-

ical moment and provide them professional benefits counseling in an effort to reduce recidivism among veterans,” said John Scott, ADVS Assistant Deputy Director.

We are also partnering with Battle Buddies, a program that uses therapy dogs to help veterans suffering from PTSD. Volunteers will also bring therapy horses down to the facility as an additional option available to our veterans. For more information visit PCSO’s Facebook Page.

30 days in HUMV, the reconviction rate is in the single digits.

“I saw this program featured on the news, and I immediately wanted to have it implemented in our facility. Veterans have sacrificed a lot for our country and while they have made some mistakes, they do deserve to get the help they need,” said Sheriff Mark Lamb. “If I can make sure our veterans get that help (and)

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Library Creative Writing Contest

Casa Grande Public Library

CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST WINNER

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he Vista Grande Public Library Creative Writing Contest is an ongoing monthly contest where children write stories at the library’s Creative Writing Station.

Each monthly winner gets his or her picture taken and placed on the Creative Writing Hall of Fame, receives a free book of his or her choosing from the creative writing cart and gets the winning story published in Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine.

Youth can also write stories

at home and submit them to the library. Winners are selected by library staff members, who read through monthly submissions and choose the one that stands out, based on creative merit.

Vista Grande Public Library has hosted this contest since 2013, and receives hundreds of submissions every year. The Creative Writing Station is a fun way to get kids involved in writing and storytelling by allowing them to write about whatever they want and making it a fun experience.

November Winner

to ta o P a f o e if L e h T

by Chandler Kaschimer, Age 10

O

ne day, a random potato was lying in a basket. Then someone just picked it up and put it into a shopping cart. The potato felt like it was in an earthquake. The rumbling stopped, and the potato was put on a conveyer belt with the red laser of destruction up ahead. The potato leaped off the conveyor belt and ran through the doors. A couple days later, an old couple found him and brought him inside. Suddenly the potato felt like its skin was falling off. The potato was getting peeled! The skin was thrown in the trash, sadly. The potato was then eaten, and that’s the end of a potato’s life. — The End.

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Have your child stop by the Vista Grande Library in Casa Grande to enter the Golden Corridor LIVING essay contest!

THE HOME & GARDEN EDITION • WINTER 2018

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