RE/MAX Desert Vibe May 2023

There’s no denying that we all love our events and gatherings more than ever. It’s been a busy start to the year with art fairs, farmer’s markets, food trucks, festivals, and concerts. And even though the big event season is slowing down, there’s still so much to do and experience.

In this issue, we introduce you to MinDak Gold and Silver, a professional and reputable business on Parkview (pages 30-31). We share the remarkable story of escape from Communism by one of our favorite restaurateurs, Merita Kraya (pages 20-21).

Fountain Hills is the world’s 17th International Dark Sky Community, so we have a lineup of great things to see in the night sky this month (pages 12-13), and we get a peek into some great things happening in the town’s Economic Development department (pages 16-17). We also introduce you to a wonderful non-profit program called Foster Your Future (pages 10-11), the recent recipient of a Fountain Hills Community Foundation grant.

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar on pages 6-7, but you can also find more events on our online calendar at DesertVibe.com/events.

If you’re not following us on social media yet, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where we’ll keep you up to date on local events and all the things that make Fountain Hills a great place to live.

Key Indicators

POINT TO CONTINUED GROWTH IN MARICOPA COUNTY

... growth equated to 56,831 new residents moving to Maricopa County in 2022.

As we leave the end of the 1st Quarter of 2023, the local market has absorbed the shock of two factors that seemed to send the country into a tailspin. First was the market correction in the last half of 2022, spurred partly by a drastic change in buying habits as the population “returned” to pre-covid buying patterns. The second change, more lasting and complex, was the interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve Bank as it tried to tame inflation.

The nation’s housing inventory is still under-built one year after those impacts were first felt, yet folks need to purchase homes. The interest rate hikes have slowed, and buyers are less inclined to compare their current financing opportunities with those of 2020 and 2021. In short, we’re “getting over it.”

In Arizona, the market is remarkably resilient, likely spurred on by what the Arizona Republic reported on March 30, 2023, as the largest percentage growth (1.3%) of any county in the nation for 2022. That growth equated to 56,831 new residents moving to Maricopa County in 2022, an increase of 156 people per day.

When the buying public is trying to understand the market landscape, it can be confusing when year-over-year sales prices are reported alongside the volume of sales. For instance, Arizona Regional Multiple Listing (“ARMLS”) statistics for the Valley indicate that sale prices are approximately 5.5% lower in March 2023 versus 2022, while sales are 24.5% lower in March 2023 versus 2022. For market watchers trying to time a purchase or sale, misapplying this information can have drastic adverse effects if the market begins to swing upward while you’re watching the wrong statistic.

One key indicator of overall price in the Valley is the S&P/Case-Schiller Home Price Index for Phoenix. This index was widely pointed to as the leading indicator of the 2008 housing debacle. The index shows prices cresting in June 2022 at 343.55 and dropping through the fall to a low of 307.44 in January but rising again in February to 307.81 (the 2022 February index was 314.31). While these numbers differ from the ARMLS numbers, it’s just one more “bow in your quiver” when analyzing the market. The indication that prices are again on the upswing is the most important part of the equation.

We can get more granular in the Northeast Valley markets like Fountain Hills and Rio Verde in our market analysis. In Rio Verde, the average 2023 YTD sales price on March 30, 2023, was $921,740, with an increase in the average sale price of 7.64%, Y-O-Y. In Fountain Hills, the market has not fared as well, with a Y-O-Y decrease in prices of 10% to an average price of $708,445. It’s interesting, however, that inventory has continued to be a problem in Fountain Hills. For instance, we noticed during Q1 a high number of sales of older homes (at lower prices per foot) compared to the volume of new homes the previous year in neighborhoods like Adero Canyon, Overlook at FireRock, and Eagles Nest. In those neighborhoods, the timing was everything. In Adero, a high volume of homes occurred in 2021-2022, while Overlook was winding down in 2022 as the developer finished their development cycle. In a small market, these factors can have far-reaching implications!

As always, we encourage you to dig into the information with us in whichever price strata or style of home interests you most. At RE/MAX Sun Properties, we can provide the data that allows you to make the right decision for your family. Reach us at 480-837-9801.

RESOURCES:

S&P Case Schillar Index: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PHXRNSA

AZ Central: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/ arizona/2023/03/30/2022-census-maricopa-county-nation-largest-gainingpopulation/70064899007/

ARMLS Statistics: Call us for your custom report!

“THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME”

FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER

APRIL 28 – MAY 14

VARIOUS SHOW TIMES

15-year-old Christopher is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Now, Christopher stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve who murdered Wellington.

https://fhtaz.org/events/the-curiousincident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/

TINY ART SHOW

FOUNTAIN HILLS LIBRARY

MAY 1 kick-off date

Display your artistic talents in the library’s Tiny Art Show. Pick up a mini art kit and create your masterpiece. Return your completed canvas to the Library by May 31 to be part of the show.

Art kit pick-up begins May 1. Open to patrons 12 years and older.

https://mcldaz.org/locations/ fountainhills/

YOGA @ THE LIBRARY

FOUNTAIN HILLS LIBRARY

MAY 3 | 10:00 AM

Join yoga instructor Jacki Baltrusch for a 45-minute beginners Vinyasa style yoga flow at the library. This is a great class for anyone who is “feeling a little rusty” or just starting to learn about yoga and all it has to offer. Bring your own mat and take a little time for yourself.

https://mcldaz.org/locations/ fountainhills/

SUNDAY FUNDAY BIKE RIDE

MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN CYCLES & FOUNTAIN HILLS BIKES

MAY 7 | NOON

The ride will be a mix of everything from gravel, roads, singletrack, and just plain fun. Plan on riding around 40 miles, which is approximately 3.5 hours. https://mcdowellmountaincycles.com/ mmc-life/

GUIDED PLANT HIKE

MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK

MAY 13 | 9:00 AM

Join Ranger Nikki for a 3-mile hike on the easy terrain of North Trail to learn about a variety of plant life, including brittlebush, bursage shrubs, cacti, and legume trees.

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/ events/guided-plant-hike/0513/

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL JR.”

PAIGE PRODUCTIONS

MAY 13 | 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM

Performed at Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd.

https://www.paigeproductionsaz.com

MOVIE IN THE PARK:

“PUSS IN BOOTS”

FOUR PEAKS PARK

MAY 13 | 7:00 PM

The movie will begin at dusk at Four Peaks Park on the north field. Sponsored by The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties and HOTELS Magazine. https://www.fountainhillsaz.gov/290/ Movies-in-the-Park

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH W/

LIVE MUSIC

SAGUARO LAKE GUEST RANCH

MAY 14 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Celebrate mom and bring the whole family to Mother’s Day Brunch at the Ranch. Enjoy a delicious buffet of finger lickin’ good brunch dishes with live blues and country music by Innocent Joe (Joe Kopicki).

www.saguarolakeranch.com/dining/

HULA DANCE FOR ALL FOUNTAIN HILLS LIBRARY

MAY 16 | 4:00 PM

Enjoy performances from the international-award-winning dancers of Na Leo Kupono Productions. Listen to the music. Feel the Aloha!

https://mcldaz.org/locations/ fountainhills/

“THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL”

FOUNTAIN HILLS THEATER

MAY 19 – JUNE 4

VARIOUS SHOW TIMES

There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres – and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband, the storms begin to brew. Just a typical All-American musical odyssey through agoraphobia, adultery, hysterical pregnancy, strippers, electric chairs, flan, road kill, toll collecting, spray cheese, guns and disco. https://fhtaz.org/events/

great-american-trailer-park-musical/

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

Veteran’s Memorial at Fountain Park

MAY 29 | 9:00 AM

Honor those who have served to protect our country.

Management Services

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Elma Bachman Kristy Coup

Cyndi Dunham Pam Ehrlich

Pam Foster Jonathan Ghrist

Toni LePoer Bethany Kohoutek

Peggy Rae Merry Silbaugh

Debbie Stansell

Michelle Campbell Mike Nabers

Suzanne Nann

Bobbi Turks John Weil Denise Weinrich

Dawn Woods

Dori Wittrig

FOSTER YOUR FUTURE: HELPING YOUNG ADULTS WHO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE

The path forward can be difficult when a child ages out of the foster care system. These young adults have a high risk of homelessness, incarceration, and instability. They have very few resources, no support from their birth family, and limited support from government programs.

When Ginny Paulsen’s children graduated from high school, she started looking for ways to give back in a big way. She wanted to find a way to use her background in occupational therapy to help others. While attending a church event in Fountain Hills, a discussion arose about foster students, and this led Ginny to volunteer at a group home with young men in their late teens.

“I asked them what happens when they get out of foster care,” Ginny said. “Some of them figured they’d hang out with a friend and sleep on their couch. And that’s when I knew these were the people I wanted to work with.”

In 2015, Ginny and her husband Randy founded Foster Your Future, a non-profit that serves young adults who have aged out of the foster care system.

Various organizations across the Phoenix area refer the top kids in their programs. These kids are motivated, get good grades, and are drug-free.

“We usually have to start with the basics,” said Ginny, “like helping them gather their credentials. We help them get their social security cards, birth certificates, and all they need to open bank accounts and apply for housing. We also work with them to get their driver’s license because they can’t do that in the group homes.”

Foster Your Youth then works with these young people to go to college, take vocational training, or get certified in something so they can do more than work at a fast food restaurant.

“We help them get their GED if they don’t have a diploma so they can fill out their FASFA for Pell grants, which gets their college paid for. We connect them with another program that gives them $700 monthly if they’re in school full-time and getting good grades. Then we kick in another $500 a month if they work with us on budgeting and figuring out how to handle their finances.

The program also connects them with a mentor and helps them work on career skills.

Last year, 34 young people were in the Foster Your Future program. Funding comes through grants, the Arizona tax credit program, private donations, and the Paulsens. They don’t use that money for administrative fees, which the Paulsens fully fund.

For more information on volunteer opportunities or supporting Foster Your Future, visit FosterYourFuture.org.

Shalimar passed her RN boards and can start her career after having financial support and mentorship from FYF for the past 3 years. Shalimar was in a nursing program full-time as well as working full-time. Through help from FYF and a lot of hard work and studies, she did it!

NIGHT SKY THINGS TO SEE IN THE

Night Sky IN MAY

Living in a Dark Sky Community means looking up and seeing constellations, planets, and other spectacular celestial objects in the night sky. The Star Dudes will be at Adero Scottsdale Resort on the lawn behind the Cielo restaurant on Friday nights from 8:00-10:00 p.m. through the end of May.

But you can also get comfortable in your backyard and use this guide for stargazing this month. The following objects can be seen in the evening before bedtime.

CONSTELLATIONS

The constellations visible along the ecliptic this month, looking from West to East, include:

Gemini |

Cancer (difficult to see under light polluted skies)

Leo | Virgo | Libra

Looking toward the North, you’ll see the Big Dipper in an upside-down position, with the Little Dipper, home of Polaris, the North Star, directly under it.

Boötes is also easy to spot at this time of year with its extra-bright star, Arcturus.

PLANETS Venus | Mars

Brought to you by the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and Night Sky Tourist.

https://fhdarksky.com

https://nightskytourist.com

STAR CLUSTERS

The Beehive cluster in the constellation Cancer (binoculars or telescope)

BINARY STARS

In the Big Dipper: Mizar and Alcor (naked eye, if you have decent eyesight)

In Auriga: Capella (binoculars or telescope)

GALAXIES

Andromeda

(naked eye from really dark locations, binoculars, or telescope)

STARGAZING TIPS

• Turn off your outdoor lights

• Allow your eyes some time to adjust to the dark so you can see fainter objects

• Use a stargazing app (there are plenty of great free apps)

• Turn down screen brightness and turn on night mode before using a stargazing app

• Use a red flashlight to find your way around outside

• Relax and take your time

CONCERTS ON THE AVENUE

We enjoyed meeting new faces and seeing long-time friends during Concerts on the Avenue this spring, sponsored by The Sonoran Lifestyle Team at RE/MAX Sun Properties and Fountain Hills Community Services.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE

Community

The Fountain Hills Economic Development team plays a vital role in our community for attracting, growing, and retaining businesses. To reach that goal, Amanda Jacobs, the Economic Development Director, has been thinking outside the box.

In 2022, Jacobs secured over $300,000 in tourism grants to fund events and other things related to attracting tourists to Fountain Hills as a destination. The Fountain Hills Dark Sky Festival is one example of the impact these dollars made on our community. As recipients of some of that grant money, the festival was able to bring in a tremendous keynote speaker and add a variety of hands-on activities to enhance the experience. The event attracted over 2,500 attendees, nearly doubling previous attendance records.

But putting together the right economic development plan can be challenging.

“The greatest challenge in this job,” said Jacobs, “is determining what the community truly wants to be. Do they want to be a vibrant community with employment, restaurants, and shops, or do they want to be a retirement community?

“In my conversations with residents and businesses, there is a desire to grow and be a vibrant community. For that vision to become a reality,

the Town will have to make changes, and we all know change can be hard.”

Despite those challenges, Jacobs and her team have experienced some tremendous victories over the past year.

“We’ve been pleased to see increased engagement through our Business Retention and Expansion Program in partnership with the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce,” said Jacobs. In addition to their dynamic work with local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce was recently designated by the Arizona Office of Tourism as a Visitor Center for the Town of Fountain Hills.

“The town’s tourism website, Experience Fountain Hills, has seen an increase of 25% over the last year,” said Jacobs, showing that Fountain Hills continues to be an attractive destination for tourists and a place where locals love to participate in the many community events.

Jacobs has also been having conversations with major developers and national tenants to promote Fountain Hills. Many small business owners are looking for a great community to put down roots and grow their businesses.

“Among our goals this year is drafting a Community Economic Development Strategy that will be provided to Council for consideration and approval,” said Jacobs. “We will begin additional improvements and enhancements to our Downtown, also known as Town Center, and continue to promote Fountain Hills to developers, property managers, and potential new tenants.”

The Economic Development team recently held an open house workshop at the Community Center and invited the public to participate.

“We held an Economic Development Summit with key stakeholders,” said Jacobs, “to help with the creation of a Community Economic Development Strategy. A second workshop was held for the public ‘open house style’ on April 12 to provide feedback on eight areas.”

Those areas included business attraction, demographics, design guidelines and placemaking, downtown/Town Center, marketing, revitalization and redevelopment, tourism, and workforce housing.

“Our staff will be creating a Community Economic Development Strategy based on the feedback shared during both workshops,” said Jacobs.

What does Jacobs enjoy most about this job?

“The people. I really enjoy meeting our residents and business owners. Each person is open, shares creative ideas, and has a genuine passion for the Fountain Hills community.”

For more information about Economic Development, visit www.fountainhillsaz. gov/775/Economic-Development.

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MEMORIAL DAY EVENT – May 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM

Veteran’s Memorial at Fountain Park

Presentations by the American Legion, VFW, and Marine Corp. League. Featuring American Legion Color Guard and Patriotic music by Debbie Fisher.

FROM THE SHACKLES OF COMMUNISM TO LOCAL RESTAURATEUR:

MeritaKraya

If you pay attention to details in restaurants, you may have noticed a red flag with a black double-headed eagle on the wall at Euro Pizza Café. It’s the flag of Albania, the home country of owner Merita Kraya. When November 28 rolls around each year, Merita has two reasons to celebrate. It’s Albania’s Independence Day, but it’s also the day she escaped from her homeland.

Albania is a tiny, Eastern European country about the size of Maryland, but its location between Greece and Italy made it a strategic land for empires and dictators throughout history. The Ottoman Empire invaded the country in the 1300s and remained in power until November 28, 1912, when Albania declared independence.

Over the next three decades, the country bounced between different forms of government and various leaders. World War II placed it at the center of struggles from fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and neighboring Greece. When the dust settled, Albania found itself under the rule of the Soviet Union as a satellite state. They were thrust into the deepest throes of Communism that is only rivaled by what we see in North Korea today. Many attempted to flee, and some of those who were unsuccessful were executed.

This was the world of Merita Kraya’s upbringing.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

Merita wore a red and black dress, symbolic of the Albanian flag, as she talked about the history and culture of her homeland.

“The double-headed eagle on our flag means that we’ve been there forever, and we continue to survive,” Merita says. “We don’t call ourselves Albanian. We call ourselves Shqiptar, which means ‘sons of the eagle.’ Our legend tells of an eagle carrying a man on his back to the mountains where the man continued his tribe away from occupiers.”

Merita explained that throughout history, someone has always wanted to eradicate them. It was an accessible, strategic corridor between Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean weather was a lure for many. Yet, after all these cultures passed through the area and flexed their political and military muscles, what remains is still an authentic Albania.

After six hundred years under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Albania declared its independence on November 28, 1912, a day that is still affectionately celebrated.

When the London Congress convened in 1913, there was a discussion about separating Albania into different countries to appease other regional political powers. It was U.S. President Woodrow Wilson who stood up for Albania. His research about the country revealed its deep history and culture, and he even discovered that George Washington’s mother was Albanian. He was the only one who stood up for this small country, and his arguments were successful.

“The United States has been our beacon ever since,” Merita says. “If it weren’t for President Wilson, Albania wouldn’t exist today, so we’ve been grateful to the U.S. ever since.”

To read about Merita’s dramatic escape, her journey to Arizona, and her relationship with her homeland today, click here to continue reading.

PREPARING DOGS FOR ADOPTION

RescuePals

Rescue Pals started in 2010 when three friends decided to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-day breast cancer walk. Susan Dawson, Christine Schaeken, and Maureen Glunz prepared for the 60-mile event by training daily.

“All our dogs were getting old, so we thought we’d check with Pal’s Inn, which had just opened, to see if we could walk their rescue dogs,” said Dawson. “Before long, we started finding homes for them.”

Pal’s Inn, of course, was delighted and accepted the offer.

Local community builders like Bruce Hansen and Jerry Miles took the newly formed Rescue Pals under their wing and helped them apply for their 501(c)3. Before they could accept tax-deductible donations, the women did two garage sales yearly to raise money for their work.

“This wasn’t something we planned to do. It just happened,” explains Dawson. “The three of us walk these dogs every single morning without fail. And that’s why I think our rescues are such great dogs because we love them, and they’re like our kids.”

Photo above: Kino and Sophia, super sweet siblings who are looking for their forever home. They’ve been with Rescue Pal’s for over two years and want to be a part of someone’s family.

The need for Rescue Pal’s services continues to grow in Fountain Hills.

“We started with just two or three dogs, and that grew to eight or nine,” said Schaeken. “And they all need medical, and they all need to be vaccinated and spayed, and some have issues.”

It’s not cheap to help these dogs, either.

“Right now, our vet bill at Friendship Pet Hospital is over $7,000, and although we continuously make payments, it continues to grow because of the number of dogs we rescue,” said Dawson. “When you have a sweet dog that needs medical, how do you say no?”

The dogs that escape are usually quickly reunited with their owners. Most of the dogs at Rescue Pals have wandered into town from the reservation and we can’t find their owners, or they are purposefully abandoned.

“Pal’s Inn has always offered a safe haven for dogs found in Fountain Hills,” said Schaeken. “If the owners can’t be located, then we take over. So, we have cooperation and partnership between Rescue Pals and Pal’s Inn.”

One of their goals is to socialize the rescues and find homes for them. Often the dogs need to learn to trust and be open to people again.

“We teach them that walking is nice and that they don’t need to be afraid of trucks, motorcycles, or strangers. We do our best to socialize and civilize them, making them the best dog they can be in the period of time we spend with them.”

To find new homes, the women have discovered that the Farmer’s Market is an excellent venue for letting people meet

their dogs, fall in love with them, and foster them for a bit to see if they’re a good fit. They’ve rehomed hundreds of dogs to give them a second chance at life.

“Rescue dogs have a different demeanor. They’re so grateful,” said Schaeken. “We can run into them two or three years later, and they remember us for helping them.”

The organization is looking for walkers, fosters, and financial donations.

“We still walk the dogs at 6:00 every morning as we’ve done for years. It hasn’t been easy to find volunteers willing to help at that time of the morning, but some people are up early, and we’d love to have them volunteer,” said Schaeken.

Financial donations allow them to purchase food and other supplies and pay their ongoing vet bills.

Dawson likes to remind people that “a dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”

For more information about Rescue Pals and to learn how to donate or volunteer, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ Rescue-Pals-145463035523028/ or reach out via email at rescuepals85268@gmail.com.

Susan Dawson and Christine Schaeken, co-founders of Rescue Pals

What a spectacular first year for the all new Fountain Hills Farmers Market. We loved seeing so many people on the Avenue shopping for fresh and healthy meals. Congratulations to Betsy Hess and her team for a successful first year.

NEW SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY CHORUS

It’s been thirty-two years since the Fountain Hills Community Chorus gathered for their first concert, and this year they will be adding summer activities for the first time.

“The people who participate in the Community Chorus enjoy their time together as they practice and perform for our annual December and April concerts,” said Scott Murphy, the president of the program. “We figured this would be a great way for them to get together and keep the relationships strong through the summer.”

The summer program offers eight 90-minute sessions. In addition to singing, director Matthew Frable will present some music theory, sightsinging techniques, and musical structure. The goal is to help participants gain confidence in singing as they work on new vocal techniques.

“We also hope this will be a recruitment tool while people have fewer commitments on their calendar during the summer months,” said Scott.

Participants must commit to four of the eight sessions offered, and they don’t have to be taken consecutively. This allows time for those who like to travel while it’s hot. The cost is $20 for up to four sessions or $35 for all eight sessions.

SESSION DATES ARE:

May 8 and 22

June 12 and 26

July 17 and 31

August 7 and 21

All sessions are on Mondays from 4:00-5:30 PM at the Community Center. For more information, visit fhcc-az.org

5 GU YS C O N S T RUC T IO N : T HE OVERHEAD C ARE C L U B

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If your roof is more than 20-years-old, it’s probably due for a replacement. But younger roofs c an fail, too, making an annual inspection a valuable part of protecting your home. It doesn’t take much effort to prevent water damage from a leaky roof.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TOWN:

Our event calendar is the most robust and dynamic calendar for events in Fountain Hills.

• Live music at local restaurants

• Theater productions

• Art fairs

• Festivals

• Stargazing activities

• High school sporting events

• And so much more!

Do you want to add your event calendar? Reach out to us at editor@desertvibe.com and let’s chat.

It’s all here, every day of the week! Check in www.DesertVibe.com and keep up to date!

MINDAK GOLD & SILVER OF FOUNTAIN HILLS

When the gold and silver price rush of 2011 hit, Jack Seaman was in the right place at the right time. He worked at a friend’s gold and silver business and was learning all about buying and selling precious metals. People lined up out the door and down the street to sell their gold because prices were so high.

In May 2012, Jack decided to strike out on his own in Fargo and opened a kiosk in an old shopping mall. “At first, I just ran a goldbuying operation,” said Jack. “But then I expanded and started buying and selling precious metals. I moved into a larger shop and gained new clientele. That business is still going strong today, and I have three employees helping me run it.”

THE MINDAK NAME

The MinDak name is common in the Fargo area. Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, are one big city with the Red River separating them. “The whole border is lined with businesses called MinDak,” explains Jack. “When I opened my shop there, I decided to stay with that name. And when I opened here in Fountain Hills, a lot of people recognized it.”

OPENING SHOP IN FOUNTAIN HILLS

Jack and his wife Aubrey started making trips to Phoenix because Aubrey’s company was located in downtown Phoenix. “We made frequent trips here,” he said. “I wanted to open a shop in Scottsdale or Goodyear, but Aubrey wanted to check out Fountain Hills. We arrived in Fountain Hills at night and had no idea what to expect. The next morning, we got up at sunrise to go to Starbucks, drove past the fountain, and loved what we saw. We opened our business on Parkview Avenue in September 2021.”

Jack loves being part of the Fountain Hills community. He’s a member of the Chamber of Commerce, participates in the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and recently volunteered at Oktoberfest at the Fountain.

“We love it here. We’ve met many great people and love the beauty and friendliness of the town. And who doesn’t love the weather here, especially when you’ve experienced the severe North Dakota winters?”

Bunny Keller was hired soon after MinDak opened in Fountain Hills. “We think alike when it comes to investing in precious metals,” said Jack. “She’s been a perfect fit for this business. And many people in town already know her because she’s a great pet sitter, and that’s how we met her.”

MinDak Gold & Silver

16742 E. Parkview Avenue

www.mindakgold.com

Learn more about how to get started with buying or selling gold and how Jack went from a heavy metal music to precious metals by clicking link.