Globe Community Pool Finding Its Groove
aving a community pool says a lot about what a community values –fitness, safety, self-confidence, joy.
After a 9 year closure, the Globe Community Center Pool came back to life in the summer of 2023 and now hosts a broad range of programs for a water-loving public.
On an average late afternoon open swim, there are over 200 people enjoying the pool.
“We’re seeing a lot of families coming in,” says Lisa Fletcher, Pool Manager and Deputy Clerk for the City of Globe.
With approval from the City Council, she expanded the open swim hours, added lap swimming in the morning, and announced
the start of a water aerobics class in mid-July. Plans are underway for a back-to-school event at the end of the month.
The facility includes a splash pad, zero-entry area, new decking, shower rooms and a heater to lengthen the swim season. It has become a venue for 25-meter competitive swim meets, community group pool parties and a place for Globe Hotshots to cool off and stay fit.
Safe, Cool Place to Play
“My father was in the military, so the swimming pool was always the place we found community,” says Chelsea Webb, a full-time nurse and mother of 4.
After working the night shift, she drives her
kids, ages 9-12, to the Globe Community Center Pool for morning swim practice. Swimming improves muscle strength, coordination, and cardio-vascular. It leads to lifelong healthy habits, says Chelsea. Her grandmother is 86 and swims laps every day at a community pool.
As pool manager, Lisa Fletcher’s main responsibilities include hiring lifeguards, getting them what they need, and ensuring everyone’s safe. This summer, she oversees 37 employees. All but 2 are Red Cross-certified lifeguards, and soon they will be too. There are 3 lifeguard leads. They help with the lifeguard station rotation schedule as well as the cleaning schedule for the restrooms and changing rooms.
La Luz Del Dia Cafe
By Patti Daley
La Luz del Dia café served breakfast and lunch in Globe-Miami by the same family for more than half a century. The large coffee cup above the sidewalk at 304 N. Broad Street is a downtown landmark. Last year, the business went up for sale.
“Once I got the picture and the history, I knew we needed to keep it,” says Josh Asanovich, one of the new owners.
“In the end what they valued more than the money was the 50-year legacy of the restaurant and the family.”
– Josh Asanovich
Josh wasn’t looking for another business opportunity. He had never invested in a restaurant. The first time he walked through the door of La Luz was to sit down with Dolores Salcido to discuss the sale of the building and the family business she had worked in since she was a teenager. She had received a few offers.
“In the end what they valued more than the money was the 50-year legacy of the restaurant and the family,” says Josh.
Story by Patti Daley
The 2024 Lifeguards.
Photo by Yevette Vargas.
Publisher
Linda
Editor
Creative
Contributing
David
Patti
Thea Wilshire
Contributing
Linda
Thea Wilshire
Aja Dezeeuw
Yevette Vargas
Copyright@2024
When tragedy strikes, our community comes together
This month, just as we were going to press, a brush fire that began in a riverbed in San Carlos turned monstrous as winds picked up and drove it into the populated areas of Peridot Heights, TC Alley, China Town, and Old/New Moonbase. It came on so quickly people had little time to react and fled with just the clothes they had on.
In an interview with the Republic, Chairman Rambler said, "We have endured fires before, but the human scale of this one is particularly devastating. I have received reports of families leaving with nothing, elders having no transportation, and kids running with no shoes. We have never experienced anything like this." It is reportedly the most serious structural fire on the reservation in 30 years.
Immediately, support began to roll in from all corners. Local businesses set up donation centers and delivered flat-beds full of clothing, supplies, and water. And a huge caravan of trucks arrived from the White Mountain Apache Tribe carrying more of the same. Restaurants here stepped in, serving hundreds of meals to those at the evacuation shelters, and veterinary services and pet supplies were made available to displaced and injured animals.
As of the last report, over 400 people had been displaced by the fire. Governor Hobbs has directed $400,000 to support emergency response and recovery support for the Watch Fire, and the Tribe is asking the federal government for a major disaster declaration.
This is an evolving story and one which we will bring you next month. But I’d like to leave you with one highlight that was reported on FB by SaraiApache:
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This morning, I was talking to one of the people who lost their homes. She told me how fast the fire came & she mentioned a group of men that deserves a big shout-out! She said men came running out of their homes in the TC Alley area with chainsaws, shovels, etc & immediately started a fire line. They sounded like former wildland firefighters, most were older guys. She said they got into action like true heroes & possibly because of their actions, saved some homes. I don’t know any of these gentlemen & I didn’t even know where TC Alley was until today. She mentioned one name, Stephen Patten I believe it was, he took charge of, this is her own words verbatim “The TC Alley Boys”. So shout out to those TC Alley Boys for their heroic efforts in battling for their neighborhood yesterday!
So, here’s to the heroes among us. You make all the difference in times of crisis.
Let’s hope the rest of the summer goes by uneventfully, and we can all enjoy our usual pastimes. But should the need arise, it’s good to know we live in a place where people will step up to meet the need. We have a long history of pulling together, and that spirit will serve us well in the future.
LINDA GROSS Publisher
Irene Moquie Chase Realtor
Marci Stallings Realtor
You Deserve to Flourish
by Patricia Sanders
Sometimes, life doesn’t feel very lively.
In 2022 and 2023, I spent an unusual amount of time watching Vera – the British crime show featuring a brilliant but grumpy female investigator. At the time, I was spending a lot of time working in the yard, putting in a vegetable garden, planting an oleander hedge and azaleas along the walks. I would work outside in the morning, do some freelance work, and then I’d turn on the TV. I would nestle into a corner of the sofa, make a cup of tea and watch two or three episodes of Vera, usually until it was time to go to bed.
I loved Vera’s tenacity, gruff exterior, and compassion. Sometimes the stories would veer in an unexpected direction and the criminal would turn out to have some heartbreaking motive that seemed to come out of the blue. It kept me interested.
And if I ever did get bored with Vera, there was always Midsomer Murders – all 23 seasons. I wasn’t depressed. I wasn’t exhausted. I wasn’t burned out. I still had energy to garden, work, play with the dog and go for long walks. I was just feeling a little unexcited by life, sort of half-empty and unfocused.
It turns out many, many people were feeling similarly at the time, and if anything, I was a little behind the times. There had been a wave of what was happening to me that had started sometime in 2021. At that time, during the first half of the pandemic, most people in America –about 60%, I’ve read – were feeling similar.
Even a person like the ever-upbeat Adam Grant – one of my favorite personalities today (he’s a popular science author who writes a lot about how our mind works) – seemed to have lost his endless energy and enthusiasm. He said he was lying in bed late every morning playing Words with Friends instead of getting up at 6 a.m. as usual.
that wears us down”:
Learning. Learning something new, whether it’s a historical subject or how to play the flute, or anything in between – helps you feel more alive, independent, and in charge. That’s because it shows you’re capable of change and able to create that change for yourself.
Connecting. Despite people having hundreds of friends on social media, many are still struggling with meaningful relationships. That’s because true friendship is a deeper connection that involves trust and mutual understanding – things that don’t necessarily enter into online interactions. Making time to be with true friends helps you feel connected, and that translates into feeling more alive.
Finding a purpose. Purpose sounds lofty, but it doesn’t have to mean shifting your focus away from your daily life or searching for some mysterious insight. Your purpose could be as close to home as providing safety and security for your family, or, if you’re on your own, working toward a better life for yourself. You probably already have a solid purpose but might not be aware of it. What’s yours?
So not only was I not alone in what I was feeling, but there was a word for it: languishing.
Languishing is when you feel not quite yourself and not fully alive. You lose a sense of purpose and feel disconnected from people around you. Life feels like it’s not under your control anymore. You feel like there must be more to life, but you can’t imagine how.
Adam Grant said it feels like “you’re indifferent to your own indifference.” Another person said it’s like “being on an airplane, circling above the runway, but unable to land.”
Languishing has a lot to do with loneliness, beyond them both being three-syllable words that start with L. People who feel lonely aren’t necessarily languishing, but if you are languishing, you probably feel lonely, too. So it’s no wonder that with the social isolation of the pandemic, languishing became widespread.
Languishing makes you feel like there’s nothing you can do about it – but it’s not true. Because so many people were experiencing it during the pandemic, there has been lot of research into what can help.
According to Corey Keyes – a psychologist who is one of the experts on the subject – these are the keys to “how to feel alive again in a world
Having a spiritual practice. Again, this doesn’t have to be something grand or mysterious, and it doesn’t have to be related to religion or a recognized spiritual path, although that can be right for many people. It’s enough just to focus on what really matters. Pay attention to those moments that feel joyful or significant, whether it’s when you’re listening to music, watching the birds, or spending time with family. When you feel connected to something larger than yourself, you’ll feel a greater sense of belonging and meaning in your life.
Play! Research shows play isn’t just for kids –adults need it too. Play means doing something for the enjoyment of it, and not for the results. Play increases well-being, reduces stress, and boosts overall life satisfaction. So play does lead to important results, after all! A simple way to include more play in your life, even if you’re not so young anymore, is to start doing more things with other people, that you usually do alone. For example, watch a sports game along with a group of friends.
So it turns out the things that help with languishing happen to be the same as what it takes to live a fulfilling, full life in the first place. A life where you’re flourishing instead of languishing. And all of us deserve that.
ALTERNATIVE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION
(HOME RULE): Proposition 412 will be on the ballot at the primary election on July 30th, 2024. Home Rule is a proposition that goes on the ballot every four years that reverts back to 1979 revenues. This proposition has always passed allowing the city council to pass their budget with the current day revenue. If it were not to pass, it would be detrimental to the services the city now provides to our residents. A Yes vote allows the city to continue to set its budget as presented and only spend the revenues received. Thank you for your “YES” vote.
AIR AMBULANCE INSURANCE MEMBERSHIP PLANS: At the June 25th meeting, a presentation was made by the AirMedCare Network (Banner Air) and PHI Cares (AirEvac) on their membership plans and costs. Our research has found that you are not covered if you have coverage from one company and are flown by another company. If you are being flown interfacility, you can request the company you have insurance with. The base coverage only covers you and your household if you are flown in Gila County, but there is an upgrade cost to be covered statewide. There is no argument that these services are critical. Understanding the costs, coverage, and responses is important so you do not risk paying a high flight bill in an emergency.
Flight companies:
PHI Cares: Kevin Gorskey
Senior Membership Manager 812-259-1968
kgorskey@phiairmedical.com
AirMedCare: Adam Martin, Membership Sales Manager 480-489-3473 adam.martin5@gmr.net
HILL STREET SCHOOL INFORMATION: The website is now up and running to get information or apply for residency at the new facility. There are two ways to get information about the Hill Street Senior Affordable housing project. Go to www. hillstreetschool.com or contact them directly by phone at 928-255-5605, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. If nobody answers, please leave a callback number so they can return a call. The website shows the various floor plans for studios, one-two, and three-bedroom floor plans. It also allows you to schedule a tour of the facility.
ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE BUDGET 2024-2025: At the June 25th council meeting, the city’s finance department presented the 2024-2025 Tentative Budget for approval which is the first step in the
process for final adoption. Once a tentative budget is approved, the council cannot raise the amount but has the option to lower it. The next step is to post the public hearing for two consecutive weeks in the paper and on the website beginning June 3rd. On June 16th, a public hearing will be held prior to the final adoption of the budget.
The Tentative Budget for FY 2024-2025 was adopted in the amount of $66,300,244.00. Included in the budget is $19,000,000.00 for anticipated grants that may be received during the next fiscal year. If this amount is not included and a grant is received, we cannot spend those funds. The General Funds revenues reflect about a 1.5% increase from last year’s budget, which includes all the proposed revenues received in the amount of $19,569,256 for next year for the city to operate with. These amounts show a continued increase in sales tax revenue at around 9.5 million and a carry-forward restricted fund balance of around 2.6 million, leaving an operating budget balance of $16,900,892.00.
I want to thank our City Manager, staff and finance department for all their hard work to bring forward a balanced budget for Council to review and approve. I encourage all our residents to become familiar with the budget process to understand all the requirements of the law in order to create a balanced budget.
Hospital Dr. and Besich Blvd. ROUNDABOUT PROJECT UPDATE
July 2024 Update
• Construction of the new CVRMC centerpiece monument is underway with logo and letter placements.
• Landscaping with new trees, cacti, and desert plants continues to progress.
• Waterline relocation and electrical tie-ins are being coordinated with respective parties.
Globe Business Opportunities: Creating a community for residents and visitors to love
By David Abbott
The City of Globe has made significant economic progress in the past six years, and empty storefronts are beginning to fill with a variety of new businesses and restaurants, creating a sought-after destination and giving residents access to a wider range of goods and services.
Efforts to clean up blight and beautify building facades are bearing fruit as entrepreneurs take advantage of opportunities created through programs designed to help open storefronts or online businesses in the community.
“We want to make Globe a place where people want to live,” says Globe Building Official Tony Manfredi. “We want to allow residents to stay here and have the things they want and need at their fingertips so they don’t have to move elsewhere to find them.”
Manfredi, a retired Phoenix firefighter who is now a Globe resident, was hired by the City in 2022 to update building codes to current standards. He says that sending a clear message to potential business owners that Globe is ready for their investment, and improving the development process provides opportunities for everyone to create a thriving business environment and show that the City is committed to economic growth and diversity.
Although change happens slowly in many cases, Manfredi has already seen improvements in the community’s appearance in the few years he has lived and worked in Globe, from fresh paint on revitalized businesses to blight removal on residential streets.
“Many people here like to use the elephant analogy,” he says. “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. There’s a lot of catch-up to do here, but if we want to enhance the community for our citizens, these things have to occur.”
While establishing a ready-for-business development process is critical for growth, it is only one step in a process that can seem labyrinthine to people who just want to work for themselves.
Local business owner Sarah Alexander, co-owner of Pretty Kind Boutique and a coordinator for the Eastern Arizona College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), sees the situation from many perspectives. As a small business owner, she must follow state and local policies/procedures. Still, she also understands the stress involved with taking a leap of faith and the need for help setting up shop, whether it is in a traditional “brick and mortar” or online.
“We are living in a post-COVID world where people are becoming more entrepreneurial in spirit because they lost their jobs or realized their employment was fragile,” Alexander says. “I’m noticing the people opening small businesses were at one time in a traditional form of employment, and now it seems like the trend in Globe is going to self-employment.”
The EAC SBDC is part of a national and statewide network of technical assistance providers that gives local small businesses the tools and training to be successful. It offers a wide range of services, from counseling to training.
The SBDC recently partnered with the Economic and Community Development Department (ECDD) in Globe to host its third Moonshot AZ event, allowing local entrepreneurs to develop and pitch ideas for their
business plans. Prizes, provided by Freeport-McMoRan, ranged from $2,000 for the first-place winner, Cecilie Hudson of Round Mountain Baking Co. to $500 to Mandi Riddle for Lucky Girl Rabbitry. Hudson will move on to a finals competition in Cottonwood on August 2 to vie for a $10,000 overall prize.
But second place and a $1,000 prize went to Alexander’s business partner Erika Flores, for her proposal for Pretty Kind Minds, a business incubator for women the pair have set up in their store that they hope to expand. “We mentor them and teach them about looking at their profit and loss statements, teaching them how to advertise,” Alexander says. “We’re already doing that, but we want to expand that outside of the boutique.”
Through SBDC Alexander recently taught a week-long young entrepreneurs’ training camp for local high school students and hosts monthly meetings at the Gila Pueblo Campus on topics related to the business community. Her hope is that she can help ease the transition into business ownership by providing whatever support is available.
To accommodate entrepreneurs who may not want a brick-and-mortar storefront, the City is creating a virtual workspace and business incubator in the Michaelson building on Broad Street and has leveraged its relationship with the Rural Communities Assistance Corporation (RCAC) for much of the economic development work that has been done.
In addition to grants and planning to rehabilitate the building and create a modern virtual workspace, the City is part of a Capital Readiness Program in collaboration with the RCAC through the Department of Commerce. The program provides entrepreneurial training and assistance, both in “collaborative cohort”-based sessions and one on one training.
“It’s an opportunity to meet with entrepreneurs, face to face, but we also provide a lot of assistance virtually and through video calls,” says RCAC’s Dan Dever. “The cohortbased training sessions are an opportunity for us to tailor assistance to the community, where we conduct a process to survey prospective and current entrepreneurs to try to understand their needs.”
Dever says it is an opportunity for RCAC to “get on the ground and work directly with entrepreneurs and try to facilitate those connections to more accessible forms of capital to allow them to grow their business.”
Starting a business can be difficult, but sometimes, finding the right space can make it seem impossible. There may be empty storefronts, but given the historic nature of Globe’s Broad Street, rehabilitating a building to current standards while maintaining the historic appeal of Downtown can be a heavy—and expensive—lift.
That is why it is important to think beyond Broad Street to the other viable sectors of Globe along Highway 60 from the western boundary of the city to the east.
Local realtor Stacey Herrera Murry agrees.
“I understand the concept of talking about historic downtown Globe because it’s part of our charm and part of our niche and that’s why people are interested in coming here,” says Herrera Murry. “But there is also a whole commercial district that runs along the highway I think needs to be given credit.”
She is invested in both downtown and the highway corridor. She and her husband Ryan own a popular business in downtown Globe—Globe Gym—and her real estate office is on the highway. This fall, she expects to open a drive-through coffee shop on the highway.
After years of watching the local economy’s ups and downs, she is happy to see the uptick in local investment throughout the community.
She points to the recent sale of the old El Rey property to Erica and David Salinas. The couple, known for their food truck business, purchased the property and are in the process of renovating it to house a barbecue restaurant with outdoor seating and an expanded menu.
“When you see someone local doing that, you get a warm feeling in your heart,” says Herrera Murry.
“We started to do First Fridays, and we got too busy with our catering,” Salinas says. “Between that and word of mouth from the clients, it just kind of started blowing up and growing.”
The couple recently quit their “day jobs” and hope to have the building fixed up and ready to serve food by midSeptember. Erica worked at Washington Federal Bank for 22 years and David was Safety Coordinator at the water treatment facility in Wheatfields for six years.
The process to realize their vision for the property ran into some bumps in the road but Salinas credits Melissa Steele with Globe’s Economic Development Department and Michelle Yerkovich, Code Enforcement for the city for helping to navigate the zoning and building codes.
“The City is making strides on so many fronts and it’s wonderful to see what’s happening in Globe,” says ECDD Director Linda Oddonetto. “The seeds that we planted several years ago are sprouting and coming to fruition, this is good for everyone in the community.”
Cathy’s Little Free Libraries: A Love Where You Live Initiative
FLASH FLOODS
Flash floods in the United States are responsible for more deaths than tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning combined. Over half of these fatalities occur for people trapped in vehicles. As little as two inches of water can carry away most SUV size vehicles, move rocks, uproot trees, and level buildings.
Flash floods occur within minutes and up to six hours after excessive rainfall, and have happened in 98% of U.S. counties. Gila County has had its share of deaths related to flash floods. Besides Cathy, 10 members of the Garcia family drowned in 2017 when they were celebrating a birthday along Water Wheel, north of Payson. In 2019, three young children died when the vehicle they were in was swept away along Tonto Creek. They raised the total deaths at this creek crossing to eight over the past 30 years.
After decades of requests, this horrible loss helped get federal funds released to build a bridge across Tonto Creek. The 2,000-foot-long bridge took 2 years to build and cost $21 million. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 22, 2024.
by Thea Wilshire
The Cathy Sanchez-Cañez Memorial Foundation’s five Little Free Libraries have brought over 10,000 books to the children in the Globe Miami region in honor of Cathy’s life. As the fifth anniversary of her passing in a flash flood approaches, her mother was asked how Cathy’s family and friends turned such a heartbreaking tragedy into a wonderful gift to the community.
“My family and I were going through a horrible time after Cathy’s death. We were an absolute mess, and just so angry, it was eating us up,” says Bea Sanchez, Cathy’s mom. “It was her friend, Reg [Regina Ortega], who said, ‘Let’s find something positive in this.’ This really saved us because it gave us a purpose.”
Cathy’s family and friends brainstormed how best to honor her. They started with eight “Go Around, Don’t Drown” warning signs at local creek crossings, then added multiple community clean-up events. However, they wanted to do more.
“She loved reading and was a teacher in Miami. She also loved the Peanuts [comic strip], so we said, ‘Let’s do little libraries.’” They began fundraising by selling candles, set up a Go Fund Me account, and sponsored Flash Flood Awareness booths at the Farmers Market. People began to give them funds and prizes to support their efforts. One friend gave four tickets to the Diamondbacks World Series game to be auctioned. “That raised $1600 all on its own.” With cash for the supplies, volunteers stepped up. Alfred Zaragoza, Matt Madrid, and Dickie Ledbetter worked to build the structures, then Al Gameros and Rob Otero painted them in Peanuts themes. They were put up in local parks, at Copper Rim Elementary, and outside restaurants. Now Cathy’s parents, Johnny and Bea Sanchez, check on the libraries and refill them weekly. At Christmas and Valentine’s Day, they add kids’ gifts along with the books.
Besides the libraries, Cathy’s family has honored her by helping to redo the “M” on the football field in Miami. “That turned out to be a lot of work, more than we expected, but worth it,” says Bea.
They’ve offered scholarships in Cathy’s name, sponsored Teacher’s Appreciation Week, and then did “lots of little odds and ends,” explains Bea. They helped a woman whose house was impacted by a flood, gave blankets to the homeless, and provided Thanksgiving to a needy family. There’s an eternal candle burning at the Chapel of the Holy Cross Church in Sedona. Currently, they’re writing a children’s book in Cathy’s honor to teach kids about flash flood safety and the power of reading.
Cathy’s story has become one of redemption, of turning sorrow into a positive legacy. “We’ve done a lot and people have been so receptive,” Bea says gratefully. “Doing good in Cathy’s name has helped us heal and given us purpose.”
Globe-Miami
Creating Opportunities – Building Futures
L to R: William Hickey*, Abby Quam*, Esperanza Zazueta*, Leilani Verdugo*
NURSING ASSISTANT
L to R: Isaiah Tarango, Shauna Brooks, Hope Kenton, Ryan Moya Lopez*, Sierra Boni*, Veronica Rodriguez*, Isabella Pickard*, Anisa Holmes, Raelynn Loving*, Sophia Hollis*, Ariana Juan*, Tameron Reede*, Jasmine Tonay, Nevaeh Guerrero*, Francisco Mancinas Portillo , Aliyah Cheney*, Adalyne Heck, Skylynn Kenton*, Ria Das*, Kayla Muniz*, Gabriella Guerrero* (not pictured), Isabel Mull* (not pictured)
WILDLAND FIRE
L to R: Ryan Szpotowski, Mikah Kitcheyan, Jose Verdugo, Gary Perkins, Arianna Gatewood, Alana Mancha, Teagan Hambrick-Mercier, Jayven Salazar, Anthony Schaible, Elexa Barajas, Aiden Bejarano, Josephina Roman, William Petty, Hailey Guerrero, Macario Araiza (not pictured), Kristopher DeClay (not pictured), Johnathan Denney (not pictured), Jesse Mata (not pictured), Shelby Patterson (not pictured), Natalie Termain (not pictured), Jacob Wilson (not pictured).
WELDING
L to R: Damien Weaver*, Andy Tarango*, Ryan Sluyter, Sebastian Freeman*, Xavier Estrada*, Gabriel Mikeworth*, Layla Mitchell*, Joseph Lofgreen*, Chantel Jordan, Josiah Cutter, Fernando Aragon*, Elijah Castaneda* (not pictured), Alexander Lott* (not pictured),Andrew Williams* (not pictured)
MEDICAL ASSISTANT/PHLEBOTOMY
L to R: Taylor Nosie*, Francisco Estrella-Ponce*, Brynn-Leigh Dickison*, Alliyah Curiel**, Sofia Lopez**, Erica Redmond*, Brilyne Fansler**, Kaycee Valencia*, Serenity Goad**, Kassidy Ballejos**, Carpenter Bryce**, Annabelle Warden**, Madison Rivas**
HVAC-R
Dominic Magana*, Colter DalMolin*, Daisha Dosela (not pictured), Davian Elgo* (not pictured), Luke Grainger* (not pictured), Jay-C Jones* (not pictured)
CVIT serves students from Superior, Miami, Globe, San Carlos, Hayden-Winkelman and Kearny including home school and charter students. Our career and technical programs are approved by the Arizona Department of Education and supported by community partners including Eastern Arizona College Gila Pueblo Campus and Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus.
L to R: Chloe Courtney**, Lindsee Freeman**, Kennedy Dutcher **, Jasmine Flores-Oros**, Hector Ortiz**
Reede, Draven Palmer (not pictured)
DETOUR ON THE STAIRIZONA TRAIL
“Hey,
why is access to the start of the Stairizona Trail blocked?”
Just when the Stairizona Trail was getting great press from the Arizona Republic, Arizona Highways, and the Arizona Department of Tourism, the access to the trailhead was blocked by fencing with no warning. This has been frustrating for visitors coming to Globe to walk the trail and for locals who are increasingly discovering the treasures tucked along this urban trail.
While most of the trail is still open, the first staircase is blocked necessitating a detour. To make sense of the detour, please know this temporary change is necessary because of safety concerns. Here’s the scoop as I ART GLOBE understands it…
The City of Globe wants to improve North Broad Street. They purchased the Silver King building to potentially add a playground, skate park, and parking lot to this location. The Dylan Earvin Foundation stepped up as a partner in support of the playground and donated fund for this project. However,
when it came time to tear the Silver King building down to open up the space, the city discovered a sticky problem: it shares a wall with an active business, Earth Mover Tires. To avoid impacting this business, the city has been getting engineering studies and looking for grants for what’s become a more complicated procedure than originally planned.
While waiting on these details, the plot thickened when the roof of the Silver King building collapsed, causing the outer wall (where the brightly colored Instagram murals are now) to start to bow outward. The stability of this wall is the first safety concern. The second concern is that asbestos in the ceiling was revealed following the collapse, requiring additional mitigation. Third, heavy equipment will be necessary to rectify the situation and the entry way to this property from Broad Street is narrow, making pedestrian access difficult.
While the ultimate plan is to tear down the Silver King building and reopen the Stairizona trailhead, the date for this to occur is unknown, though city staff have stated it is an active project and a priority.
In the mean time, if you want to walk the Stairizona Trail and enjoy as many art installations as possible, consider using the map on this page for an alternative starting route while the trailhead is closed [the black is the closed section at the trail head]. You’ll only miss one staircase with this detour, but you’ll get a bonus staircase on Yuma Street, as well as a chance to see our new Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial on High Street. Word to the wise: once you conquer the steepness of Yuma Street, the rest of the short and
medium trail are much easier. Hold on to hope!
If you need a full Stairizona Trail map, you can scan the QR code to the left or go to Globe Miami Times’ website to obtain access to both a map and a page describing the art installations identified by numbers on the map. Keep your eyes open: when the map was made, we had 39 finished art projects… now we have 72!
The Stairizona Trail is a project of I Art Globe, a volunteer-led public art initiative focused on bringing hope back to Globe during the pandemic. I Art Globe is a program of Love Where You Live, a local nonprofit working to transform livable spaces into lovable places.
Arizona Hunter Safety Course
The next Arizona Hunter Safety course will be August 9th through August 11th. The classroom portion of the course will take place at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course will conclude with a Range Day at the Globe-Miami Gun Club range on Bixby Rd.
• Registration opens July 23, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. on register-ed.com. Arizona Hunter Education Course – August 9, 2024 in Miami, AZ
• Students will need a Customer ID number when registering. The customer ID number is located on Arizona Hunting and Fishing Licenses. Licenses for youth are sold online at https://license.azgfd.com/. If you don’t want to purchase a license, please call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 602-942-3000 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get a customer ID number.
• There is a $5 per student donation (to help offset the cost of utilities for the church) for this course payable on the first day of class.
• All classroom hunter safety education courses are taught by Arizona Game and Fish Department certified volunteer instructors. A student who is 9 years old may complete the Arizona Hunter Education Safety Course.
• Students who turn 9 by graduation may receive a Hunter Education card. The card will not become valid until their 10th birthday. The age that they may hunt big game has not changed, only the age that they can graduate the course. This will prevent the problem of a student turning 10 the day before the hunt and being unable to get into a class.
For information, contact John Stemm at jmstemm@gmail.com or call 602-478-5201.
Over 50 Local Children Waiting for a Volunteer –Waiting
for someone like you
(Gila County, AZ—July 2024) Imagine being a child abruptly separated from everything familiar –caregivers, home, siblings, school, pets, and the life you’ve always known. Foster care brings constant changes: case managers, caregivers, therapists, and teachers come and go, creating uncertainty. These children deserve a consistent presence until a safe, permanent resolution is reached, which is where a CASA volunteer steps in!
As of July 2024, there were over 50 children in need of a volunteer in Globe, Miami, San Carlos, and Hayden. These children have entered foster care due to abuse or neglect, circumstances beyond their control. CASA of Gila County is searching for individuals aged 21 and older to volunteer as Court Appointed Special Advocates for these children.
CASA Volunteers do not provide placements or become adoptive parents for the children. They are advocates for the child’s safety and best interests, having undergone thorough background screening, pre-service training, and taking an Oath before the Court. A CASA visits the child, gathers information, offers crucial input in-service meetings, and presents the court with information and recommendations for the child’s best interest.
CASA Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, careers, and communities. No prior experience is required as the program offers training and continuous support. You have the power to make a difference! Volunteer today - Apply at www.CASAofGilaCounty.org
Dedication of SpanishAmerican War Veteran Monument in Miami, Arizona
The Buckey O’Neill Camp No. 175, Sons of Spanish American War Veterans, is proud to announce the monument’s dedication to the brave men and women who served in the Spanish-American War. The dedication ceremony occurred on June 15, 2024, at the Bullion Plaza Museum and Cultural Center’s contemplation garden.
The monument, standing 5 feet tall and weighing 1700 pounds, is a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of Spanish-American War veterans.
This monument is the first dedicated to Spanish-American War veterans from the Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans and the first to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the SpanishAmerican War in the US.
The plaque specifically honors the 125th Anniversary of the SpanishAmerican War, Spanish American War
Veterans of Gila County, and the Arizona Woman’s Relief Corps, recognizing their invaluable support during the conflict.
The contemplation garden at the museum was chosen as the monument’s location, providing a tranquil setting for reflection and remembrance. RAM Specialists, LLC, constructed the monument, with Lucas Kannegaard, representing RAM Specialists, designing and building it.
Fundraising efforts began in 2022, and included the sale of Native American jewelry, commemorative items, and personal donations from individuals across Arizona. Generous contributions from the Margaret Warner Wood Detached Tent #1, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and a community grant from Freeport-McMoRan Mines ensured the completion of the monument.
Around 30 people attended the dedication ceremony. Speakers included President Avery Frantz of the Arizona Sons of Spanish American War Veterans, Bob Walish, Docent of the Miami Bullion Plaza Museum; Lucas Kannegaard, designer and builder of the monument; and Mayor Jose “Angel” Medina of Miami.
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MONTE SHANE TIBERIO, January 26, 1986 – June 29, 2024, age 38, of Globe, passed away. (LM)
DONNA GALE COLE, April 12, 1957 – June 27, 2024, age 67, passed away. (BM)
DANYCE MAITAYA LYNN LITTLE November 24, 1991 – June 22, 2024, age 32, of Peridot, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Danyce worked as a registered nurse. (LM)
THOMAS “TOM” FOSTER, January 18, 1950 – June 19, 2024, age 74, of Miami, passed away at Haven Health Globe. Tom was Executive Director of the Buillion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum and active in numerous community groups in GlobeMiami, including the Chamber, CVCA, and Habitat for Humanity. He served on the governing board of the Arizona Historical Society and in 2021 received its prestigious Al Merito Award. During his life, Tom also worked as a teacher and independent researcher. He was originally from Oceanside, California. (LM)
In Loving Memory....
SHARON CHATLIN-SIPPI, October 27, 1969 – June 21, 2024, age 54, passed away. She was originally from Chicago. (LM)
RICHARD “DICKIE” B. CASILLAS SR., April 17, 1939 – June 20, 2024, age 85, passed away. Dickie worked as a heavyduty mechanic in the mines for 37 years, including for Magma, Copper Cities, and Pinto Valley Mine. (BM)
DEBRA LYNN OVERHOLT, September 30, 1955 – June 20, 2024, age 68, of Roosevelt, passed away in Roosevelt. She worked as a legal secretary and was originally from Jacksonville, Florida. (LM)
ALTON DEES, February 18, 1942 – June 17, 2024, age 82, passed away. Alton worked at Magma/BHP for over 30 years, as an underground miner and then a welder, and later at Asarco as a haul truck driver and trainer. (BM)
CARMEN M. SALAZAR, November 8, 1947 – June 17, 2024, age 76, of Superior, passed away. Carmen served 40 years as the religious education teacher at the Catholic
Church in Superior. (BM)
EVANS DAVIS, December 6, 1965 – June 17, 2024, age 58, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. (LM)
FERNANDO CORDOVA, January 29, 1937 –June 16, 2024, age 87, passed away. (BM)
JANICE HALL, January 1, 1947 – June 16, 2024, age 77, passed away. (LM)
SALLY VASQUEZ, May 24, 1950 – June 15, 2024, age 74, of Miami, passed away. Sally was a preschool teacher and childcare provider. (LM)
TAMMIE SWANN, April 1, 1967 – June 13, 2024, age 57, of Globe, passed away at CVRMC. (LM)
GILBERT LOPEZ BALLESTEROS, June 7, 1938 – June 12, 2024, age 86, of Miami, passed away. Gilbert worked in the mines for 32 years, starting at Inspiration Copper and retiring from Freeport-McMoRan. (BM)
EARL LEE DOSELA, April 25, 1985 – June 10, 2024, age 39, of Peridot, passed away at
CVRMC. (LM)
MARTHA MAY GATES, May 11, 1930 –June 9, 2024, age 94, passed away. (BM)
ALICE GUERRERO, April 2, 1950 – June 9, 2024, age 74, passed away. (BM)
MCKENZIE SMITH, November 5, 1939 – June 7, 2024, age 84, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. (LM)
VALERIE DEE DEWEY, June 27, 1972 – June 7, 2024, age 51, of Peridot, passed away at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Valerie worked as a slot technician at Apache Gold Casino. (LM)
BRIAN GROVER, February 10, 1953 – June 5, 2024, age 71, passed away. (BM)
“I help out because I want not only my kids to be strong swimmers, but I want the community to have a lot of strong swimmers. We recreate in the lakes and the rivers. It’s important for our kids to be strong swimmers.”
– Leslie Parker
“It’s a great group of kids,” says Lisa, proud of her staff. “Helpful, considerate, great customer service.”
Safety is the top priority. The slide has a lifeguard at the top and one at the bottom. There are always at least 3 lifeguards on deck and a typical shift employs 12-16. To ensure kids are safe when they leave the pool, a parent or guardian must pick up any child age 10 or under.
“It’s important to give kids something to do in the summer, a way to play in a controlled environment,” says Lisa, herself a mother and grandmother.
She has lived here her whole life. Mr. Marine was one of her swim teachers, at the Central Pool, in the 1980s, where the bus barn is now.
“He was a legend,” she recalls. “He probably taught most of the town how to swim.”
There are no swimming lessons offered at the Globe Community Center Pool, but Lisa is seeking an instructor. Due to great interest, Cobre Valley Recreation Center has opened a final session in the second half of July.
Lifeguard Training
There is a nationwide shortage of qualified lifeguards, in part due to pool closures during the pandemic. 18 of 29 City of Phoenix pools have not opened due a lack of lifeguard managers and pool managers.
“To be a good community partner, we have made our pool available for lifeguard training whether they are going to be employees at our pool or not,” says Linda Oddonetto, Economic & Community Development Director for the City of Globe.
Ted Quinn is a Red Cross-certified instructor and has been responsible for training dozens of young people from GlobeMiami and the surrounding communities to become lifeguards.
“Water safety is always an important issue,” Ted says.
Like many of the youth he trains, Ted earned his Basic Swim Instructor (BSI) certification and worked as a lifeguard during his college years. He’s happy that three pools will soon be open to provide recreational opportunities for this community.
“It allows people to enjoy themselves in the summer and practice swimming, which is a necessary skill in life,” he says.
Most of the lifeguards serving the Globe-Miami community developed their strength and self-confidence in the water as Globe Piranhas.
Growing Strong Swimmers
The Piranha Swim Team has been a part of the Globe community for 30 years. Swimmers range from 5-18 years old and all skill abilities. They all practice at the same time – Monday through Thursday mornings at Globe Community Center Pool.
“We spent 10 years keeping the team alive without the pool,” says Leslie Parker, a longtime Piranha parent volunteer.
When the Globe Community Center pool closed in 2014, the team swam in Miami’s Hostetler pool for 6-7 years and when it closed due to maintenance issues, the Piranhas went to Cobre Valley Recreation Center for a few summers. Due to the small pool size, only 23 kids could participate. There was no swim season in the summer of 2020.
This year the Piranha coaches are Lena Parker and Tabatha Voelker, both 18 years old.
The team competes in the Central Arizona Swim Association Invitational Summer League against the Eloy Otters, Florence Sharks, Coolidge Dolphins, Parkside Piranhas, Tucson Aquabears, and SM Sea Lions. Many of these teams are sponsored by their cities. The Globe Piranhas operate under the Copper City Youth Sports (CCYS) for insurance coverage and receive funding from United Fund of Globe-Miami via CCYS.
The projected costs to run the team this year is $173 per swimmer. This year, the United Fund will contribute about a third of those costs. Parents pay only $65, and fundraising is required to make up the difference. This year the team is selling hats. There is also a link on the CCYS website with an option to donate directly.
“We want it to be a low cost for our local
community,” says Leslie, “but our costs keep going up – swimsuits, caps, ribbons, championship fees.”
The biggest expense the team incurs is the lifeguard fees. During swim practice and meets, they cover the cost of two lifeguards on deck and a pool manager. The Piranhas capped the team at 60 swimmers this year to avoid the additional expense of another lifeguard, as required by the City.
Despite the financial challenges, communication and appreciation between the City and the team has been strong. The City has purchased lane lines and backstroke flags for competitive events and swim meets are open to the public.
“I love the swim community,” says Linda. “They take pride in the facility. They leave it as clean as they find it.”
Through parent involvement, the Piranha program thrives. Leslie teams up with Adrea Ricke to cover the club’s administration. All of the swim parents are enlisted to help out with the home and away meets.
“Our children benefit from it,” says Chelsea Webb. “Kids get more excited and more involved because they see their parents helping.”
Leslie Parker has volunteered for the Piranhas for 15 years since the oldest of her three daughters was 6 years old. She’s also a parent booster organizer for the Globe High School swim teams, which now have a boys’ and girls’ swim team, thanks to the Globe Community Center Pool.
“I help out because I want not only my kids to be strong swimmers, but I want the community to have a lot of strong swimmers,” she says. “We recreate in the lakes and the rivers. It’s important for our kids to be strong swimmers.”
It takes a team of coaches and parents to put on a swim meet. This one took place on Saturday, July 6 against the Eloy Otters. Photo by LCGross
Linda Oddonetto, EDD for the City of Globe and Lisa Fletcher, Pool Manager Photo by Patti Daley
Leslie Parker, has been involved with the Pirahahs for 15 years and all of her daughters swam for the Piranahs. This year, daughter Lena, is coaching.
Photo by LCGross
Family Legacy
It began when Carmen and Ernie Vasquez opened a Mexican pastry shop in Miami. When they came to town, John Mendiola was a teenager. He and his friends spent a lot of time hanging out in their shop. Their offerings expanded to include Mexican and American classics.
“They made a lot of good comfort food,” John says. His favorite was the Pancho burro (hamburger, onion, green chile and cheese), named for Frank Bache (nicknamed Pancho).
Decades later, La Luz still feels like being in someone’s kitchen—Oscar Serrano’s kitchen. Oscar knows his way around the grill. He worked in his first kitchen at age 16. After three restaurants in HaydenWinkleman and the casino, he was doing a side hustle cleaning properties when approached about the La Luz opportunity. He agreed to be a part of it.
“That was the game changer,” says Josh. “Once we knew Oscar would run the restaurant for us, that’s when we knew this was viable, that it can be a good thing for everybody.”
Josh and his partners purchased La Luz in January 2024.
“Definitely different than anything we’ve done before,” says Josh. “Steep learning curve.”
New Owners, Familiar Vibe
The menu hasn’t changed but Oscar is offering up monthly specials like green chilaquiles. The schedule hasn’t changed (6:30am-2pm; closed Wednesday). The framed twenty and fifty are off the wall, but otherwise things look the same.
There is a hot grill, counter service, and five 4-tops. Many customers are greeted by name. The restaurant stays busy with takeout orders and indoor diners all morning. A young family orders burros and cheesy eggs for their 3-year-old, cheeseburgers and fries for the teens in the booth, and a pile of potatoes gets put on the grill.
“The food is excellent. The people are
Art lives four blocks away and has been coming to La Luz for 40 years; he orders all over the menu. Today it’s a toasted tuna salad sandwich with fries and an iced tea. A veteran of the Korean War and worked for 35 years in mining. La Luz del Dia Cafe, he says, is a meeting place for a lot of retirees.
“La Luz is a piece of the fabric of the community,” Josh notes. “It’s like Dick’s Chicken in Miami.”
Josh lived in Miami for most of his childhood; he moved to Gilbert, at
High and ASU and was drafted by the Tampa Rays. At 41, he works in real estate sales and investment and is coowner of youth sports facilities in Gilbert, North Phoenix and East Mesa. His business education, he says, consists of “failing and and trying again.”
At 41, Josh is part of a new generation of investors invigorating downtown Globe. With longtime business partners Daniel Bartlett and Shane Peck, and his sister, Adrea France, he holds several properties, including the “Flower Shop” building (Anna’s Petals) at 610 N Broad Street. Josh
is a Realtor and owner of Smart Concept Realty and has been selling properties in Globe for 5-6 years.
“We grew up here,” he says. “We want to see Globe thrive.”
Having had a taste for the restaurant business, Josh has partnered up with Anthony Puskaric to give GilaHogs BBQ a permanent new downtown home in the “Big-nosed Kate” building.
“Change is needed, both for people coming in and everyday economics,” says Josh, “but what makes this place special should remain.” u
