Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine Holiday 2024

10-DAY GUIDED

African Adventure

10-DAY GUIDED

African Adventure

FOR 4 PEOPLE IN 2025

FOR 4 PEOPLE IN 2025

(Additional reservation dates available) Itinerary:

June 9: Arrival Maun. Flight to Xakanaxa Airstrip

June 9-10-11: Xakanaxa area, Moremi Game Reserve

June 12-13-14: Khwai Concession area, Moremi Game Reserve June 15-16-17: Savuti, Chobe National Park June 18: Oldhouse Kasane, Boat Cruise June 19: Transfer to Kasane Airport for onward connections

Luxurious tented camps with hot showers. Gourmet meals under the stars. Encounters with lions, leopards, elephants, and more. YOUR DREAM AFRICAN

Maun Botswana.

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CORPORATE OFFICE:

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Suite C Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-509-1000

CEO

Elaine M. Earle, CPA

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Bea Lueck

FROM THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

‘TIS THE SEASON to Bask in Desert Holiday Warmth

We’re back to that time of the year when we get to experience warmth instead of heat, a more welcome development than ever.

We’re looking ahead to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the other end-of-year occasions celebrated the world over. In this Holiday issue we will give you a look at the events and traditions that make Pinal County what it is during the holidays and every other time of the year.

Our Holiday feature section highlights Christmas tree collars, a neater, less-easily disturbed alternative to the classic tree skirt, along with a Danish pastry recipe, columnist Donna McBride sharing a “rocky” family tradition and a message from ROX Real Estate REALTOR® Annalisa Tapia about St. Vincent de Paul providing support for families via the annual Christmas Food Basket Drive-Thru donation drive and other programs.

There’s a lot more holiday-coded fun in the rest of our issue too! The Casa Grande Public Library reminds everybody of the resources it has available to help us get through this exhilarating yet exhausting time of year. Gigi McWhirter shares her pointers for avoiding the pet-related hazards that tend to crop up around parties, decorations, gifts and other potentially destructive distractions. Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie has a holiday workout and recipe, and McBride has another column with 10 suggested random acts of holiday kindness.

We have to remember that there’s more to life than the holidays, even during November and December. Outgoing Casa Grande Mayor (and incoming Pinal Partnership CEO) Craig McFarland shares 10 defining traits of leadership in his last column for us in that capacity. We have our regular Home & Garden section with ideas on how to design a room from scratch, and I even throw in a little fun, AI-powered gardening advice to help us get through the brutal summer months, once they return.

More of our REALTORS® have contributed to this issue as well: Kelly Herrington writes about golfing with teens and Erin Dugan about life raising an amazing kid with autism. Gail Miller-Hildebrand shares her love of photography and encouragement for others who might be interested in pursuing it as a hobby.

Our travel writer and ROX Travel Cruise and Resort Specialist Tori Ward looks back on one of the great adventures of her life during an African safari, watching elephants and lions congregate just inches or feet away. And our ROX Interview this time is with our fearless Publisher Elaine Earle, whose passion for international travel has inspired me and many others to get our passports and see the world up close.

And as usual we wrap this issue up with our Pinal NOW! event calendar, your guide to most of the public events, classes, displays, ceremonies and other experiences in western Pinal until we welcome the new year. Don’t pass up this chance to discover adventures that are mere steps or a short drive away from home, which can rank right up there with anything you can find throughout the Earth’s hemispheres.

Consider this issue our gift to you. We can’t wait to put the next one out in our stands in mid-January!

—Bea

Bea Lueck Associate Publisher Golden Corridor LIVING magazine

VOICES of the COMMUNITY

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

Julie Andersen

Outreach Librarian, Vista Grande Library, City of Casa Grande

Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

CASA Unit

Certified Physical Trainer, WickedFiTT

See more Voices and full bios at www.goldencorridorliving.com/voices

Tiffanie GradyGillespie

Lisa Madrid-Schleicher

Supervisor, CASA of Pinal County

Donna McBride City Councilwoman, Casa Grande

Angela Askey

Craig McFarland Mayor, City of Casa Grande

Gigi McWhirter Resident Animal Whisperer

The P inal C oun T y P ress

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

Historical Walkway Highlights Maricopa’s Heritage

Maricopa’s journey from small farming and ranching community to the most populated city in Pinal County has had many stops and milestones along the way. Residents and visitors can now watch it unfold along the new Maricopa Historical Walkway at Mike Ingram Historical Park.

Ingram and his company El Dorado Holdings laid the groundwork for Maricopa’s first planned community, Rancho El Dorado. Securing water rights, bringing electricity to the area and building the infrastructure for modern living required not only a significant financial investment to overcome the hurdles, but also a deep belief in what Maricopa could become.

“When we first started, many people thought we were crazy to take on such a project,” Ingram recalled. “But we saw the potential. We knew that if we could overcome the initial challenges of roads and utilities, we could create something truly special.”

As the first homes were built in Rancho El Dorado and families

began to move in, the community blossomed, attracting new residents and businesses. The city continued to grow, with each new development bringing improved infrastructure and a stronger sense of identity.

Today, Maricopa is a thriving city of 75,000 that just celebrated the opening of its first Home Depot. The challenges of bringing roads and utilities to this once-remote desert outpost are now part of the city’s proud history — a story of determination that laid the foundation for everything Maricopa is today.

“I love this city,” Ingram said. “I am so proud of what you (the residents) have made it. We had a vision for it, but you’re the ones who have made it what it is today.”

Located at 44240 W. MaricopaCasa Grande Highway, the walkway is the next phase of the just-renamed Mike Ingram Heritage Park, near the California Zephyr railcar on display in front of the Maricopa Museum and Visitor Center.

Cities Elect New Council Members

All five of western Pinal County’s municipalities have elected mayors and council members to lead their communities through the continued population growth that’s headed their way, with incumbents dominating the results in some cases and new faces stepping up to the plate in others.

The new council terms for all cities will begin the first week of December.

Two cities also included voter propositions on the ballot and both were approved by residents. Proposition 482 in Maricopa, which allows the city to sell some of its property including a large parcel on MaricopaCasa Grande Highway, passed with 55% of the vote. Proposition 484 in Eloy, which lengthened the mayoral term from two to four years, won 58% of the vote.

All races were decided by voters in the July 30 primary election. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk.

CASA GRANDE

• Mayor: Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons

• Council members (in order of vote total): Brent BeDillon, Sean Dugan and Rebecca Romo COOLIDGE

• Mayor: Jon Thompson*

• Council members: Tom Shope, Steve Hudson* and Jan Gillespie ELOY

• Mayor: Andrew Sutton

• Council members: Daniel Snyder*, Sara Curtis*, Michael Vodraska, Joanne Galindo FLORENCE

• Mayor: Keith Eaton

• Council members: Tony Bencina, Sherry Bedford and Tracy Florea (declined seat) MARICOPA

• Mayor: Nancy Smith*

• Council members: Amber Lermann*, Bob Marsh* and Eric Goettl*

Mike Ingram at the dedication Sept. 19 Photos courtesy of the City of Maricopa

The Maricopa Historical Walkway

Stories

by Blake Herzog

McFarland taking over at Pinal Partnership

Pinal Partnership, the leading economic development organization in Pinal County, has named Craig McFarland as its next president/CEO, taking over Jan. 1 upon the retirement of Tony Smith.

McFarland has been mayor of Casa Grande since December 2016 and his eighth and final year ends Dec. 2. His tenure was marked by significant achievements, including the initiative to widen Interstate 10, raising the City’s assessed property values by 56%, population growth of over 24% and industry and business job growth of over 8,300 jobs.

“I am honored to step into the role of President/ CEO and build upon the solid foundation Tony Smith has established,” McFarland said. “I look forward to working with the Pinal Partnership team, our stakeholders and our communities to advance our shared goals and continue making a positive impact.”

Smith took on the leadership role at Pinal

Partnership in March 2021, just after his second term on the Pinal County Board of Supervisors ended. Prior to that he served as Maricopa’s mayor.

“Tony’s commitment and vision have been instrumental in achieving our goals and positioning Pinal Partnership for future success,” said Jordan Rose, chairperson of the Pinal Partnership board.

“While we will greatly miss his leadership, we are excited to welcome Craig McFarland as our new President/CEO. Craig’s extensive experience and deep understanding of Pinal County and its communities will be invaluable as we continue to drive progress and prosperity in Pinal County.”

Pinal Partnership, a coalition of business, government, educational and community leaders, was formed in 2005 by business and community leaders to promote safe and efficient roads for the county’s residents. Its mission is to improve research, planning and coordination of privatepublic efforts related to infrastructure, natural resources and community development in the county.

Florence Names Bruce Walls Town Manager

Bruce Walls, Florence’s police chief, has been named its town manager after he held the job on an interim basis for five months.

Mayor Tara Walter expressed her confidence in Walls’ leadership after he was unanimously appointed by the Town Council Sept. 16, stating, “We are excited to have Bruce lead our town. His proven track record, dedication and vision for Florence make him an outstanding choice. We look forward to working together to continue building a vibrant future for our community.”

He will continue to serve as police chief while the Town conducts a national search for his replacement.

Wells, who has 40 years of experience in public safety and public service, joined the Town in 2019 after serving as commander of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Investigation Division and retiring from the Peoria Police Department as commander of the North Precinct.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA from the University of Phoenix and has continued his professional development through the Northwestern Command School of Leadership, ASU Certified Public Manager’s Course, Leadership West and the FBI National Academy.

In accepting the position, Walls said, “It is an honor to serve Florence in this new

capacity. I look forward to collaborating with the Town Council and residents as we work to create a community where everyone thrives. Florence has a bright future, and I’m excited to be part of it.”

Florence Town Manager Bruce Walls

Tony Smith President and CEO, Pinal Partnership

Craig McFarland Mayor City of Casa Grande

Elaine Earle

ELAINE EARLE Keeps the Adventure Alive

by Blake Herzog

Readers have seen Elaine Earle’s name in the pages of Golden Corridor LIVING since it launched as Golden Corridor ROX! Magazine in October 2013; but many people don’t actually know Elaine and how she got to where she is. Quickly rising from a traditional college student at University of Arizona, having grown up in Tucson and graduating high school there to becoming a Certified Public Accountant, working for a large “Big 4” accounting firm, traveling and working around the world, having twin boys, buying, selling and building businesses with her husband Rock’s foundation of businesses in Casa Grande to veering into personal fulfillment goals such as running her first marathon.

Her life has included some lows with the meteoric highs, but she has persevered as a mom to her twin sons and grown a business empire with her husband Rock Earle, the founder of ROX Group and a longtime investor in western Pinal County. As CEO of ROX Group as well as ROX Media, Elaine helps steer the family businesses to continued success while embracing her passion for travel, family and personal goals.

Her boys are now high school seniors, so she looks back to her past and ahead to the future.

Golden Corridor LIVING: I know you grew up in Tucson. Are you a native Arizonan?

Elaine Earle: I was born in Trenton, New Jersey. Both of my parents are from Pennsylvania and my dad is a retired city traffic engineer. He got a job first at the City of Trenton. There are four kids in my family and three out of four of us were born in Trenton. Then when I was about 4, my brother had a lot of health issues, a lot of breathing problems, and it was thought that he needed to be in a warmer, drier climate.

So, my dad got a job at the City of Tucson as their traffic engineer. I did all my schooling there and I was in the top 5% of my graduating class at Tucson High School, and earned the Regent’s scholarship, which paid for me to go to the University of Arizona.

I finished U of A in four years, so I graduated when I was 22 with an accounting degree. And I was also top of my class there as well, and was the only one recruited from the U of A by the “Big 4” accounting firm KPMG in Phoenix to go work for them. I think they picked maybe three people in the state for their next starting class.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Why did you choose accounting?

Elaine Earle: It was just sheer luck. No one in my family did business or accounting. It was probably from Tucson High School, I took an accounting class. Literally green bar paper, all handwritten accounting. I just found it fascinating. I decided to study accounting, and I never wavered. The fall semester my junior year is when I got my job with KPMG. So halfway through college I was already guaranteed a job. And, in my senior year, I got married.

We moved to Phoenix and I started with the firm in the fall. I sat for the CPA exam that fall as well and passed

“ I took an accounting class. Literally green bar paper, all handwritten accounting. I just found it fascinating. I decided to study accounting, and I never wavered ”

it on my first try. After two years with KPMG, which was the experience requirement to get licensed, I became a CPA and am still actively licensed today. I loved it and gained a lot of diverse experience with the firm. I ended up spending seven years with KPMG altogether.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Is that when your interest in international travel took hold?

Elaine Earle: I never really traveled as a young person. My family did a lot of camping, a lot of things close by. There weren’t really a lot of resources to go traveling. But one of the things that really sparked my interest about working for KPMG is that they were in more than 100 countries. When I got recruited, I met some partners that had worked in the London office, and I just had these fantasies of doing that. After two years with the firm I got my first foreign assignment.

I went to Sydney, Australia for three months. I’d have to say that experience was pretty life changing. I was working for a partner from London, and I was talking to him one day and he says, “Well, why don’t you go to work in London for two years?” I came back home from Australia and after a year sold everything I owned, even my car. Whittled down everything I owned to a few boxes that I put in my parents’ garage and I moved to London for two years.

My very first assignment in the London office, in the year 2000, was in Lloyd’s of London, that iconic building that’s in downtown London. And I worked on the top floor, which has a view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Eye, and the river and everything else. It was spectacular. And while I was sitting there, the partner on that job had a job in Switzerland, in Zurich. Two months later, I’m assigned to Zurich from London. For a year, I left on Monday morning and flew to Switzerland, and on Friday evening flew back to London. And from Switzerland, I did a lot of traveling.

And then when I was done with that, I came back to London and finished out my two years and decided to come back home to the United States because I thought that by the time you’re 27 or 28, you should start getting practical. So we came back to Phoenix.

My husband at the time finished his master’s degree at ASU and got a job in Sacramento, California. I was still with KPMG, and I moved with them to Sacramento. But I had such largecompany experience from working in Sydney, London and Zurich, and the Sacramento office only had mostly farm clients. I didn’t really fit in, so the San Francisco office used me more than the Sacramento office.

By the time I was with KPMG about seven years, I decided to work for a local client just in Sacramento,

just to end the commute. One of my insurance carrier audit clients actually was two minutes from my house. They offered me a corporate controller job.

So overall, I was with that company for a total of almost seven years also. In 2007, I had my twin boys, Chandler and Christian. I got divorced at the same exact time and became a single mom of premature twins.

It was really difficult. I honestly didn’t know what to do. I knew I couldn’t keep my career and have twin boys by myself, and I had no family in Sacramento. So during my maternity leave, I moved back to Tucson where my family is, and worked my job remotely, part-time. Then my brotherin-law, Sgt. Tate Lynch of the Casa Grande PD, died in the line of duty two days after I got to Arizona.

Golden Corridor LIVING: That must have been devastating.

Elaine Earle: My parents were retired and decided to move to Casa Grande to support my newly widowed sister because she had three kids aged 10, 8 and 6. And I had the baby twins, so I decided to move to Casa Grande and live there too. We all kind of congregated in Casa Grande, even though none of us were really from there. It seemed like a good place to stay for a few years while the boys were so young.

Golden Corridor LIVING: It was a place where you could all gather to sort of heal from everything that happened.

Elaine Earle: I worked remotely for two years until the company was acquired by another company and I was laid off, which was totally fine with me because the boys were 2, they were getting into everything and were a handful. I just became a stayat-home mom. It was a big change; I just raised the boys for a few years.

At that point, I wanted a little bit of a break, I put them in preschool six hours a week. I just wanted a little bit of peace.

At the same time, someone from church told me that ROX Group was looking for a bookkeeper. And I said, “OK, but first of all, I don’t want a job. No. 2, I only have six hours, and that’s my time. No. 3, I’ve never heard of ROX Group. And No. 4, I’m not a bookkeeper,” because there’s actually a pretty big difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper.

So I had this job interview with this guy named Rock Earle. I never really even saw the ad, but I emailed and I said, “OK sure, I’ll interview.” And then I typed out three cancellations and almost hit send before the interview because I was like, “What am I doing? I don’t want a job!” But I had already arranged for my parents to babysit the boys so I could go to this interview. Little did I know that was my future waiting.

I started working for Rock in 2012, and he was going through some mergers and acquisitions, so some of my accounting skills came into

play with that. And at the time when I started working for ROX Group, there were literally maybe one or two employees, total, in addition to the real estate agents who worked at ROX Real Estate.

During this time, I worked on the three-way merger between ROX Real Estate, the locally owned Century 21 and Coldwell Banker and also worked on the acquisition of a locally owned insurance agency. I built out an accounting team and hired a bookkeeper because after all, I was not a bookkeeper! Rock and I started laying the foundation of a diverse business environment including a management company, real estate brokerage, insurance agency, travel agency and media company.

And in 2013, we just got married one day after work, at the justice of the peace. Literally 11 months after going to work for Rock, we’re married, and we never dated for 10 of those months. Never had coffee, never had lunch. I went in to work and then I had to leave and get the boys.

Golden Corridor LIVING: That must have been some month!

Elaine and Rock in Vietnam, 2023

Elaine Earle: We just realized that it was meant to be. It was a magical time and we never questioned the direction of our lives or the businesses. It all just seemed right, and it still is!

And then a month after that, we got married again on the beach in Hawaii, just the two of us. It was spring break, and it was still only the two of us and a photographer and officiant. And we just told the boys, “Hey, mama got married, and instead of calling him Mr. Rock, you can now call him Daddy Rock.”

They were 5. They said, “OK.” And then they went on to doing what they do. So, in some ways it was very blessed. With the divorce being when they were born, they don’t have any memory of it. They hardly have any memory before Rock, so this is what they know. So anyway, it was just a very magical time.

Also in 2013, Bea Lueck was one of our lead real estate agents, but she wasn’t an employee for the company yet. She helped as a volunteer on the magazines that were started by Rock to advertise the various ROX businesses. We decided that the magazines either needed to grow or go away, and we decided to grow them. Bea and I became partners in crime on that, and we became known as “Thelma and Louise.” We expanded the media to Flagstaff, Prescott, Sierra Vista and even tested out California with a couple magazines. And the one that ended up winning out of all of them was Prescott, where ROX Media now has an office.

I had always been a salaried employee, working for somebody, so marrying and getting to know Rock, who’s always been an entrepreneur, was an adjustment, but it was a great adjustment. And it turns out that I discovered all kinds of entrepreneurial skills that I didn’t know I had.

Golden Corridor LIVING: What were some of those skills you discovered?

Elaine Earle: Well, over the years, I worked on the three-way merger for Coldwell Banker, which is now back to the name ROX Real Estate. We bought the insurance agency; and I later sold the insurance agency. We grew the magazine from scratch, and now it’s a prospering company that has an office in Prescott that was all just sweat equity.

And after some adventures with a local business group involved in construction, almost four years ago now, we bought Rent-A-Can, a Casa Grande-based porta-potty company. We bought that through a business broker, but I did all the mergers and acquisition work for all of these. We’re always looking for opportunities. To this day, I manage about 45 different company books within the ROX Group. Some of them are real estate or land partnerships. We have almost 40 employees now and approximately 25 independent contractors working for us.

And now the boys are 17, and both work for ROX Group. Chandler wants to be an accountant just like me and he works in our accounting department. Christian works on the media, and he updates all our websites for content, all our magazines. We do believe that our kids need to go out and get outside experience. But for right now, it’s working out great.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Right. And you’re all working out of your home in Colorado Springs. When did you guys move there?

Elaine Earle: It’s four years ago now. We still maintain a home, and all the businesses in Casa Grande and Prescott, but we always wanted to try living somewhere else. We went on road trips, looking for places. In 2020 a magazine came up for sale in Colorado Springs. We checked it out, and we had already visited before.

And COVID was a great time to move because the boys were in online school, and they weren’t talking to their friends in person anyway,

Continued on page 34

Elaine with her sons Chandler and Christian

Craig H. McFarland, Mayor City of Casa Grande

Each of us believe we have a good idea about what it means to be a good leader, but when it comes to defining the concept, the picture is not so clear. For some, leadership is motivation, for others it equals results, and it can also represent inspiration.

Here are 10 ways to define the art of leading:

1. Vision: Only when you inspire others, is it possible to share a common goal toward which to direct the efforts and dedication of the entire team.

2. Motivation: Through motivation, a leader channels co-workers’ energy and professional potential to achieve objectives.

3. Serving: The leader is at the service of the team, and not the other way around. Group members must have and feel the support of their leader, the tools needed

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

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

to do their jobs properly must be available to them. They must have recognition for their efforts.

4. Empathy: One of the basic qualities of any leader seeking success is emotional intelligence. That ability, often innate, makes leaders put themselves in the place of others, understand their concerns and solve problems.

5. Creativity: Good leaders can create an environment that will encourage all members of their team to develop their skills and imagination so they can successfully respect the creativity of others.

6. Thoroughness: Only a demanding leader will achieve great results. The leader must also know how to listen to know the needs of the people and then provide the necessary time and resources.

7. Managing: The leader must lead and guide their team throughout

the whole process until the goal is reached. They also know when to step back and make their team take the initiative.

8. Team building: True leadership is about working in a team to reach a common goal. Team-aware leaders take responsibility when something is wrong and reward the group after a job well done.

9. Taking risks: The leader is responsible for taking the risks others are not willing to take. They are confident enough to plan, and if they make a mistake, the leader must have the courage to rectify, assume responsibility and take the right path.

10. Improving: True leadership seeks continuous improvement. Leaders turn the people in their teams into stars, people who have improved and developed their skills through the influence of their leader.

The Holiday Edition

SPRUCE UP YOUR HOLIDAY DÉCOR with Christmas Tree Collars

When Christmas décor takes over your home, much attention is paid to the tree, as well it should. It’s the centerpiece of the celebration unfolding throughout your house, and there’s an art to layering the lights, garlands and ornaments.

Yet we tend to neglect the bottom of the tree, leaving the stand exposed or covering it with a tree skirt that can be easily wrinkled, displaced or soiled.

So you might want to check out Christmas tree “collars.” These decorative bases offer a chic, modern way to elevate the look of your tree.

What is a Christmas tree collar?

You may not have heard about them, but you’ve most likely seen them. A Christmas tree collar is a decorative ring that wraps around the base of your tree, covering the stand and giving the tree a polished, cohesive look. Typically made from materials like metal, wood or wicker, tree collars have become a stylish alternative to the traditional tree skirt.

Tree collars come in various shapes, sizes and designs, meaning you can find one that perfectly matches your holiday aesthetic.

Why choose a tree collar?

Because they are structured, collars maintain their shape and always look crisp; they are rigid and stay in place. You won’t have to worry about people or pets knocking them out of place, and your pets won’t be able to claim them and shed all over them.

Select the right one for your décor

• Rustic farmhouse If you love the cozy, homespun feel of farmhouse décor, consider a collar made from woven wicker or distressed wood. These natural materials bring warmth and texture to your tree’s base, perfectly complementing a rustic holiday theme.

• Modern minimalist For those who prefer a sleek and contemporary look, a metal tree collar is the way to go. Choose one in metallic tones like gold, silver or black to match the rest of your décor. The smooth, shiny surface will give your tree a chic and polished look.

• Traditional elegance If your Christmas décor leans toward classic and traditional, look for a tree collar with rich finishes like dark wood or embossed metal. These collars exude sophistication and create a sense of grandeur under your tree.

Setting up a Christmas tree collar

One of the best things about a tree collar is how easy it is to set up, as long as you buy one that’s the right size for the tree stand. Most come in two or more parts that snap together around the tree’s base.

Once assembled, you can simply slide the collar under your tree and adjust it so that it sits snugly around the stand. The process takes minutes and is much easier than trying to arrange a tree skirt.

Holiday Edition

HOLIDAY KINDNESS

by Donna McBride

Ready or not, the holidays are here! There is always so much to do, whether its preparing for family visits, narrowing down on the shopping list or getting those decorations out and put up.

It can be a stressful time for everyone. Perhaps this is the year your family can start a new tradition that will bring you closer together for the true spirit of what the holidays is all about.

It seems the world wants more “kindness.” And, yes, we need it. Now more than ever. Why not let it start with you – and your family. Random acts of kindness can be a gift all year long and certainly don’t have to cost a great deal – or anything at all.

When our boys were young, we would take them to select a Christmas Angel on the tree at our local mall. They would look for a child that was close to their age and had something on their list that our boys had on theirs. They would “give up” their toy and become a Christmas Angel. They learned the value of sharing and understanding the gift of giving. And while they never met those children, they knew them in their heart.

Here’s a few other ideas to get you started. Whether it is with your children, grandchildren, friends or coworkers – let this be the year kindness starts with you!

• Write thoughtful notes and leave them in public places like library, community center, neighborhood bulletin boards.

• Make holiday cards and send to nursing homes, hospitals or veterans centers.

• It doesn’t cost anything to volunteer. The Salvation Army is a great way to help out those in need.

• Surprise someone with $5 gift card for coffee, hot chocolate or simply pay for the person’s item that is behind you in the drive-thru line.

• Make it a goal to smile and greet at least one person you don’t know daily for a week.

• Have “Santa” make some special house calls to some of your friends or family.

• Have some warm clothes you need to get rid of? Drop them off at a local church, nonprofit or family in need.

• Have an elderly neighbor that can’t put up decorations? Offer to share a few of yours, and put them up in your neighbor’s yard.

• Leave a basket of drinks/snacks on your porch for your delivery folks.

• Organize a Christmas Caroling night with your family and friends. Walk through your neighborhood or retirement community singing. What a great way to get in the spirit.

Danish Puff Pastry

by Jennifer Turner

This recipe has been a tradition in our home for many years.

The tradition for us has been to make these with the intent to keep one for our enjoyment and to share one with our neighbors. Most times we will make this recipe at least double as we love to share these family favorite sweet treats with everyone around us!

It’s also been a hit at holiday parties and events. Shareable and festive. Enjoy!

Ingredients / Directions

Crust

1 cup Flour

1 stick Butter

2 tbs Water

Blend together in a bowl. Pat into two strips about 12 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide on a cookie sheet approximately an inch apart. These will expand a little, so space them apart. (No need to grease/prepare cookie sheet.)

Filling

1 stick Butter (½ cup)

1 cup Water

1 tsp Almond extract

1 cup Flour

3 Eggs

Glaze

1 cup Powdered sugar

2 tbs Milk

1 tsp Almond extract

Green and red maraschino cherries for decorating Slivered or sliced almonds

Mix butter and water in sauce pan, bring to a full boil. Remove from heat, add almond extract and flour. Stir quickly or with electric mixer to prevent lumps. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each egg. Spread mixture on crust. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

Mix together the powdered sugar, milk and almond extract to get a glaze consistency. Set aside until your Danish puff is cool to the touch. Garnish with cherries and slivered almonds.

Makes 2 pastries

Jennifer Turner is a Realtor® with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 480.245.3435 or jennifer@roxsells.com.

Holiday Edition

McBride Family Tradition

by Donna McBride

My husband Mikel’s dad, George, was known for his love of Stetson cowboy hats. His attitude was: “You could never have too many.”

It was no surprise that it was always an easy gift for him at the holidays. And a hat box was pretty predictable in size and weighed next to nothing. So, one year the family decided to put a big old ugly painted rock in the box to try to fool George.

It didn’t work, but soon the rock started finding its way to other members of the family in their presents.

Between one Christmas to the next, we’d forget who ended up with the rock, which always makes it a mystery to who will end up with it the next year.

George passed away back in 2003, but the tradition is still going strong through 50 years and four generations of McBrides!

Raising Amazing: Life as an Autism Mom

by Erin Dugan

As we approach the holiday season, stores are filled with Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments. Neighbors will set up extravagant light displays. Families will enjoy outings to winter wonderlands.

While I cherish the chance to create lasting memories, being a parent to an autistic child brings unique challenges during this festive time. We navigate these experiences, striving to ensure our child can enjoy the holidays just like any other child. The support from our local community makes a world of difference, helping us create meaningful moments.

On Halloween night you might have seen children with blue pails. A blue pail signifies that the child is autistic and may not have expressed the traditional “trick or treat” due to various reasons. They might have avoided full costumes because of sensory sensitivities or unfamiliarity with dressing up. Eye contact may have been fleeting,

and their interest in the festivities varied. By using a blue pail, parents provided a subtle cue, fostering a more inclusive experience for their child.

As Christmas approaches, Santa and his helpers will be ready to hear children’s wish lists. For autistic children, communicating with Santa can be challenging. Shopping centers can be overwhelming with bright lights, loud sounds and bustling crowds. Some may prefer to skip sitting on Santa’s lap and opt to mail a letter to the North Pole. But what if they’re nonverbal or haven’t learned to read or write?

Enter Sensory Santa! I’ve seen this wonderful initiative in our community. It allows children to visit Santa in a calming environment with dimmed lights and minimal noise, featuring sensory-friendly items. This setup lets children acclimate at their own pace, ensuring they feel comfortable. You can capture that

precious photo with Santa, a cherished memory every parent deserves.

By understanding and accommodating the needs of autistic children, we can all make the holiday season a joyful experience for everyone. Let’s celebrate our differences and create magical moments together!

Erin Dugan is a Realtor® with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 520.709.0990 or erin@roxsells.com.

Photo by Egan Eyes Photography

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The Grande Innovation Academy is committed to our scholars’ potential and achieving their academic ambitions. Our unique interactive learning environment offers a FabLab, SMALLab, electives, and a differentiated learning program for gifted scholars. For scholars needing flexibility, our Path to Potential online school offers 4th-8th grade scholars a fast-paced curriculum with the opportunity to still participate in school sports, clubs, and on-campus activities.

SMALLab with VR Online School Fab Lab with 3D Printing Tuition Free Full Day Kindergarten Gifted Program

Discover the possibilities available for your children! Now accepting applications.

FEATURE

Avoid Holiday Pet Hazards

by Gigi McWhirter

“Ho, Ho, Ho, I wanna go but not to the emergency vet’s office!” says every animal and their owners. With the holidays and celebrations upon us, it is important to remember to keep your pets and their safety on your list.

Should your pet decide to sneak a ride in Santa’s sleigh, or the door or gate gets left open with all the additional activity, make sure your pets all have microchips and that your contact information for the chip is current with a chip registry organization, your veterinary office and your local animal care and control agency.

The www.aspca.org website offers a comprehensive list of concerns to be aware of including:

• Dietary changes: Stick to what your pet normally eats. Avoid offering them fatty, spicy and sweet treats. A slice of turkey may seem OK, but not if has been prepared with spices not OK for your pet.

• Wires, batteries: Wires can cause electrical shock and batteries can be toxic.

• Mistletoe, holly, poinsettias: May result in GI upset including diarrhea and vomiting.

• Lilies: Many varieties of lilies are toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.

• Christmas trees: Both artificial and live can tip over. The water for live trees is a breeding ground for not-so-great and potentially toxic bacteria.

• Candles: One whack with a happy tail or playful paw can result in a burn to the animal or worse, the house.

• Loud noises: Fireworks, horns honking, music, etc. can be frightening for your pet. Please offer them a safe and quiet space to help ease their fears. Talk to your veterinarian about medicinal or supplemental options, too.

• Trashy elf: Remove the trash filled with table scraps from the house and put it in the outside bin as soon as possible to avoid a midnight, pancreatitis-causing smorgasbord by your furry friend.

• Strings, ribbons and broken ornaments can do damage to the intestinal track that could result in an emergency trip to the vet and possible surgery.

• Snow globes are made with the same chemicals as anti-freeze, which is toxic to all animals.

• Salty dough ornaments: Can cause life-threatening electrolyte imbalances, even when dry.

• Medications: Not only your medications but your guests, too. Remind your visitors to keep their meds put away in a safe and secure spot. This includes medical marijuana or any other THC based product.

Happy Tails to You!

Bringing Holiday Cheer to Those in Need

by Annalisa Tapia

St. Vincent de Paul Casa Grande is preparing for its annual Holiday Food Basket Drive-Thru program.

This important project helps ensure members in need have a festive meal to enjoy, no matter their financial situation. The drive-thru format makes it easy for families to receive holiday essentials, helping to relieve stress and spread holiday cheer.

Supporting families in need

Food baskets, filled with holiday staples, ensure that families can enjoy a special meal together. St. Vincent de Paul relies on donations and volunteers for this annual program to meet the growing needs of the community. Your support can help brighten the holidays for families in the community.

Year-round services

While the Holiday Food Basket Drive-Thrus are a seasonal highlight, St. Vincent de Paul offers many member services. These include:

• Free food, clothing and hygiene products: Basic necessities for families in need.

• Back-to-school program: Clothing for children returning to school.

• Senior food delivery: Nutritious food delivered to older community members.

• Energy assistance: Help with utility bills to prevent service interruptions.

St. Vincent de Paul’s focus is to help the less fortunate members of our communities in need, while the store provides a broad range of household items for the general public. They serve not only residents of Casa Grande, Arizona City and Stanfield but also travelers passing through. It is also a designated hydration station during office hours.

Visit www.svdpcasagrande.org to learn more about the available programs.

Annalisa Tapia is a Realtor® with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 520.560.2960 or annalisa@roxsells.com.

Help

Us Empower Our Community

St. Vincent de Paul is committed to providing not just a handout, but a hand up—helping our members regain their stability and dignity.

Your Support Can Make a Difference!

Volunteers and donations are the lifeblood of our mission. By donating, you can directly support those in need and benefit from Arizona’s charitable tax credit. Your compassion not only changes lives but also gives you the opportunity to save on your state taxes.

To Donate:

Checks can be mailed to:

St. Vincent de Paul Casa Grande Conference 405 E. 2nd St., Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Or donate online at: svdpcasagrande.org

Thrift Store Hours: Mon-Sat: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Food Pantry Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

We

This

Electric Light Parade Kicks Off CG’s Holidays

For the past 30 years the City of Casa Grande’s Electric Light Parade has drawn residents and visitors together for a true community event to highlight its “unique” culture and sun-fueled vibrancy.

Held on Dec. 7 this year, the procession down Florence Boulevard will feature dazzling floats and vehicles from local businesses, schools and organizations, spreading joy and anticipation of the festivities ahead. At 5:45 p.m. the Casa Grande Bookmobile will take the

lead as the line of traffic moves from Colorado Street to Second Street.

The first Saturday in December always brings a blizzard of activity to downtown Casa Grande and 2024 is no exception. Here’s the complete schedule.

• 2-5 p.m. Grande Glitters Celebration full of family fun and pictures with Santa at Peart Park.

• 5:45 p.m. Parade kickoff at Florence Boulevard and Colorado Street.

• 6 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony and Grande Glitters decorations unveiling. Parade float People’s Choice Award voting begins at www.elpvote.com and continues until 6 p.m. Dec. 8.

• 5 p.m. Dec. 10 People’s Choice winners announced.

Nothing equals the brilliance of the lights on a Christmas tree or float against a cool, crisp night sky, so don’t miss this night of dependable good cheer and merrymaking!

continued from page 15

so it was easy to slide out. And we thought we wanted to move to Prescott, but they didn’t really want to move there, for whatever reason. And the minute we mentioned Colorado, they were all over it. They had never even been to Colorado. We decided to not buy the magazine but move anyway.

We work from home, which gives us a lot of flexibility. Once a month Rock goes to Casa Grande, and once every three to six months I go there. We’re always in touch. The boys are at the Air Force Academy High School, and I’d say that whole experience has been life-changing for them.

And I took up running. I never ran before; just ran my first half marathon one year ago and my first full marathon in September. It’s

beautiful here, and there’s a lot of wonderful hiking.

I think we’re never going to own any businesses in Colorado and just enjoy living here. Like I said, we still have our home in Casa Grande. We’re now looking at sending the boys to university in Arizona.

I always dreamed of going places when I was young. In college, I used to go to the study abroad office, pick up all their pamphlets, read them all, and then throw them all away, because I had a scholarship and I couldn’t do any of that stuff. I had to stay the course.

When I met Rock that was an immediate point of common interest. At this moment, Rock’s been to about 90 countries, and I’ve been to about 65. But when I met him, I was

probably at about 15 or 20. We’re just two unusual people where we’re very interested in discovering things. And when I was younger, I was kind of criticized for that, almost told I was a nomad. I couldn’t sit still.

When I married Rock the boys were only 5, and we went to Hong Kong that year. We still traveled, and I would say we were insistent on it, even though we had small kids. We started including the boys in our trips around age 10, and we took a family gap year and did home trades with foreigners for two months, Germany in October and Spain in March.

The next year, in 2018, Bea and I took the boys to London, and then the next summer we took them to Sydney. Then in 2020 COVID hit so we took a little bit of a break. In 2023, when they were 15, we enrolled them to do a semester abroad for a duration of six months.

Golden Corridor LIVING: They must have loved that.

Elaine Earle: Chandler went to Adelaide, Australia, and went to an international school there for sports. And Christian went to Valladolid, Spain, and he was fully immersed in Spanish and came home semi-fluent. And Rock and I traveled every other month of the six months that they were gone, and we went to another 17 countries or something like that.

I think it’s matured the boys and given them a better perspective. Aside from the semester abroad, the boys have also gone to Europe 4-5 times with us, Australia 2-3 times, Northern Africa, and when they were 15, we sent them on their first solo international trip to Japan to visit a foreign exchange student from there we hosted for a school year here in Colorado Springs.

As we’re looking at their college options, we’re seeing that there’s

Australia Family Trip, 2024

some study abroad programs. Right now, they’re kind of back into life as regular teenagers focused on their senior year, football, track, graduating, girls, all of that. But I think they’ll always have international friends.

Golden Corridor LIVING: OK, can we share anything about the future of ROX Group in Casa Grande?

Elaine Earle: Well, for us right now, ROX Group currently has a residential real estate brokerage and a commercial real estate brokerage. We have ROX Media in both Prescott and in Casa Grande. And then we have a port-a-potty company. It’s now Rent-A-Can Site Services and has become our largest company by far. It’s quadrupled in size since we bought it, and we’ve expanded into fencing, dumpster rental, water and other construction site services.

I’m spending my time right now going to investment conferences, paying attention to what other kinds of mergers and acquisitions are possible, and it might be in a field that we’re not in. But also, we’re kind of gearing toward empty nesters. We have only one more year with the boys in high school.

We now have a home in Colorado and a home in Casa Grande. So between our homes, we’re going to snowbird a little bit back and forth and probably have a little bit more flexibility for some pocket trips a week here and there. I don’t think Rock and I could ever just stay home for a year or even three months or a month. Rock is still very active with his land investments in Pinal County, so he’s very busy with that, which keeps me busy too.

I don’t think that we are done with mergers and acquisitions though and do believe that it is the quiet before the next growth period for ROX Group. Our experience in buying Rent-A-Can was a good one,

and I see more of that in our future, perhaps in an industry that we have never thought of.

Golden Corridor LIVING: And going back to your healthy lifestyle for a minute, congratulations on finishing your first marathon! How did it feel?

Elaine Earle: On Saturday, Sept. 28, I finished my first marathon and it was one of the happiest days of my life. I was happy because my husband Rock and our boys came out to see me and designed a creative sign that read “My Mom is faster than yours!”.

I didn’t do as well as I thought I would and would like to try another one. The one that I ran in Colorado Springs is at a high elevation, over 6,000 feet, and has an almost 1,000-foot elevation change. The route is also 80% on a dirt trail, which is a little harder at least for me. I am contemplating signing up for an Arizona marathon so I can test a full marathon on asphalt at a lower altitude to see how I do. I already have a good training base to improve my time.

After that, I think that I will go back to just the joy of running, cross-training and being a pacer for half and full marathons. I likely will only run a competitive marathon, competing only with myself, or half-marathon a few times per year.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Right. OK. Well, I am looking here at some of the things that we haven’t covered. What has it been like to see Casa Grande and Pinal County grow over the years? Just the striking, just the amazing population growth, and the development of the city? Is that part of what keeps you guys involved? You want to be a part of this community as it really grows up into something it hasn’t been before?

continued on page 66

“ I think that I will go back to just the joy of running, cross-training and being a pacer for half and full marathons. ”

Elaine

at her first full marathon

CG Sky

Melissa Robles Altamirano

Desert Sunset

Melissa Robles Altamirano

Sheryl Pedigo photo

Santos Apodaca photo

Coolidge Kevin Wead

Sophia Campbell photo

TRUNK OR TREAT AT ROX REAL ESTATE OCT. 30.

by Bea Lueck and Gail Miller-Hildebrand

Photos

Have you Considered PHOTOGRAPHY?

by Gail Miller-Hildebrand

Photos by Gail Miller-Hildebrand

Photography is more than just capturing images. Your pictures tell a story, including what you decide to take photos of and how the final product looks after editing. Many of us already capture images with our smartphone cameras.

This brief guide simplifies your choices while offering some insights into refining your images post-capture.

The journey begins with deciding what type of photography you’re drawn to. Landscape photography may require patience, an understanding of light and being outdoors in nature. Portrait photography focuses on capturing individuals or groups, from formal to candid shots. Street photography

involves finding beauty in everyday life and capturing spontaneous moments. Macro photography delves into the tiniest details, offering a magnified view of small subjects.

Each type offers challenges and rewards, helping you define your photography style.

Once you’ve chosen your focus, it’s time to select your gear and consider your budget for equipment.

Smartphones can produce stunning photos, especially with editing apps. Entry-level DSLRs or Mirrorless camera brands like Canon, Nikon and Sony offer affordable options with growth potential. Compact cameras are ideal for those who prefer to travel light but still want quality.

When selecting your gear or camera, think about image quality. Ensure it meets your needs with auto and manual controls, which are essential for those wanting to go beyond auto settings. Consider future lens or accessory purchases, which can cost as much or more than the camera.

The final step happens in post-processing, which can transform a good photo into a great one.

Software like Adobe Lightroom is available in various versions and offers tools for enhancing exposure, color and detail. A few of my favorite places to visit for pictures are Marana, known for bird photography, and the Sonoran Desert. Gilbert Riparian Preserve offers a mix of landscapes

and wildlife photography opportunities. The Superstition Mountains and Usery Park are perfect for capturing Arizona’s natural beauty.

Start by identifying your passion for photography. You can invest in equipment that fits your budget and needs; then finalize your photos with postprocessing. The images I’ve provided were taken with my Canon 5D Mark IV DLSR camera. The first image is in raw form, and the other is the final JPEG, which was processed using Light Room software.

Gail Miller-Hildebrand is the Associate Broker and Realtor® with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 503.956.4270 or gail@roxsells.com.

CAC Community Events Announces 2024-2025 Season

submitted by Stacey Seaman, Director, Pence Center

Photos courtesy of performers

Central Arizona College Community Events proudly announces its 2024-2025 season.

With the ongoing closure and rebuilding of the Pence Center for the Arts at the college’s Signal Peak Campus, the 2024-2025 season highlights smaller local events that will be distributed between four of CAC’s campuses: Signal Peak Campus in Coolidge, Maricopa Campus in the City of Maricopa, San Tan Campus in San Tan Valley and Superstition Mountain Campus in Apache Junction. CAC campus locations and directions can be found at www.centralaz.edu/locations.

In the Premiere Events series, Community Events welcomes Tony Vicich, Magician Eric Gilliam, Tribute Barbershop Quartet, Perceptives Mentalism and local musicians John & Julie. These performances will be held at various campus locations during the fall and early spring.

Community Events is grateful for community partners who will host some of the larger events. Two such events are The Sons of the Pioneers concert in January and the James Fernando Jazz Trio in February. Both concerts will be presented at The First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande.

The popular Speaker Series will continue with local musician and storyteller Nancy Elliott presenting her workshop The Heart of It All and newcomer Heather Dzcicek who will take on the topic of how to talk with people who have cancer in her talk How Not to Say Dumb Sh*t.

The CAC Music and Entertainment Industry Technology (EIT) departments will continue to entertain audiences. EIT students will perform their Rocktacular concerts at the Signal Peak Campus

while the CAC Community Band and Orchestra will hold concerts at Casa Grande Union High School in November and April. The CAC Handbell Choir and Choir will conduct winter and spring concerts at The First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande in December and May. Additionally, the CAC music department is proud to participate in the first Casa Grande Community Veteran’s Day Concert in November, also at The First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande.

To view a complete listing of shows and dates, and to purchase or reserve tickets visit cacevents.ludus.com. Use the code EARLYBIRD for a 20% discount on any tickets purchased at least one week before the date of the show.

For additional information or questions please call 520.494.5511 or email stacey.seaman@centralaz.edu.

The Sons of the Pioneers

John & Julie

We can Help you PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND

by Julie Andersen, Outreach Librarian, Vista Grande Library, City of Casa Grande

The holidays creep up on us every year, at least they seem to for me! I always think I am going to be a little more prepared than the previous year. Sometimes I am, sometimes I am not. If you feel the same or simply want to improve your holiday experience, maybe the library can help.

With your Casa Grande Public Library card, you have complete access to Universal Class, a free online resource that offers more than 600 online classes. As I was browsing, I noticed how many can help us prepare for the upcoming holidays.

Let us start with pre-holiday preparation. Maybe this year you are hosting at your home for the first time or for the 10th time. You look around your house and notice it needs a little refresh. Universal Class has How to Decorate your Home, a class that embarks on a captivating journey of home aesthetics and creativity.

Are you needing a little help in the kitchen? Cooking and Baking 101 helps you master the art of culinary creations. Just baking this year? Universal Class offers: How to Bake Cookies, Pie Baking 101 and Bread Baking 101.

Gift giving is another area that can add some stress to your holiday planning. I like to give gifts that are meaningful and that my receivers will use and not just throw in a closet. Soap Making 101 can help you craft, create and conquer the art of soap making. Homemade soap can make great gifts to give away yourself or sell to others looking for a unique gift to give.

Candles are another common gift and make them special by making them yourself; join Candle Making 101. Other classes that may help you to find that perfect gift could be the Beginners Guide to Wine and Floral Arrangement 101.

After the holidays, you might find the class Weight Loss Management helpful. This class will provide you with all the information you need to balance your weight over the long term. Pair that class with Weight Training 101 and you will be well on your way to a healthy 2025!

To find out more visit www.cglibrary.org. Follow us on Facebook @ cglibraryaz and sign up for our weekly newsletter by scanning the QR code.

VOLUNTEERS: GIVING THE GIFT OF TIME

by Lisa Madrid-Schleicher, CASA Supervisor, CASA of Pinal County

During the holiday season, one of the most meaningful gifts you can give is your time. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) provide this special gift to children in foster care in Pinal County.

In the past year, Pinal County CASA volunteers dedicated nearly 3,000 hours, supporting these kids by attending meetings, court hearings, and most importantly, spending quality time with them.

The moments CASAs share with these children like celebrating good grades with a manicure, going to a movie, visiting a trampoline park or simply taking a walk in the park may seem small, but they can have a huge impact. For many of these children, such experiences can be rare, and the attention and care they receive can help them feel valued.

Research shows that volunteering benefits not just the recipients but the volunteers as well. According to Jeanne

Segal, Ph.D., and Lawrence Robinson from Helpguide.com, people who volunteer often experience a lower mortality rate and improved mental and physical well-being.

When you give your time, you also create connections with others and bring joy and fulfillment to your own life.

This holiday season, consider the priceless gift of your time by becoming a CASA volunteer. You will have the opportunity to be a strong advocate for a child in foster care, making a real difference in their life. The role allows you to support children who need a caring adult in their corner, offering them guidance and support.

To learn more about how to become a CASA volunteer, visit www.casaofpinalcounty.org. Discover how you can give the gift that keeps on giving, impacting the life of a child and enriching your own in the process.

Workout to These HOLIDAY FAVORITES

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

For many, the holidays are a time for happiness, family and favorite recipes. And just like last season, I want to get you in the spirit through some fun, heart pumping workouts. And of course, a super easy, delicious and healthy recipe.

Let’s recap last year’s workout. It’s a great one, and I would hate for anyone to miss out:

Listen to the song The 12 Days of Christmas and repeat this entire workout until the song is over.

1. 30-second plank

2. Plyo jumps

3. Pushups

4. Spiderman pushups

5. Dumbbell curls

6. Mountain climbers

Now for this year

7. Leg lifts

8. Crunches

9. Superman pushups

10. Lunges

11. Calf raises

12. Squats

Repeat this work out three times or while listening to the entire song Holly Jolly Christmas. This one will totally get your heart pumping.

Holly Jolly Cardio Burn

50 jumping jacks

10 walking lunges

50 jumping jacks

10 plie squats

Now for your healthy reward

3-Ingredient Cranberry Brie Bites

Ingredients

1 (7-8 oz) prepared pie crust or ½ of a 14-oz package

½ cup prepared or homemade cranberry sauce

3 oz brie cheese, cut into 24 pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Unroll pie crust onto a cutting board or clean surface. Flatten dough to about 12 inches in diameter. Cut 24, 2-inch circles out of the dough with a biscuit cutter, rerolling scraps if needed.

3. Place the dough circles in the prepared muffin cups, gently pressing on the bottom and sides. Prick the dough with a fork. Bake until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven.

4. Add 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce to each cup, then top with a piece of brie. Return to the oven and bake until the sauce is hot and the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, if desired, and serve warm.

50 jumping jacks

10 skaters

50 jumping jacks

10 burpees

Happiness & Education

Take 6 Steps to Design YOUR PERFECT ROOM

by Blake Herzog

Have you copied design ideas from Instagram or HGTV that you adore into your home and loved the result, but longed to be able to dream up a look entirely on your own?

Even if you aren’t a design professional, it’s not as difficult as you think. All you need to do to start out is decide how you want to feel while you’re in the room.

Find your mood and inspiration First, take a good look at the room and think about its purpose and the mood you want to be in as you do whatever you’ll be doing in that space.

If it’s a bedroom, you’ll want to use colors, textures and materials conducive to you falling asleep. Kitchens can be trickier since they often serve dual work and entertaining functions, so you may want to incorporate more adjustable lighting and furnishings.

Once you know the tone you want to set, you can start glancing at

magazines and websites for ideas, but don’t slavishly copy them this will be your creation.

Select color palette and finishes Now it’s time to choose the colors that match the mood you want to create. It may be easy to pick out a few that seem to fit the bill, but it may be a little harder to decide how to allocate them within the space.

If this is a particular burden for you, try using the 60-30-10 interior decorating rule as a rough guide by choosing a dominant color for 60% of the room’s surfaces, a secondary color for 30% and an accent color, all complementary, to create a pleasing whole that’s entirely your own.

Don’t forget to consider paint finishes and flooring if you plan to change those as well.

Set your budgetary limits

Now that you’ve had a little time to dream, it’s time to get back to reality and consider what you’re going to be able to afford. This doesn’t have to be a drag if you bring some ingenuity into shopping for what you need to bring your vision to life.

Search the thrift and discount stores of Pinal County, the garage and estate sales of your neighborhood, your own attic and self-storage

locker and anyplace else where there could be an item that could spark an idea to bring the space to life.

Choose anchor and secondary furniture

It’s a good idea to carefully measure the room’s dimensions, especially doorways so you’ll know what you’ll be able to get through them, and then draw up a rough floor plan so you’ll know what you’ll want to put where.

Then it’s time to choose the dominant piece or pieces. It could be one sofa, bed or desk or several items if you’re populating a great room. Don’t be afraid to splurge on anchor pieces, since they’ll set the standard for the room. Then select your secondary furniture to fill in around the edges.

Pick out window treatments, rugs and textiles

These will be especially important for setting the mood of the room, with curtains, shutters or other treatments controlling the natural light and energy filtering into the space and the floor coverings, pillows and throws helping to establish the level of formality or coziness.

Keep in mind how the room will be used and how much foot traffic you’re anticipating, so you can plan the flooring and window materials accordingly.

Accessorize it!

Once all these steps are completed you may not feel like there’s much left for you to do. For a truly minimalist space you may not want to add any artistic elements to the room, but most design approaches would benefit from a wall hanging or two and maybe a couple of figurines or art objects, if the surfaces aren’t already getting cluttered.

With all the other pieces in place, it’ll be easy to find pieces that fit into your scheme.

AI AND GARDENING?

by Bea Lueck

The use of artificial intelligence-driven content is all the rage. From automated news writing and fact-checking to blogging and social media posts, AI can save time and money for companies charged with cranking out content.

While AI enhances many aspects of journalism, it cannot fully replace it. Journalism requires human skills such as investigative reporting, ethical judgment, creativity and emotional intelligence. AI can support journalists, but human insight and critical thinking remain essential for storytelling, context and accountability.

The key to writing informative and entertaining content using AI is the prompts. You need to give clear, concise details to guide the outcome you desire. After attending a webinar, I spent some time playing around with ChatGPT.

The original prompt: Write a 250-word blog post about gardening in Arizona in the summer heat using the voice of Ryan Reynolds from Deadpool. Include extreme heat, plants dying and the gardener melting. Result was OK but not quite “Ryan Reynolds” so I asked for two rewrites to include more colorful language.

Here is the final result, carefully edited to not be quite so colorful:

Gardening During the Arizona Summer

Ah, Arizona. The land of cacti, scorpions and heat so brutal it makes you question your entire existence. And here you are, in the middle of summer, thinking, “You know what? Gardening sounds like a great idea.” Well, buckle up Buttercup, because you’ve just signed up for the ultimate what-the-heck was I thinking experience.

You step outside, watering can in hand, like some kind of naive optimist who doesn’t realize that stepping into Arizona’s summer heat is basically like walking into a giant hairdryer while carrying a blowtorch.

The second the sun touches you, it’s game over. You’re sweating your butt off before you even reach the plants. Speaking of plants, those poor buggers are toast. Your tomatoes? Yeah, they’re not

growing they’re freaking sun-dried on the dead vines. Those flowers you carefully planted? Crispy. As. A. Tostada. They’ve all given up on life, much like you after five minutes in this inferno.

And you? The so-called gardener? You’re out here, melting faster than an ice cream cone in July, trying to save plants that are clearly flipping you off from their graves. Even the cacti, those prickly suckers, are looking at you like, “Dude, just stop. We were born for this, and we barely make it.”

So, here’s the reality: the Arizona summer is out to mess you up. Give in, let the plants die and wait for fall when it’s only 90 degrees. For now, accept defeat. The sun always wins.

Good luck, you glorious fool.

Bea Lueck is the Designated Broker with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 520.560.5671 or bea@roxsells.com.

This Thanksgiving, LET YOUR TABLE ENCHANT

This is the season we bring family and friends into our homes, and it’s a joy to entertain with an inviting autumn theme. And your dining table is the perfect spot to create a warm tablescape.

Let’s look at a few ideas for inspiration.

First, look at choosing a color theme. For instance, rather than the typical orange and red, let’s work with green and burgundy and all the possibilities.

Numerous shades of green and burgundy abound in the season, including artichokes, figs and plums. Find cabbages in burgundy and green as well as grapes in different hues. Squashes can add to the array of green shades.

If you want to use pumpkins, seek out white or green for a change of pace. Look for unusual shapes and sizes to capture the eye.

Hydrangeas make a stunning addition, and the assortment of colors available fit anywhere.

Now that you’ve collected your items, it’s time to layer and create a masterpiece. You can use a runner or tablecloth. If you’re planning a rustic design and working with a live-edge table, leave it bare. Placemats and runners can be added in contrasting shades.

If you want to contain the decorations, consider one long platter or even a long plank of wood for dramatic effect.

Next, choose lighting. Place tiny strings of twinkle lights, votives, tapers and/ or candlesticks. Now arrange larger items and stand back to see that you’re feeling the placement.

Next add medium-sized items like pinecones, veggies, small pumpkins, gourds and fruits. Prop against each

other and move them around. Cluster some to get a natural look.

Lastly, add leaves, tiny fruits, clusters of grapes etc. to fill open spaces and add color where it’s needed.

Set the table with several kinds of dishes and layer them. For instance, start with a charger, dinner plate, salad plate and a small vintage bread plate if you have them. If you want to keep it simple, use one plate and add as you go, it’s up to you.

Wrap silverware in mismatched napkins, tie with twine or greenery from your garden.

Remember, it’s not always about buying items, use vintage pieces in creative ways. Add a cabbage and a few figs to an antique bowl, pile a silver platter with dried leaves and apples. Rummage in closets for items seldom used and give them new life.

Real Estate Market Statistics

FUN

Events, Dining & Entertainment

STUNNING SAFARI

by Tori Ward, Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel

Ican’t determine what woke me each morning when we were on safari. Was it the crew preparing breakfast on the open-fire grill? Maybe it was the hippos with their belching grunts, or the last Morse code message of lion roars, which signal the end of their night prowling. Whatever the sound, my body responded with a smile in the darkness before rising to enjoy another day’s adventure.

We moved camp from the lush savannah around the Khwai River with healthy lions, who walked beside our Land Cruiser without so much as a yawn in our direction. Wild-dog puppies played tug-of-war with fresh meat. Elephants, who welcomed us to the site our first night, came to visit during the day – practically touching us with their trunks. In three days along the river, we saw a dozen species of wildlife. Our guide was wonderful and the wildlife prolific.

We then moved to the Savuti – a stark contrast to Khwai – where animals compete for limited water and lion coalitions fight turf wars for territorial rights.

On our way, we stopped for coffee and three male elephants eating from a

tree joined us. We stood by the truck and the smallest of the three took a few running steps at a fake charge. Johnny, our guide, walked over toward a giant termite mound, and the largest elephant nonchalantly headed to the area. He

decided to show junior how it was done, and kicked up more dirt and took bigger steps toward the unwanted guest.

We were only back on the road a short time when Johnny made a detour toward an open plain. We were off-road and suddenly saw what his trained eyes had caught. Lying at the edge of the plain, a lioness scanned the distance for

Tori’s Safari Tips

• Pack disposable body wipes for a quick refresh any time during the day.

• Solar battery chargers are supplied in camp for charging the vehicle’s cooler and camera batteries. Take a supply of batteries.

predators or lunch. We soon realized that there were three cubs lying in the shade of a tree, not far from mom.

Later, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed a cold, but satisfying picnic prepared by the camp’s chef. She and the rest of the crew later waited for us with a hot supper and cold cocktails in our new digs. We had just poured tea when Johnny’s head popped up like a meerkat and he said, “Dump the tea; there’s a cheetah.” We jumped back in our seats as Johnny sped across the field. The cheetah was moving too fast to photograph, but slow enough to glance back in our direction.

The following morning, we were on the road before dawn, and were rewarded when Johnny spotted a leopard lying in tall grass at the base of a tree. We returned to the Marabou Pan before adventures further afield, and were blessed with the site of brother lions enjoying a morning drink and grooming each other beside the water’s edge.

If you ever have the opportunity to take an African safari, seize it. The breathtaking landscapes and captivating wildlife will create unforgettable memories that stay with you long after the journey ends.

• Take a scarf to wrap around your nose and mouth to avoid breathing dust as well as a hat with a snug chinstrap.

• Ladies, a wrap around the head flashlight is helpful for putting “sunscreen” on your face in the early morning darkness.

TEEING UP with a Teen

by Kelly Herrington

My parents taught me at a young age the value of learning how to play golf. As much as I didn’t really enjoy it when I was younger, my dad insisted it would come in handy. And he was right … of course.

It helped me in the business world to keep up with the men, and then when I got married, it became a fun activity to do with my husband Matt. And once

we had kids we started teaching them how to swing the club too.

But it wasn’t until this year, that our 13-year-old son Connor really started

to show an interest. When he came to us and said he was thinking about trying out for the boys’ golf team next year when he enters high school, we were like “OK!! Let’s do this!”

So, one to three times a week we’ve been taking him out to the driving range and also playing a quick nine holes at our favorite neighborhood public golf course. So, I figured I’d share our experiences and also tour some of the other local courses and share what it’s like to tee up with a teen.

We start with Dave White, or The Dave as the locals have lovingly dubbed it. Dave White is the City of Casa Grande’s public golf course and is where all the who’s who of the Casa Grande golfing community frequent. It’s like our very own Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name.

It is situated in the heart of Casa Grande, nestled near a few neighborhoods, including the Casa Grande Lakes, Los Portales and Fairways Mobile Home Park. Besides being the “it” place to play golf in town, adjacent to the golf course is Dave White Park that has a lake for fishing, children’s play equipment, soccer fields and pickleball courts. So there really is a wide array of activities nestled together.

But our focus is on golf! This 18-hole course has its challenges, but for the most part is fairly forgiving. I typically try and take our son out on Fridays since his school doesn’t have classes on Fridays.

This particular day was extra crazy and we almost didn’t make it out, but I had made a promise to Connor that I’d take him out. So we made it out by around 4 p.m.

And although we know this course like the back of our hands, there was a twosome behind us that threw off my son. He caved to the pressure in the beginning, wanted to quit the game of golf and throw in the towel. After some words of encouragement, we pulled ourselves together and finished, with respectable scores.

Kelly Herrington is a Realtor®/Sales Manager with ROX Real Estate. She can be reached at 520.780.0843 or kelly@roxsells.com.

Photos provided by Kelly Herrington

NOW! EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Friday, Nov. 15

Florence 3rd Fridays & Food Truck Friday

Padilla Park - Florence

5-8 p.m.

Held on the third Friday of each month from October to April. Enjoy live music, shopping, food trucks, vendors and fun activities at Padilla Park in historic Florence. Now includes Food Truck Friday, with up to 12 food trucks participating! Bring a blanket or chair. Main Street businesses will be open late.  520.868.9433 www.florenceazchamber.com

Saturday, Nov. 16

Robson Ranch Fall Arts & Crafts Show  Robson Ranch

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Held in the Robson Ranch Hermosa Ballroom. The show will have over 40 vendors selling jewelry, pottery, paintings, baked goods and more. Raffles will be held during the event. Free admission and parking. Robson Ranch is at 5687 N. Robson Blvd. in Eloy. www.robsonliving.com

Wednesday, Nov. 20

Pinal Geology and Mineral Museum   Coolidge

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Museum exhibits include fossils from all over the world, gems and minerals and children’s activities. Check the website for information about the Pinal Gem and Mineral Society monthly meetings and presentations. The museum is at 351 N. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge. Free admission. Hours are WednesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  520.723.3009

www.pinalgeologymuseum.org

Thursday, Nov. 21

History Speaks! Presented by The Museum of Casa Grande

The Museum of Casa Grande 1 p.m.

Free history talk by Jay Mark: To Steal a Kingdom - The Remarkable Story of the Most Outrageous Land Fraud Ever. The Museum of Casa Grande is at 110 W. Florence Blvd. and is open Wednesday-Saturday from 12-4 p.m.  520.836.2223 www.tmocg.org

Friday, Nov. 22

The Showdown at Central Arizona Raceway

Central Arizona Raceway - Casa Grande

Three days of racing from Nov. 22-24. Pits open at 3 p.m. and admission gates at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Racing includes five IMCA classes. Adults $18, seniors and military $15 and $10 for ages 13-17. Kids 12 and younger free. The track is at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande. Check website for race day and ticket info and the raceway schedule.

602.292.7607

www.centralazraceway.com

Food Truck Friday - Casa Grande

Historic Downtown Casa Grande 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Food Truck Friday takes place every week at the Neon Sign Park in downtown Casa Grande. Organized by Churrolicious. Offers a tantalizing array of treats: birria tacos, popovers, BBQ, Sonoran-style hot dogs, fresh churros, kettle corn and more, including vendor stalls and games. Check Facebook page for updates and current hours.

520.836.8744

www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61551795766831

Pinal NOW - Live Music & Entertainment Guide

The Pinal NOW Live Music & Entertainment listing is a weekly guide to local nightlife and community events. It covers karaoke, live music, concerts, comedy, live theater and major events happening around Pinal County. New listings are posted every Thursday on the Pinal NOW online calendar, and a weekly events newsletter is available. www.pinalnow.com/events

Saturday, Nov. 23

Florence Farmers Market

Saturday, Nov. 23

Uptown Farm & Artisan Market

Lowe’s - Casa Grande 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Takes place in the Lowe’s parking lot, 1436 E. Florence Blvd. in Casa Grande. Farm, artisan and foodie market. Produce, baked goods, wellness booths, food trucks and more. Check Facebook page for updates as the location and market hours may change.

www.facebook.com/profile.

php?id=100092038989061

Hope International Food PantryThanksgiving Food Distribution Day  Hope International Food Pantry - Coolidge 9 a.m.

Thanksgiving food box distribution day, starting at 9 a.m. Please arrive early and bring ID. The next senior boxes only day is Dec. 12 from 7-9 a.m. Located at 1280 N. Arizona Blvd in Coolidge. Senior boxes are for ages 60 and up. Volunteers are welcome. See Facebook page for the schedule. Please make a donation if you are able!

520.233.6699

www.hopeinternationalfoodpantry.org

Windmill Winery Holiday MarketFlorence

Windmill Winery - Florence 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Windmill Winery is hosting a holiday market. Get a jump on your holiday shopping while you sip your favorite wine! Over 60 local vendors and artisans. There will be food trucks on site and Sean Lewis will provide live music onstage to add to the open-air market shopping vibe. Stick around after the market ends as a regional favorite, the 10th and Main Band, takes the stage! There is no cost to attend.

520.858.6050 www.thewindmillwinery.com

McFarland State Historic Park - Florence - 8 a.m.-noon

The market is held on the porch at McFarland State Park in Historic Florence on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The market features produce from local farmers, farm-fresh eggs, meat, cheese, bread, sweets, coffee and tea, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products. Markets are scheduled for Nov. 23, Dec. 14, Dec. 28, and Jan. 11.

520.868.9433 www.florenceazchamber.com

Saturday, Nov. 23

Casita Workshop - Art Classes

Casita Workshop - Casa Grande

Located at 127 W. Wilson St. in Casa Grande. Check the website for upcoming classes and availability. Book your classes early as there are limited spaces available. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor and more. New classes are added throughout the year.  www.casitaworkshop.com

Saturday, Nov. 23

Derby in the Desert - Casa Grande Roller Derby

Roller Derby Hangar - Casa Grande Takes place at 798 N. Picacho Ave. in Casa Grande. Presale weekend passes available for $50. The next event will be the Derby in the Desert WFTDA-sanctioned tournament on Nov. 23-24, featuring seven teams from four leagues. See Facebook page for tournament and ticket info.

520.450.1790

www.facebook.com/CGRollerDerby

Sunday, Nov. 24

Visit the Casa Grande Ruins

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - Coolidge

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is open seven days a week, including the monument, museum exhibits, movie theater, monument bookstore, and picnic area. Free admission. See website for special events. Located at 1100 W. Ruins Drive in Coolidge.

520.723.3172

www.nps.gov/cagr

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

Tuesday, Nov. 26

Explore Gila River Indian Community History and Culture

Huhugam Heritage Center - Chandler Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. This modern cultural center highlights the ancestral, historic and current cultures of the Gila River Indian Community. The gallery features items from the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History, Yale Peabody Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Gila River Indian Community members and HHC collections. Tours are available. Located at 21359 South Maricopa Rd. in Chandler.

520.796.3500

www.grichhc.org

ACE Tutoring at the Library

Casa Grande Main Library-Casa Grande 3-7 p.m.

GED and ESL tutoring provided by volunteers is available weekly at the Casa Grande Main Library. Visit the Pinal County Library District website for event details and a schedule of all upcoming events.

520.421.8710

https://pcld.libnet.info/event/9746238

Friday, Nov. 29

Visit the Arboretum (Superior)

Boyce Thompson Arboretum - Superior 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Discover Arizona’s first and oldest botanical garden, situated on 343 acres of scenic upland desert with nearly five miles of trails. See website for ticket information, tours and special events. Located four miles west of Superior on Hwy. 60. Open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m., October through April. Upcoming events include Holiday Hangout, Yoga in the Garden, Nature Play, Forest Bathing, art activities and more.

520.689.2723

www.btarboretum.org

Friday, Nov. 29

Holiday Events at the Combs Performing Arts Center  Combs Performing Arts Center San Tan Valley

Upcoming performances include The Nutcracker by Studio R Ballet and by Spark Dance Academy, Combs High School Sign-along Spectacular on Friday, Dec. 6, A Christmas Carol on Monday, Dec. 9, and Voices of the Valley on Friday, Dec. 20. See the website calendar for event and ticket info. The Combs Performing Arts Center theater is at 2505 E. Germann Rd. in San Tan Valley (Combs High School).

480.987.5300

www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter

Saturday, Nov. 30

Fly-In Breakfast at the Airport  Casa Grande Municipal Airport 7 a.m.

The community is invited to enjoy breakfast with pilots and a great view of aircraft at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport. Breakfast hosted by Pinal Lodge 30 (Masonic Lodge) begins at 7 a.m. $10 per plate for a full breakfast. Enjoy the art displays from the Casa Grande Art Association. Held on the last Saturday of each month.

520.426.3616

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar Saturday, Nov. 30

Promote your next event in the Pinal NOW! online calendar. www.pinalnow.com/submit

NOW! EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

92nd Annual Florence Jr. Parada

Charles Whitlow Arena - Florence

Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1

The Junior Parada takes place from Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Charles Whitlow Arena in Florence. It’s the original kids’ rodeo since 1932! Three-day rodeo event includes young cowboys and cowgirls competing in various competitions, including barrels, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, and mutton busting. Admission is by donation at the gate. Check website for the rodeo schedule. The annual Jr. Parada parade will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. on Main St. in Florence.  www.facebook.com/historicflorencefoundation/

Sunday, Dec. 1

Events at Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center

Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment CenterMaricopa

The Entertainment Center offers movies, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, parties, live music in the Luxe Lounge, and special events. See the Ak-Chin Circle website and Facebook page for upcoming events. 520.568.3456 www.ak-chincircle.com

Friday, Dec. 6

Visit the Ostrich Ranch  Rooster Cogburn Ostrich RanchPicacho

9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Ostrich Ranch has an amazing variety of animals that visitors can watch and feed, including stingrays, goats, miniature donkeys, fallow deer, tortoises and lots of ostriches! Located by Picacho Peak State Park, just off I-10. Winter hours are Friday-Monday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. Check Facebook page for updates. Hours of operation are weather permitting.  520.466.3658 www.roostercogburn.com

Friday, Dec. 6

Santa Fly-In

Arizona City Fire District Free family event at the Arizona City Firehouse! Located at 14022 S. Sunland Gin Rd. 5-8 p.m.

520-466-5542

Friday, Dec. 6

Hometown Holiday ParadeFlorence  Historic Main Street - Florence 5-8:30 p.m.

Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends in Downtown Historic Florence. The event will include the Pinal County Courthouse tree lighting at 5:30 p.m., the lighting of Main Street at 5:45 p.m., food, inflatables, music and the annual Holiday Parade at 7:30 p.m. Free family event.

520.868.7589

www.florenceaz.gov/specialevents

Saturday, Dec. 7

REALTOR® Memorial 5K Jingle Run

Ed Hooper Park - Casa Grande 8-11 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7

First Saturday Family Day at the Pinal County Historical Museum  Pinal County Historical MuseumFlorence 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Be part of the story with us on our Family Day! On the first Saturday of the month we waive all admission fees thanks to our sponsors to provide local families with an affordable opportunity to engage with local history. We offer rotating activities for children, including scavenger hunts, backyard bingo, story time, desert animals, and more! Located at 715 S. Main St. in Florence. Museum hours are Tue.-Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Check website for other upcoming events at the museum.

520.868.4382 www.pchmuseum.org

Saturday, Dec. 7

Tree Lighting, Electric Light Parade and Grande Glitters  Casa Grande City Hall and Peart Park 6 p.m.

The annual City of Casa Grande Electric Light Parade brings families and neighbor together every year to create a true community event that demonstrates “Grande” culture and vibrancy. ELP Day is full of activities, including Pictures with Santa, Grande Glitters family fun starting at 2 p.m. in Peart Park, the Tree Lighting at 6 p.m., Electric Light Parade and the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award. ELP winners will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

520.426.3616

www.casagrandeaz.gov/267/Electric-Light-Parade

Check out our online events calendar at www.pinalnow.com for more events.

The annual Jingle Run 5K Memorial Run takes place at Ed Hooper Park in Casa Grande. Family-friendly fun and entertainment. Wear your craziest Christmas socks! Registration at 8 a.m., 5K run and walk starts at 9 a.m. Runners market vendors and Santa photos from 8-11 a.m. The Casa Grande Police Department K-9 Unit will have a demo after the run. Net proceeds benefit Alliance Cancer Support Center in Casa Grande.  520.780.0843 www.weservrealtormemorialrun. itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?is+14820

Saturday, Dec. 7

Merry Copa Festival - Maricopa  Copper Sky Regional Park - Maricopa 5-8 p.m.

2024 Merry Copa festival takes place at Copper Sky Regional Park in Maricopa. Festive holiday celebration that includes music and the annual tree lighting ceremony. See the City of Maricopa Facebook page for event updates.  www.merrycopa.com

Saturday, Dec. 7

Coolidge Airport Monthly Fly-In & Breakfast

Coolidge Municipal Airport-Coolidge 7:30-10 a.m.

The City of Coolidge sponsors a Fly-In on the first Saturday of every month from October to April. Breakfast is served by the Coolidge Lions Club in front of the main hangar. Pilots can call Airport Manager James Myers with any questions.  520-723-6075 www.coolidgeaz.com/flyin

The Pony Ranch featuring Tiny Town

The Pony Ranch - Casa Grande

A fun place for tiny cowboys and cowgirls to ride a pony and feed ranch animals at the petting zoo. Visit the Pony Ranch Facebook page for their current hours as the facility is seasonal and depends on suitable weather. Located at 18536 W. Houser Rd. in Casa Grande. 480.236.4500 www.facebook.com/theponyranchfeaturingtinytown

Sunday, Dec. 8

Zipline EcoTours - Oracle

Arizona Zipline Adventures - Oracle 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Zipline EcoTour allows you to zip on five different spans ranging in length from 400 to 1,500 ft. and lasts approximately two hours. Open Thursday through Sunday by reservation only. See website for details. Located on Mt. Lemmon Rd. in Oracle. 520.308.9350 www.ziparizona.com

Sunday, Dec. 8

Central Arizona College Community Handbell & Choir Concert

First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande 3 p.m.

The CAC choir and handbells present their end-of-semester concert. These two groups consist of high school students, CAC students, and community members who come together to rehearse weekly for the love of music. Free tickets are available on the CAC events website.

https://cacevents.ludus.com/

Wednesday, Dec. 11

American Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic

Regional Fire & Rescue - Casa Grande 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

American Red Cross blood donor clinics are held regularly at convenient locations in Pinal County. Find an appointment time on the website. To find upcoming blood donor clinics near you, visit the website and enter your ZIP code.

www.redcrossblood.org

Thursday, Dec. 12

Newcomers and Neighbors of Casa Grande - Monthly Meet & Greet

Central Event Hall - Casa Grande 5-7 p.m.

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Casa Grande is a great place to meet new friends. Activity and interest groups meet regularly and all-club events are held several times throughout the year. Meets at 408 N. Sacaton Street. See website for details.

www.cgnnc.com/calendar

NOW! EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Friday, Dec. 13

Miracle on 34th Street - A Live Radio Play

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

6 p.m.

Adapted from the 1947 Lux Radio broadcast. Three performances: Friday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15 and available online. Takes place at the historic Paramount Theatre in Casa Grande.

708.657.7485

www.triplerrrproduction.com/my-ticket

Miracle on Main - Superior  Superior, Arizona - Superior 4-9 p.m.

The annual Miracle on Main holiday event is presented by the Superior Optimist Club. Parade starts at 6 p.m. Event features pictures with Santa, music, goodie bags, ugly sweater contest, raffles, and more. 520.827.0098

www.superiorarizonachamber.org/ events

Coolidge Christmas in the Park  San Carlos Park - Coolidge 4-7 p.m.

Christmas Light Parade starts at 7 p.m. Christmas in the Park will include booths, vendors, arts and crafts, music and pictures with Santa from 4-6:30 p.m. 520.723.4551

www.coolidgeaz.com/parks

Saturday, Dec. 14

Casa Grande Gun Show  Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Arizona Gun Shows is holding its annual Gun Show in Casa Grande. Takes place at the Pinal County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Two-day admission is $15 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. 520.723.7881

www.pinalfairgrounds.com/upcoming-events

Saturday, Dec. 14

Christmas in Eloy and 75th Anniversary Celebration

Main Street Park - 2-9 p.m.

Christmas on Main Street starts at 2 p.m. with live music and fun family activities, including pictures with Santa, carnival rides, crafts, inflatables, food and merchandise vendors. The Tree Lighting & 75th anniversary celebration ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Electric Light Parade and fireworks at 7 p.m.  www.eloyaz.gov

Monday, Dec. 16

Saturday, Dec. 14

Grand Winter Holiday Concert

Maricopa Agricultural Center

3 p.m.

The Grand Winter Holiday Concert is presented by the Maricopa Music Circle Chamber Orchestra and the Maricopa Chorus. The concert will include classical, choral, and holiday favorites. Enjoy this annual concert and participate in the sing-along! Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages three and older. Cash, checks and cards will be accepted. Takes place at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, 37860 W. Smith Enke Rd. Doors open at 2:15 p.m.

602.568.4474

https://www.facebook.com/MaricopaMusicCircle/

Subscribe to our eNewsletter! www.pinalnow.com/subscribe

Deck the House Light Tour - Casa Grande

City of Casa Grande

Deck the House Light Tour takes place from Dec. 16-31. Residents are invited to deck their house or create a display for prizes! The City of Casa Grande will create a map of all the residential houses for people to view and vote on their favorite displays. The deadline to register is Monday, Dec. 2. Check the City of Casa Grande Facebook page and website for event info and the map for the self-guided tour.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/crc

Thursday, Dec. 19

Hope International Food PantryFood Box Distribution Day

Hope International Food Pantry - Coolidge General food distribution day from 7-9 a.m. Please arrive early and bring ID. Located at 1280 N. Arizona Blvd in Coolidge. See Facebook page for full schedule, including seniors-only days for ages 60 and up. Volunteers are welcome. Please make a donation if you are able.  520.233.6699

www.hopeinternationalfoodpantry.org

History Speaks! Presented by The Museum of Casa Grande

Dorothy Powell Senior Center Casa Grande

1 p.m.

Free history talk by John Mack: Debating Origins - Uncovering the Forgotten History of Horses in Arizona. This event will take place at the Dorothy Powell Senior Adult Center, 405 E. 6 St. in Casa Grande. History Speaks talks are held on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. 520.836.2223

www.tmocg.org

Friday, Dec. 20

Florence 3rd Fridays & Food Truck Friday

Padilla Park - Florence 5-8 p.m.

Held on the third Friday of each month from October to April. Enjoy live music, shopping, food trucks, vendors and fun activities at Padilla Park in Historic Florence. Now includes Food Truck Friday, with up to 12 food trucks participating! Bring a blanket or chair. Main Street businesses will be open late.  520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

Saturday, Dec. 21

Casa Grande Farmers Market

702 E. Cottonwood Lane - Casa Grande 8 a.m.-noon

Held on the third Saturday of each month at the First Presbyterian Church/ PCSO Pinal County parking lot. Cost is $15 for a box of farmer-direct produce. Cash only. Market hours are 8 a.m. until the produce is sold out. The market also has over 25 vendors. See Facebook page for market updates and the link for early entry tickets. Contact the market if you are interested in volunteering. www.casagrandefarmersmarket.com

Monday, Dec. 23

2024 Luminaria Night at Casa Verde Estates  Casa Verde Estates - Casa Grande 6-9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 26

Fly Hard: Skydive Arizona Christmas Boogie  Skydive Arizona

Takes place at Skydive Arizona in Eloy, the largest skydiving drop zone in the world! The Christmas Boogie takes place from Dec. 26-31 and will include specialty aircraft, skills camps, landing accuracy challenge, a New Year’s Eve party and more! Check website for updates and registration.

520.466.3753

www.skydiveaz.com

Saturday, Dec. 28

Fly-In Breakfast at the Airport  Casa Grande Municipal Airport

7 a.m.

The community is invited to enjoy breakfast with pilots and a great view of aircraft at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport. Breakfast hosted by Pinal Lodge 30 (Masonic Lodge) begins at 7 a.m. $10 per plate for a full breakfast. Enjoy the art displays from the Casa Grande Art Association. Held on the last Saturday of each month.

520.426.3616

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

Thursday, Jan. 2

Discover Casa Grande’s History

The Museum of Casa Grande noon-4 p.m.

Open Wednesday-Saturday from noon-4 p.m., September through April. History Speaks! talks are presented on the third Thursday of the month. Collections include historic artifacts, archives, photography and more. The exhibits portray the development of mining, agriculture, railroad expansion, settlement and technology. Admission is $7/ adults, $6/seniors and free for children and museum members. Located at 110 W. Florence Blvd.

520.836.2223

www.tmocg.org

A Casa Grande tradition! Visitors are invited to drive through the park and view the luminaria and hundreds of homes with festival holiday lights. It’s held on one night only, Monday, Dec. 23 from 6-9 p.m. Donations of cash or nonperishable food items will be accepted, with proceeds going to local charities. Casa Verde Estates is at 2100 N. Trekell Rd. in Casa Grande. Promote your

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Midland - New Year’s Eve Concert

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and CasinoMaricopa

9:30 p.m.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Concert at 9:30 p.m. General admission tickets available through Ticketmaster.

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is at 15406 Maricopa Rd. in Maricopa.

480.802.5000

www.caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin/ shows

Saturday, Jan. 4

Pinal Geology and Mineral Museum - Coolidge

Pinal Geology & Mineral Museum Coolidge

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Museum exhibits include fossils from all over the world, gems and minerals and children’s activities. Check the website for information about the Pinal Gem and Mineral Society monthly meetings and presentations. The museum is at 351 N. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge. Free admission. Hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

520.723.3009

www.pinalgeologymuseum.org

Elaine Earle: Yes, definitely. Rock started investing in land in Pinal County in the late ‘70s. And he always saw that as very strategic. At some point, Phoenix will be built out and Casa Grande will be discovered. It has the two major interstates, it has the rail, and he just saw the opportunity.

And it took longer than he expected, but it’s happening now. When I’m in Casa Grande I use the community rec center for example, and it is nice to hear that Hobby Lobby and Jersey Mike Subs and things are coming that weren’t there before. Casa Grande did have a wave of development pre 2008, and then things went away because everything was kind of slow from 2008 until more recent years.

So it is nice to see his wisdom and strategic investing finally come to fruition. It’s what he always saw. And I think it’s just the beginning because Casa Grande is just so perfectly situated between the two major cities.

We can’t have all these services like a Sam’s Club or a Costco or car dealerships and all these things if there’s no people around. So development has to happen.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Right. Even for me, I lived there just in the late ‘90s basically. But going back there now and just seeing all these streets loaded up with cars is really, really amazing. And how the City has to try and keep up with all the traffic and everything. It’s striking.

Elaine Earle: But if you want better stores and better schools…

Golden Corridor LIVING: Right.

Elaine Earle: Better everything, you have to have the population growth. And both of us, both Rock and I, are surprised it took so long for Casa Grande to get discovered in that way. And it really is becoming the industrial development headquarters for a lot

of things such as Lucid and a lot of the things that are happening on the west side of town. And our local porta-potty company benefits from this growth.

Golden Corridor LIVING: Any final words for this interview?

At the end of the day, it’s like, why did I pick accounting? Why did I end up where I am? I’d have to say, I mean, I didn’t have anybody growing up saying, “Become an accountant. There are jobs all over the world.” I had no idea. I didn’t even know what accountants did when I graduated with a degree.

I just got extremely lucky and blessed at the same time, and I got the right experience, and met the right man that I married, and have two really great boys who are smart in their own right and they’re going to go off and do great things.

Elaine and Rock in Australia, 2024

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