Grande LlVING Spring 2023

$80,000

6275 E MONITOR ST., PICACHO

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 928sf

Investor special with great opportunity! 2 Bedroom home with separate 1 bedroom guest house out back! This home is situated on half an acre with close proximity to I-10. Needs some TLC, but has tons of potential.

Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

$269,900

14574 S. PADRES RD., ARIZONA CITY

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,418s f

A great move in ready home in Arizona City. All new interior and Exterior paint. New flooring throughout. Nice open concept kitchen and living room. Block fence. Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

$254,900

7996 W. REATA LN., ARIZONA CITY

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,485sf

Just over an Acre of spacious horse property in Caballo Estates! The focal point of the home is the spacious kitchen; countertops and cabinetry provide well thought use of space and storage. Large covered patio looking out to the horse corral. Detached 2 car garage and tack-room.

Yzmira Andujo, PLLC 520.431.1190

$269,000

10199 W. FERNANDO DR., ARIZONA CITY

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,238sf

Move-in Ready! This charming home features new paint inside and out, updated kitchen with new quartz countertops, new stainless appliances, and updated fixtures throughout. Laminate and tile flooring - no carpeting! New garage door and opener. Block fence. Owner/agent Bea Lueck 520.560.5671

$297,900

2376 E SANTIAGO TRL., CASA GRANDE

2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,0 86sf Mission Royale 55+. This split floor plan offers neutral LVP flooring and paint. Upgrades galore including granite countertops, upgraded appliances, water softener, ample storage and more. The backyard is perfectly suited for guests with artificial turf, extended pergola, extended brick patio area and stamped concrete.

Erin Dugan, PLLC 520.709.0998

$314,999

2130 N SABINO LN., CASA GRANDE

4 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,531sf

Spacious split floor plan with new appliances installed in 2021, new laminate flooring and carpet in the bedrooms. BRAND NEW A/C completed in 2022. Upgraded kitchen cabinetry, recessed lighting and a dining nook. Open concept to the family room makes this space perfect for entertaining.The large backyard is equipped with grass and an above ground pool.

Erin Dugan, PLLC 520.709.0998

$319,900

1931 N. PALO VERDE CT., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,546sf

This well maintained home features a large living room, eat-in kitchen with walk-in pantry and enclosed Arizona Room - all on a corner lot in a cul-de-sac street. Low maintenance backyard. New AC unit installed 2022. Soft water system with, RO unit in kitchen, extra cabinets in garage.

Annalisa Tapia 520.560.2960

$320,000

1651 E. ZINNIA ST., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,670sf

NO HOA & a 3 car garage home! This 3 bd home is situated in a quaint neighborhood where every street has a beautiful flower name! There is so much potential in this home for someone to make it their dream home.

Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

$321,000

45735 W. SKY LN., MARICOPA

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,355sf

Better than new! Home features a spacious open floor plan with tile plank flooring in the main living areas and carpet in the bedrooms, dark cabinets with stainless appliances, granite counters and custom backsplash in the kitchen. Backyard with grass pad complete with curbing and low maintenance gravel.

Bea Lueck 520.560.5671

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande

$324,900

15906 W. IMPALA DR., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,345sf

1.25 Acres of Horse Property with Gorgeous Mountain views.Your horses will love the corral space to roam and the stalls, while you’ll love the peace and privacy of this gorgeous well situated property. The property is fully fenced. Desirable split floor plan, with vaulted Ceilings, and fans throughout. NO HOA. Property has a chicken coop and perfect area for a hammock to relax.

Yzmira Andujo, PLLC 520.431.1190

$329,900

1383 E. NATASHA DR., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,604sf

Very lovingly maintained home in Ironwood Commons. This home boasts vaulted ceilings, a lovely kitchen with upgraded cabinets and granite counters. The primary bathroom was recently remodeled. Enjoy relaxing in the backyard underneath the pergola! This home is ready for its new owners and has been lightly lived in. Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

$375,000

1243 E. LEE PL., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,723sf

The kitchen is equipped with SS appliances as well as a 12 ft long beautiful granite countertop/breakfast bar. Other upgrades include 20 in. floor tiles, undermount sink, security door, gutters, whole house water softener, ceiling fans throughout and irrigation both front and back. Smart Home!

Robert McManigle 360.929.7502

$379,000

508 E. MANOR DR., CASA GRANDE

4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, 2

This home has WOW! Remodeled ranch home with new paint inside and out, new flooring with waterproof LVT planking, new carpet in bedrooms and tile in the bathrooms. Kitchen is all new - cabinets, appliances, quartz counters and dramatic carrara marble backsplash. The outdoor paradise includes a diving pool, gazebo/bar area, huge workshop or art studio,Owner/Agent.

Bea Lueck 520.560.5671

$335,000

1253 W. ROOSEVELT AVE., COOLIDGE

4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, 2,424sf

Newly painted with stainless steel kitchen appliances. Downstairs bedroom perfect for guest room or home office. Upstairs includes a huge loft, laundry room, washer and dryer are included! Spacious Primary Suite with walk-in closet.. Minutes away from shops, restaurants and AZ-87

Susan Gallegos 520.371.0015

Karen Henson 520.705.1714

$399,900

7710 S. MIDWAY RD., CASA GRANDE

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,456sf

An amazing opportunity to own a nice home situated on over 20 acres! Horse property. Most of the main home components have been updated or are new. A private well was installed 1 year ago. Roof, water heater and ac are all newer. Home is equipped with a giant wrap-around Arizona Room. Part of the property is fully fenced. Detached garage, round pen, storage containers.

Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

$510,000

3842 N. KOOTENAI CT., CASA GRANDE

4 Bed., 2 Bath, 2,849sf

This home has it all and has been lovingly upgraded and maintained. Owned solar, new Pella windows,remodeled kitchen with 42”cabinets, a double oven & new appliances, quartz counters. Remodeled bathrooms.. Enjoy the serene, low maintenance backyard on 1/3 an acre with built in BBQ & Tuff shed. 2 bonus rooms, plantation shutters, RV gate/ parking and so much more!

Kelly Herrington, PLLC 520.780.0843

©2023 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

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EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Elaine M. Earle, CPA

SALES & MARKETING

Julie Turetzky

Director of Public Relations

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Executive Sales & Marketing Assistant

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Shannon Price

Art Director - Graphic Designer

Keith Dobie, Social Media Coordinator

Jennifer Conrad Digital Media Representative EDITORIAL

Christia Gibbons

Senior Editor

Blake Herzog Staff Writer

Valerie Demetros Staff Writer

OPERATIONS

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Vice President of Operations

COMMENTS AND IDEAS: editor@roxco.com

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1919 N. Trekell Rd., Suite C Casa Grande, AZ 85122 520-509-1000 CEO Elaine M. Earle, CPA

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Grande LIVING is published by Raxx Direct Marketing. Editorial content is provided by affiliates of Raxx Direct Marketing, community members and local organizations.

© 2023. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including but not limited to editorial content, illustrations, graphics and photographic images, may be republished, reproduced or reprinted without the prior express written consent of the publisher. The publishers of Grande LIVING assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. In no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement. Grande LIVING shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from the use of information contained herein. Submitted articles do not reflect the opinions of the owners or management of Grande LIVING Information contained within submitted articles had not been verified for accuracy and readers are responsible for forming their own opinions.

Put Spring in your Step by Recharging your Health

When spring arrives in Pinal County the natural thing to do is to spring into action, running around to all the different events that spring up, getting more time in with our winter resident friends (especially if you are one) before they head back to their summer digs, and gloating about the weather to yourself and anyone else who will listen.

The Pinal County Fair in mid-March will give us a wholesome great time with exhibits, auctions, vendors and rides galore, plus community performers and lots of irresistible food. Don’t miss this great opportunity to celebrate everything Pinal and everyone in it!

There’s another great way to use this burst of extra energy we get this time of year — catch up on your health through fitness, healthy diet choices and visiting your health care provider to learn more about how you can best take care of yourself and your family.

We have lots of tips in this, our annual Medical, Health and Wellness issue, about how to get medical coverage, finding wellness through eight important

dimensions, finding peace through support and selfcare, returning to fitness activity after an injury and even how some houseplants may be able to help purify the air you and your family breathe.

Our in-depth interview this month is with Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland, who has been leading his City and the entire region as it continues to attract high-tech industry and navigate challenges such as getting Interstate 10 widened and shoring up the water supply. The Pinal County Press section also features Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith, who’s already making her mark after stepping up last August to replace longtime mayor Christian Price.

There’s much more to read inside, including the Pinal NOW! event calendar, Community Highlights and a feature by ROX Travel’s Cruise and Resort Specialist Tori Ward transporting us to Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich!

World travel is important to me, and I highly recommend it for everyone else, but there’s nothing quite like coming back to our one-of-a-kind desert and most of all, the warmth of the people who live here!

Elaine Earle Publisher, Grande Living magazine

Elaine Earle

VOICES of t he COMMUNITY

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

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

Mila Besich Mayor, Town of Superior

Donna McBride Councilwoman, City of Casa Grande

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

Gigi McWhirter Resident Animal Whisperer Tori Ward Travel Agent, ROX Travel

Craig McFarland Mayor, City of Casa Grande

Bob Shogren Director, Casa Grande Alliance

hot lunch for the hungry afterschool program senior adult services community garden

T he P inal Coun T y Press

More Funding Needed, but I-10 Widening Could Start this Year

The quest to pay for widening Interstate 10 between Casa Grande and Chandler is continuing after the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) application for $360 million from the federal “Mega grant” program was unsuccessful. But with more than $600 million already committed from state funding sources, construction could begin before the end of the year, Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said: “They’re going to start moving forward, because we’ve got money.”

ADOT spokesman Luis Carlos Lopez said the agency plans to submit another application this year for the Mega grant while looking for other funding sources and would maximize the funding it has to begin widening the interstate and improving interchanges between the Gila River bridges and state Route 387, which becomes Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande.

The $115-million contract to replace the bridges is expected to go out to bid this summer, he said, with construction scheduled to start before the end of this year.

Meanwhile, State Sen. T.J. Shope of Casa Grande introduced

a bill, SB1065, to fund the remaining $360 million needed for the project out of this year’s state budget, winning unanimous approval from the Senate Transportation and Technology Committee Jan. 30. It will next go to the Appropriations Committee once a final budget amount is agreed on, which could take months.

Officials were informed in early January by U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s office the widening project would not be receiving any money from the program this year, McFarland said, prior to receiving formal notification from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

According to a fact sheet from the federal agency, nine projects received a total of $1.17 billion in the first round of funding from the new program, five of which included significant improvements for nonvehicular traffic. ADOT requested more money than any of the winners received. One I-10 widening project along the Gulf Coast in Mississippi won a $60-million grant.

Continued on page 54

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

Stories by Blake Herzog

Florence Names Martin as New Town Manager

Former Camp Verde Town Manager

Russ Martin has been selected to serve as Florence’s next town manager, replacing Interim Town Manager Lisa Garcia, who returned to her roles of deputy town manager and town clerk.

Mayor Tara Walter said she and others are looking forward to working with the longtime public servant: “Combining Mr. Martin’s expertise in economic development, water resources, fiscal management and strategic planning with Council’s vision for Florence will be exciting for the future development of our Town.”

Martin was town manager for Camp Verde, a community of 12,400 40 miles east of Prescott, from 2010 to 2022, leaving in October after the Town Council did not renew his contract.

He previously worked as town manager in Hayden, Colorado from 2004-2010; planner and human resources specialist for Mintun, Colorado from 2001-2004; and as regional planner for the Six County Association of Governments in Richfield, Utah from 1997-2001.

He has a bachelor’s degree in city and regional planning from New Mexico State University and a master’s in human resource management from Utah State University.

Martin has a three-year initial contract that requires him to become a full-time resident of Florence. His duties will include serving as the chief administrative officer, overseeing preparation of the annual budget, supervising administration of all

departments, attending council meetings and advising council members of the financial condition and future needs of the Town.

The Town Council voted 5-2 to hire Martin at its Jan. 17 meeting. Former Town Manager Brent Billingsley stepped down in February 2022 to become Pinal County’s director of community development.

Developer Plans CG Commerce Park near Thornton/Peters

Scottsdale-based real estate developer Dale Cavan has paid $2 million for 24 acres east of the northeast corner of Thornton and Peters roads in Casa Grande, with the intent to build an industrial park with several buildings covering up to 70,000 square feet.

Currently named the Casa Grande Commerce Park, the development will accommodate industrial needs in the area. The elongated land parcel is just east of

the Daisy Brand plant and less than a mile away from the Walmart distribution center and Lucid Motors factory. It’s also less than 4 miles away from semiconductor supplier Chang Chun Petrochemical Group’s plant under construction, the first of multiple planned facilities.

Kirk McCarville of Land Advisors Organization represented Cavan in the deal and said he plans to build the park speculatively, making this the third such Continued on page 55

Russ Martin

Kirk McCarville

Craig H. McFarland Mayor, City of Casa Grande

CRAIG McFARLAND

CG Mayor Reflects on How the Big House Reached the Big Time

Interview by Rock Earle

Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland was born and mostly raised in California, though he moved around a bit as part of a Navy family. His father went to work for Anheuser-Busch after leaving the military, and he followed suit after graduating from California State University-Fresno in 1976.

During the next 26 years, he worked across its sales, distribution and marketing functions in six states, moving 10 times with his wife Nancy and their two children.

In 2005 he was hired away by Golden Eagle Distributors, which brought him and Nancy to Casa Grande. They now have five grandchildren, who live with their parents here and in Phoenix. He retired as Golden Eagle’s vice president of sales in January 2015 and almost immediately got into local politics, winning the first of his four two-year terms the next year.

GRANDE LIVING: At this point in your political career, we want to look back on your legacy. We want your ideas on your time in office leading this great city and your hopes and dreams when you started, your successes and later we’ll talk about what you still have to accomplish. We also want to talk about what you think about your future.

Mayor Craig McFarland: The scary part.

Since, he’s sat on 25 local and regional boards, spearheaded efforts to widen Interstate 10, worked with others to find a long-term solution to the area’s looming water shortages — which have already hit the agricultural industry — and overseen the economic expansion that has brought Lucid Motors, a new Kohler plant, several semiconductor industry suppliers and waves of new residents, for starters.

More city amenities have come online too, most notably the Casa Grande Community Recreation Center.

I was there as Craig began his journey into local government eight years ago, and as he begins his final two years in office due to term limits I wanted to check in with him about how the city has been transformed over his tenure and what the future may hold for him.

GRANDE LIVING: It wasn’t this conference room, but it was a similar conference room, where the idea first came up of becoming involved in local politics and you showed up.

Mayor Craig McFarland: It was two months after I retired from my previous life, in January 2015.

GRANDE LIVING: Thinking you were going to head out in an RV and retire, play golf all day?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Yes, exactly. I was going to buy this RV and start traveling around the country. And then because my wife dragged her feet, it was sold before I could make an offer on it.

GRANDE LIVING: So you ran for mayor?

Mayor Craig McFarland: I told her: “If you’ll let me buy the motor home, I won’t run for mayor.” We went to my brother’s wedding in California and on the way back

she goes, “OK, you can buy the motor home if you don’t run for mayor.” The minute I get back I called the guy, and he’d sold it the day before.

A couple weeks earlier you, me and the then-Mayor Bob Jackson and a few other people were sitting around a conference table similar to this, having a conversation about who we were going to get to run for mayor.

GRANDE LIVING: Who would possibly want to take on that job?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Exactly. And so I kind of mulled it over as we were sitting there, and I think I raised my hand. I said, “Well, I’ll run for mayor if you all, guys and gals, will support me.” And you all were a bit aghast at first but ultimately said, “Yes, of course we’ll support you.” So that’s where it started.

We sent out a questionnaire, a survey. Collected about 500

surveys back out of 4,000, tallied up all the results, and from there we built the platform. We already had ideas but wanted to hear what people had to say. We used that along with things we thought were important for the city like education and workforce development.

We even formed a committee on education and workforce development, and the education piece spun off as Achieve Pinal, which became part of the Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth and is still active and quite frankly, doing an amazing job on third-grade reading and also on Careertopia.

GRANDE LIVING: That’s amazing. So back to your first race in 2016, I remember we had a slogan and we had pins and we had all sorts of things and yet you ran unopposed then and every subsequent time.

Mayor Craig McFarland: We had this conversation, and we thought, “If you come out early and you raise enough money, maybe we’ll scare people out of the race.” It worked.

Once you’re in there, then you’re the incumbent, right? And one thing about Casa Grande is, as long as you’re doing a good job, I think they like consistency. It certainly is healthy for the council to have consistency. One thing about Casa Grande that I’ve noticed is they don’t really turn over their council very often, or their staff.

Now, voters just approved term limits for the council. So now it’s 12 years maximum, it’s three, four-year terms. So we’ll have turnover but someone can still be on council for 12 years. And the current council is grandfathered in, so some of them could be in for another 12 years, if they wanted. Mayors are different, so I’m already limited to four, two-year terms, and I just started my fourth.

GRANDE LIVING: So looking back on all your terms, what do you recall as your first big success or big issue that you made your own stamp on in the City?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Probably working on Interstate 10, widening of I-10. I have been a thorn in ADOT’s side in trying to get I-10 widened and our city name signage changed on I-10. That was the first probably real big accomplishment, meaning something everyone could see. I also think the updating and improvement of our strategic plan is a major accomplishment.

We kind of dusted off the old goals and then took four or five subjects that I ran on like education and workforce development, safety,

Mayor McFarland and his wife Nancy

making Casa Grande easier to do business with, economic development and incorporated them into the strategic plan. It really was the Council’s influence of putting that into the strategic plan that made a big difference. It gave the City direction, it gave staff direction. So those were probably the two biggest things in my first term.

GRANDE LIVING: What about the next two years? I can think of one big elephant in the room: economic development.

Mayor Craig McFarland: Economic development was always on my radar. It was that and customer service, those two things with the City. And so early on we had conversations on how things were done, and the City Manager Larry Rains and I had several conversations about our City’s customer service. Our customers are our constituents, our businesses, our industries and builders/developers, and our attitude wasn’t, I would call, customer friendly.

And then also in the first term, Larry and I went and visited every builder and every developer in the state. We took the dog and pony show to the builders and developers because we couldn’t figure out why Maricopa was building houses and we had 10 permits a year. It was very frustrating.

GRANDE LIVING: You did it like the marketer that you are.

Mayor Craig McFarland: That’s my background, sales and marketing. And it was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun, too.

GRANDE LIVING: So what year did the economic development landslide first hit here? In terms of jobs?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Well, early on, we had PhoenixMart, and Atessa. We had the Dreamport Villages and we had Lucid. And so Larry and I commented to each other, we just need one of them to land. We know what happened with Dreamport Villages and Phoenix Mart.

Atessa’s coming along, the Podium Club is now a real thing. There’s a real track out there. It’s just taking a little longer. And then there’s Lucid.

And, I’m not going to take credit for all of the economic development.

Was I able to help and talk with people and put Casa Grande in a good light in terms of it being business-friendly? Yes. But, there were many before me, people like Donovan Kramer Sr. and others back 40, 50 years ago, who first envisioned Casa Grande being a center for industry with Hexcel and Frito-Lay and Abbott. I mean, we’ve had the bones there and the desire to make it go.

GRANDE LIVING: Well, let’s talk about development before the big names like Lucid. In the years before that, you had private developers like Tim Smith and Jackob Andersen doing things like the Central Arizona Commerce Park (CAZCP), which led to Tractor Supply Co. coming. That was not insignificant.

Mayor Craig McFarland: Sure, and the Walmart Distribution Center.

GRANDE LIVING: There’s a host of industries that aren’t necessarily game-changers, but they started to build things up. Tractor Supply was the reason CAZCP really got started on the south side of Peters Road, which led to the Lucid availability.

Mayor Craig McFarland: I agree; the desire has been there for a long time. And I think you have even said it, you’ve always thought that Casa Grande would be that place that was eventually going to get there. I think we finally have gotten there.

Continued on page 44

I-10 signage installation

CASA GRANDE Offers Gems in Medical Coverage

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

Medical, health and wellness is the subject for this spring. Casa Grande is fortunate to have two major players in this field, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and Sun Life Family Health Center.

Established in 1984, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center is a full-service, nonprofit, hospital committed to providing quality health care to the Casa Grande Valley as well as the surrounding areas in a caring and compassionate environment.

Their vision: “Comfort and recovery is important to our entire staff, which is dedicated to creating a healing environment for you and your family.”

In addition to providing patient care in its 177 private rooms, there is an impressive lineup of services available at Banner Casa Grande. These services provide the community with more convenient access to the latest products and state-of-the-art equipment like the Da Vinci Robotic surgery equipment.

Banner Casa Grande works and serves as the base station, providing direction to more than 12 emergency medical service providers in Pinal County along with the BannerAir helicopeter service based at the Banner Casa Grande Medical Center.

Banner Casa Grande doubled the size/capacity of its emergency room with an expansion and remodel. They have done an amazing job over the last two years in these very difficult times.

One of those emergency medical service providers is Sun Life Family Health Center. Sun Life is Pinal County’s largest primary health provider.

Patients have options in choosing a primary care provider based on personal preference, medical needs and provider expertise. Sun Life Health provides access to adult and pediatric primary care practitioners, behavioral health providers and dental professionals.

The health center providers are all board certified, with significant expertise and experience in their field of study. At Sun Life Health you have the option to choose between a doctor, a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner.

Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and Sun Life Family Health Center are gems in our community and should be thanked and appreciated! Both organizations work hand in hand to help with our community’s medical, health and wellness!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

CASA GRANDE

Dancing For Our Stars 2023: Fundraiser for Boys and Girls Clubs

Saturday, Mar. 25

5 p.m.

Location, tickets and additional information available online for this signature fundraising event for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor. www.dancingforourstars.net

Plein Air Painting Competition

Saturday, Mar. 25

8-10 a.m.

The Museum of Casa Grande

COOLIDGE

Coolidge Airport Fly-In

Saturday, Mar. 4 & Apr. 1

7-10 a.m.

3546 S. Hangar Dr.

ELOY

The Eloy Community Services Department has a wide variety of events, activities and recreation programming for all ages. Here are two of our most popular events to look forward to in the Spring of 2023.

Concert in the Park

Friday, Mar. 24

6:30-9 p.m.

Outside the Line A variety of Motown, Funk, pop and classic rock Main Street Park

Movies Under the Stars

Saturday, Mar. 25 & Apr. 29

7:30 p.m.

Main Street Park Easter Egg Hunt

Friday, Apr. 7

10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Join us for our annual family Easter celebration that includes egg hunts, games, jumping castles, face painting, vendors and more! Jones Park

For a full list of our events and activities view our current Activity Guide online @ https://bit.ly/ ELOYACTIVITYGUIDE

FLORENCE

Florence Farmers Market

Visit McFarland State Park every second and fourth Saturday to peruse a variety of organic and locally made artisan products.

Third Fridays on Main Street October through April, historic Main Street comes alive every third Friday! Join us for live music, food, and fun activities for the little ones.

Annual Eggstravaganza

Saturday, Apr. 1

8-11 a.m.

Heritage Park

Hop down to the park and hunt for thousands of prize-filled eggs! There will be vendors and craft booths for all to enjoy. Hip Hop the bunny will be available for pictures and will host his popular "Bunny Sack Races.” For more information, call 520.868.7040.

Florence Eggstravaganza

City of Eloy Easter egg hunt

Road to Country Thunder

Saturday, Apr. 8

5-10 p.m.

Historic Downtown Florence

Join us on April 8 for the party before the party – Road to Country Thunder! This pre-festival bash features cover bands, food, drinks, and all the fun you can handle. This event is brought to you by the Town of Florence and Country Thunder. Please make sure to visit the Town of Florence website for rules and important updates for this event. For more information, call 520.868.7040.

SUPERIOR

Saturday, Apr. 1

6:30-10 p.m.

Magma Royale - Mardi Gras Masquerade. Enjoy a night of gaming, liquor pull, silent auction and other raffles throughout the evening. Tickets are $35 per person and includes $50 in Magma Royale Cash, one drink coupon and heavy appetizers. Dress in a Mardi Gras outfit and receive an additional $25 in Magma Royale Cash. Order your tickets now as space is limited. www.fb.me/e/fhTJxYMBN

Boyce Thompson Arboretum Spring Calendar

Monday, Apr. 3

Noon-5 p.m.

Join James Bruzzi in the Bruzzi Vineyard Kitchen for an afternoon of cooking, wine and fun! At this workshop we will be having a wine tasting flight and discussing wine pairings while working together to create and enjoy a five course dinner featuring: Chilled Cucumber Soup, Strawberry Salad, Rack of Lamb, New Potatoes, Asparagus with, Hollandaise Sauce and Chocolate Pie. Cost is $99 per person and space is extremely limited. Please reserve by emailing BruzziVineyard@aol.com or calling 928.462.3314.

www.fb.me/e/2yL2iQsLI

Country Thunder Arizona 2023

Thursday-Sunday, Apr. 13-16

20585 E. Water Way, Florence

Get up to date information and tickets at www.countrythunder.com/az

The Arboretum celebrates spring the months of March through May by hosting a variety of events including Birding 101, Spring Plant Sale, Forest Bathing, Yoga in the Garden, Discovery Tours and Butterfly Walk. Check their events calendar for specific dates and times of these events. www.btarboretum.org/ events/month/2023-03/

Bruzzi Culinary Workshop

Magma Royale

Bruzzi Vineyard Culinary Workshop

Road to Country Thunder Courtesy of the Town of Florence

First: Our Town achieved major milestones in 2022, including the purchase of the original high school; groundbreaking of the wastewater treatment plant renovations; and by the end of this fiscal year, we will have administered almost $16 million in grant funds.

Here and now: We are excited to start off 2023 with a new Public Works Director, Manuel Castillo, who previously served as Superior’s building official. As many of you know, Manuel brings many years of municipal experience to the job.

Also in 2023, look for:

• Renovations to continue at the original Superior High School; funding is in place to build the elevator to allow full accessibility to the campus. The Superior Enterprise Center likely will be the first program to fully move into the facility.

• We are eager to begin offering welding and other job training

SUPERIOR: What is in store for 2023

by Mila Besich, Mayor, Town of Superior

courses at the Superior Enterprise Center.

• Finalizing the purchase of the land exchange parcels, comprised of 546 acres on the west side of town including our Superior Municipal Airport. Purchasing the land from the federal government is the first step to expand our economic and community development opportunities.

Shifting our focus to infrastructure development in that area.

• Our welcoming in March to an AmeriCorps Crew to live and work in our community. The eight-member team will be building fire breaks around Superior and assisting with invasive species removal. They will also be volunteering with other community organizations and getting to know what life is like in our community.

• Our Youth Council heads to Washington, D.C., in March to

attend the National League of Cities Conference. These incredible young leaders have devoted the past five years of their school careers to serving on Town’s Superior Youth Council.

• Our Town leadership, in partnership with Resolution Copper and the Arizona Water Company, are laser focused on our immediate and long-term water needs. The release of water into Queen Creek to replenish our aquifer is slated for this year.

We hope to create a rain water garden to help with drainage on upper Main Street. This project likely will kick off a longer-term plan to address drainage issues across town.

• We are still waiting for the Resolution Copper Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to be re-released by the federal government. We need to increase our advocacy for this to happen.

Feature

MEDICAL, HEALTH & WELLNESS

Build Wellness within These 8 Dimensions

by Blake Herzog

“Wellness” is a status we all look for and aspire to, but it covers so much ground it’s difficult to even define what it is. Many experts approach this by breaking the topic of wellness down into distinct areas, all of which affect each other and support overall health for every individual.

One of the most-used models for explaining wellness is the eight dimensions embraced by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and many other groups:

PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Ensuring your body stays healthy by following positive habits including proper nutrition, adequate exercise and sleep and appropriate health care. There are many steps you can take to improve your physical wellness including eating at home to have more control over what you consume and building your fitness through workouts and other opportunities.

INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

Keeping your own and others’ brains active through learning new skills and concepts, looking at issues from different perspectives and sharing engaging ideas and games with family and friends. Follow current events, join the library for access to more books and plan or participate in game nights.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Knowing how much income and savings you have versus debt you carry, understanding budgeting and other financial processes, and saving enough money to pursue your life goals. If you’re not satisfied with your current situation look for work you will find more rewarding or seek advice on paying off loans or investing savings.

ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS

Feeling safe from environmental hazards such as pollution and being able to access clean air, food and water, as well as having pleasant, stimulating spaces to be in at

home and outdoors. You can contribute by recycling and conserving resources, organizing your workspace and spending time outside when you can.

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

Acknowledging and pursuing the search for meaning and purpose in your life and having an appreciation for life and the natural forces that shape the universe. Think about your own values, morals and principles while learning about others’, consider finding a group or congregation that will deepen your spirituality and try out meditation.

SOCIAL WELLNESS

Maintaining healthy, positive relationships with your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors while caring about the welfare of others. Work to stay in contact with longtime friends while seeking out support groups or other ways to meet and engage with new people.

OCCUPATIONAL WELLNESS

Being involved in employment and/or other activities that provide purpose and align with your values, goals and interests. Try to keep an open line of communication with your boss and coworkers, consider whether your job fulfills your talents and interests, and keep your resume updated for when new opportunities come up.

EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

Being able to cope with stressful events and emotional challenges, express your feelings and enjoy life as much as possible. Learn how to cope with stress in ways that work with your lifestyle, reach out for help when you need it, and practice finding silver linings in situations you feel are negative.

Coming Back from an Injury Stronger

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

Injuries are a nightmare. Nobody wants to experience them — from a traumatic crash, a fall or even an injury during training. A torn muscle, a broken bone, a fracture can feel like the most devastating thing possible.

There’s the horrible physical pain, but believe me, that’s definitely not the worst part. It’s like something you love is taken away from you, and it’s heartbreaking.

When you realize you’re going to need weeks, months or maybe longer to heal, and you feel like you’re living in someone else's body, these injuries can often bring on fear, doubt and depression. Will I ever heal? Will I bounce back from this?

The big challenge is harnessing that energy by taking control and taking action.

We all want a quick fix, to get up and at it as fast as possible. This mistake can and most often will lead to delayed healing and worse, further injury. Recovery takes time.

First, take responsibility for your recovery. It doesn’t mean the injury was your fault, but, this empowers you to train smarter and embrace the uncertainty that comes along with healing.

Try to stay positive. This is a tough one at first. Maybe even journal as you go.

I will admit it, I have been the Queen of Denial. Huge mistake. Once we accept the situation it’s a game changer. Face facts, things have changed.

I have been taught and try to pass on to my students, the 3 As:

• Accept: Let go of what you can’t control.

• Adapt: Change your reactions to what’s happening.

• Act: Do what you can right now to create the best possible future.

Try to focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do.

There is a lot of frustration trying to do exercises that used to be so easy, and now, well, not so much. This is where you focus on your therapeutic exercises, and focus on other exercises you can do.

The transition to recovery is difficult. And not automatic. It’s also an opportunity to grow and learn.

We may not always bounce back exactly the same as we planned. But, if we put in the time and effort, we may bounce back better — different but better.

Exfoliate, extract and infuse. A diamond tip with suction exfoliates the dead skin, reduces pigmentation, fine lines, and cleans out the pores while serums are infused deep into the skin. Serums are customized based on skin type using Ultra Hydration, Vitamin C or Skin brightening.

Exfoliate and remove the peach fuzz, then brighten and tighten with a vitamin C facial.

Baby Teeth Matter

by Mindy Wheeler, Marketing Manager, Sun Life Health

The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend scheduling your child’s first dental visit any time after a baby’s first tooth breaks through, but no later than their first birthday.

Think of this as a “well-baby checkup” for your child’s teeth.

Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning when the first tooth appears. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children.

These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

A child’s first set of teeth, often referred to as their primary teeth, are important even if they are going to fall out. They assist in chewing and for holding spaces for their adult teeth.

Many people think they don’t need to take care of primary teeth because they are going to fall out anyway. Cavity prevention is still important for primary teeth. Cavities on primary teeth can threaten the health of the child’s adult teeth even if you can’t see them yet.

We recommend you choose a pediatric dentist because they specialize in dealing with children and their tiny teeth. This specialty dentist can make the experience more enjoyable for your child as they often have different techniques that may aid in the child’s dental experience.

Sun Life Health has a brand-new location to help serve your pediatric dental needs. We are located at Sun Life Heath Pediatric Dentistry, 865 N. Arizola Road, Casa Grande, and can be contacted at 520.350.7560 and www.SunLifeHealth.org.

PHOTO BY TRINI-MCANULTY

Wellness: Peace Above All

by Taylor Henson, Casa Grande Alliance

Acritical component of our health and wellness is mental health, which refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act daily.

Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and stress can have a significant impact on our ability to function and enjoy life. It’s important to know that mental health issues are common and treatable.

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health.

For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly such long-lasting conditions as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

Whether young or old, the importance of mental health for total wellbeing cannot be overstated. When psychological wellness is affected, the result can cause negative behaviors that may not only affect personal health but also compromise relationships with others.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining our health and wellness:

Talk to someone: Share your feelings with a trusted friend or family member, or seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. Talking about your experiences can help you process the stress in your life and help you find solutions.

Take care of your physical health: Relax. Spend time with people you care about. Have fun. Reflect and plan. Eat well. Get plenty of regular exercise. Get plenty of rest. Build a strong routine.

Find healthy ways to cope: Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga to help manage stress. Engage in activities you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music or spending time outdoors.

Set realistic goals: Break larger goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t.

Seek support: Reach out to friends or family. If that’s not an option, seek help with professionals, therapists, school counselor, etc.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience with mental health is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. What’s most

important is to figure out what works best for you.

It’s also important to note that seeking help for mental health is a sign of strength. It takes courage to admit when you need help.

Our mental health is a key aspect of our overall well-being; taking good care is important!

Resources: www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/ index.htm

www.verywellmind.com/theimportance-of-mental-health-forwellbeing-5207938

Mental Health

To-Dos for Anyone’s List

by Blake Herzog

• Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and protein.

• Dance while you do your housework.

• Think about all the good things that could happen during that meeting you’re dreading.

• Clean one space, no matter how small.

• Start taking one step toward changing something in your life, even if you’re not sure what the second step will be.

• Practice gratitude in your mind or on paper at least once or twice a day.

• When you’re feeling stuck, do one activity that will get your heart rate up.

• Watch funny videos on YouTube or your favorite streaming service.

• Spend half an hour walking or hiking in nature.

• Make a “done” list instead of a “to-do” list to remind yourself of your progress.

• Prioritize your relationships with everyone, including cashiers and baristas.

• Start a new home or creative project or pick up one you haven’t finished yet.

• Take time to learn how much sleep you need to function the next day, then get it!

• Meditate, even if you’ve tried it in the past and didn’t like it.

• Eat a full breakfast in the morning.

• Put things you’re looking forward to on your calendar, including TV shows and book releases.

• Volunteer.

• Surround yourself with positive people.

• Move your body as much as you can.

• Start a backyard garden.

• Appreciate the simple things in life.

Finding your DASH

by Donna McBride, Pinal County Juvenile Court Program Administrator II

Anew year usually comes with resolutions, plans and questioning ourselves about what changes we want to make. We often think about our personal wellness. Lose weight, sleep better, work less … things like that.

But have you found your dash?

You are probably wondering: “I don’t even know my dash is!” The dash is actually your life in between the dates you were born and the date you pass. For example, my Mama Tess’s memorial bench shows March 24, 1936 — July 16, 2017. The dash represents her life from birth to passing.

I usually pick up the paper and one of the first things I check is the obituaries. As I reached the big 6-5 this past summer, I’ve thought a great deal about my own “dash.” I truly believe every person has a purpose only they truly know and has the power to fulfill.

Some find it early; some discover it much later in life. I found mine at age 9 when I started volunteering.

I recently read an obituary; I didn’t know the person at all. But it was apparent she wrote it herself because she started it off by saying so. I read her lengthy memoir of her life’s adventures, successes, challenges. She finished with challenging those reading it to do more.

Her words were sincere, raw and honest.

If you were to write your own obituary, what would it say? Simply put, what would your dash represent? Do you wish you’d not worked so much, spent more time with family, finished that degree or volunteered more?

Many people wish they “would have, could have, should have” done things differently. Well, there’s good news! You can. I can. Each one of us have been blessed with more time. Let’s use it.

In such a demanding world we live in, challenge yourself to find your dash. It’s not too late.

Adding your Children to your Real Estate

by Patricia Glover, CLDP, CP/ACP, CNSA Certified Legal Document Preparer, Glover Court Solutions & Estate Planning

Co-owning real estate with your children may create more problems than it solves and may not achieve your intended goals in the long run. Setting up a revocable living trust or recording a beneficiary deed, which only transfers ownership of your home upon your death, may be used to avoid these risks.

No “take backs”: If you want to sell or refinance your home, you must obtain signatures from each person who jointly owns your home. If that person is incapacitated, you may end up in probate court asking a judge for permission to sell your own home.

Or if the person refuses to sign, you may end up in costly litigation trying to remove the co-owner from your deed.

Creditors: A person’s primary homestead is typically protected from creditors; however, when you add a person onto the deed, it loses some of those protections. Also, if your child gets divorced, your home may be considered part of your child’s assets subject to distribution in the divorce proceedings.

Taxes: If your child predeceases you, you may owe inheritance tax on the

portion of your home you prematurely “gifted” to your child. Additionally, home values typically increase over time, and half of the gain may become taxable to your child when the home sells.

Such taxes can be avoided by transferring the property through inheritance instead.

Heirs of a deceased co-owner: Depending on how the deed is worded (e.g., “tenants in common”), your child’s heirs may have a legal claim to your home if your child predeceases you.

Ensure

Just

Digital Presence Management

A

Continued from page 17

We have the Taiwan Semiconductors of the world; that is a monster project. It’s a $40-billion project in Phoenix. We have at least five now, possibly six, of their supply chain locating in Casa Grande. And I think we’ll see more.

I think we’ll see as Lucid grows that they continue their expansion, increase their number of employees and increase their output. I think they’re producing about 80 cars a day or close to their initial target of 30,000 cars a year. They’ve got 2.8 million square feet of new construction that will be open in the next six to eight months.

GRANDE LIVING: Let’s talk about this for a minute: How many hours do you suspect you devote to this job a week? 70, 80?

Mayor Craig McFarland: No, I wouldn’t say it’s that much.

GRANDE LIVING: We’ll call it 60. That’s a nice round number. How on earth can anyone but a retired person do this job? Both in terms of time and finances?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Mayor is supposed to be a part-time job, it’s not.

GRANDE LIVING: So part of me would like to say that the public doesn’t appreciate the hours you put in, but on the other hand, they may because you run unopposed every single time. So, I mean all the pictures of you at ribbon-cuttings and chairing committees and speaking before the news cameras, it may have hit home. But it’s a big job.

Mayor Craig McFarland: It is a big job, and it really needs to be a full-time job. I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. But as we get larger, and as we grow, when we hit that 100,000 population mark, which I think will happen in the next 10 years, we need to look at part-time versus full-time mayor job expectations.

If you listen to the 2020 census, we were at about 53,700. But we were right in the middle of a pandemic. People wouldn’t answer their doors. People didn’t fill out forms or complete the survey online. We have a fairly large elderly population; they didn’t come out of their houses. And we also have a very large Latino population, and they didn’t trust the government.

But my point is that we were way undercounted. The 2019 Census Bureau estimate was 57,700, and if you just take the housing, the new housing starts in the last five

years, our population has to be close to 62,000 to 65,000.

GRANDE LIVING: It’s pretty obvious. So, whether you do or not, I will rank economic development as your biggest accomplishment. What would you say is your second biggest accomplishment?

Mayor Craig McFarland: A couple things. I think the collaboration between education and workforce development has been key. Workforce development is critical to bringing in all this industry, and without a good education system feeding your workforce, it doesn’t happen.

And I think that bringing all the educators and education systems together, and at least having some collaborative conversation, has been a key accomplishment.

And then along with that, the collaboration with the Homeless Commission. We had 15, 16 different

Mayor's family at Disney World FL

social organizations doing their own thing. And with the help of (City Council members) Lisa Fitzgibbons and Donna McBride, the three of us really built this collaborative effort to bring everybody together.

We’re rebranding the commission as CGHELPS because it addresses more than just homelessness. It brings the social organizations together like Sun Life Health, Faith Based Alliance, Laundry Love, CAHRA (Community Action Human Resources Agency), portable showers and CHIPS, just to name a few. This and many other groups help people who need help and we have the CGHELPS resource center in Peart Park, so it makes sense to rebrand. And then under that umbrella, we help the homeless, we help those who are near-homeless, we help those who need help.

GRANDE LIVING: Do you want to talk a little bit about residential development in the last several years and where that’s headed?

Mayor Craig McFarland: We have seen tremendous growth in residential development over the last five years. Since 2018 Casa Grande has issued 4,283 single family building permits. That’s an average of 850+ permits per year. Recently however, we have experienced a big increase in interest rates that is having a negative effect on new home starts.

We still have a very large housing need with all our new industry.

On the bright side, home starts are down but, we should have close to 1,000 new single-family-for-rent product coming on line in 2023.

So we’ll see what happens out there, but I think we’ll continue to see growth. I think this downturn is a lot different from the last one. We still have new jobs coming in. We have tons of new people coming into town. We need places for them to live. They need houses, they need apartments.

We haven’t built and opened a new apartment in 15 years. Now we have new apartments on Kortsen, Trekell , Peart, Florence, and most of those are the singlefamily-for-rent product, which is a nice product.

GRANDE LIVING: Let’s open the category of things left undone. What’s a giant gap that just hasn’t come to fruition in your mind, in your heart, on your agenda?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Trails, and the new park and park upgrades at Paul Mason/Rodeo facility. Some of the things I was hoping for were passing our bond questions this past November election. We should have gone for the bond election two years ago when interest rates were really low.

GRANDE LIVING: So do you take that as a failure on your part? Not to push it further two years ago?

Mayor Craig McFarland: To some degree. I think we should have done it in 2020. This past year interest rates have come back up. The failure of the bond election this past November, I think, was voter fatigue, and a long ballot. It was four pages, and I think people were just not in the mood.

I think we’re going to try again. One bond out of the four did pass. And so it tells me that our constituents are interested in good roads.

Continued on page 96

Grandkids with Nani and Papi

Photo by Kevin Wead

Photo by Alan Friedman

Photo by Alan Friedman

Photo by David Zumbach

Photo by David Zumbach

Photo by RonnieRodriguez

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Photo courtesy of City of Maricopa

Photo courtesy of City of Maricopa

Photo courtesy of City of Maricopa

CAC Students Helped in Navigating In-Demand Careers

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

Central Arizona College (CAC) is partnering with Pipeline AZ, an Arizona career development and jobs skills platform, to provide a regional solution to advancing economic opportunities and developments.

The CAC Pipeline helps students and Pinal County job seekers explore high-demand careers that align with their passions, skills and Pinal County’s economic demands.

“CAC Pipeline is not just another job board for students,” says Carrie McIntyre, Academic Success Coordinator. “Leveraging Pipeline AZ’s technology, CAC students can explore fields of interest, identify their skills and training opportunities that align with our community’s workforce needs.”

CAC Pipeline gives students and job seekers insights about the exact skills, education or certificates needed to reach their career goals. Upon completion of their profile, users will have access to a variety of career exploration opportunities and information, including job shadowing, service learning, field experience, research, apprenticeship and other opportunities specific to Pinal County.

“Pipeline AZ’s partnership with CAC provides a workforce solution that will highlight pathways to in-demand careers by bringing together educators, local employers, community partners and students onto one platform,” says Katherine Pappas, Senior Vice President of Pipeline AZ.

“The platform’s skills mapping technology helps job seekers begin a new path, level-up in their existing careers, explore work or work-based learning opportunities and discover new passions for lifelong success while also giving local employers access to current and rising talent in the region.”

Every CAC student will have access to customized career exploration tools and support through the platform, which showcases Pinal County-specific as well as statewide career opportunities.

Pinal County job seekers not enrolled at CAC also will be able to set up a profile to explore careers and discover local training programs to help them reach their career goals. Regional employers will be able to post jobs. The listings will include skills, certifications and degrees needed.

“Pinal County is home to a wide range of economic opportunities and our students are lifelong learners who want to make a strong impact on their local community,” says Nicole Costales, CAC’s Title V Project Director. “Through the CAC Pipeline, we can better serve and educate our diverse student body by helping them make fulfilling career choices while growing the local economy in Pinal County.”

Job seekers can connect with employers at https://cac. pipelineaz.com.

A CAC student walks to class at the Signal Peak Campus. Photo courtesy of CAC Marketing

Always Something Going on at your Local Libraries

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

Summer is still a few months away, but your Casa Grande public libraries already are planning a fun-filled Summer Reading Program!

This year’s theme is Find Your Voice! With that, you can expect lots of singing, dancing, performers and more! There will be activities for toddlers to teenagers, and we will even have some adult programs in the mix.

Juvenile participants will receive a reading log to track the minutes they read and earn prizes each week. The kickoff is June 5 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Palm Island Aquatics Center.

Are you looking for something to do in the here and now?

Head down to either library, Main or Vista Grande, with your library card and check out an Act One Culture Pass. Once checked out, the receipt printed from the library will give you two free “passes” to a destination you chose from participating locations. Places include The Reid Park Zoo, The Heard Museum, Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and more.

The “pass” printed is good for seven days and expires on the eighth day. One pass per household per sevenday loaning period is allowed and two per household per month. To see what is available go to www. cglibrary.org and search for Culture

Pass. Passes cannot be reserved and are first come, first serve.

Don’t have a library card yet? We have two locations — the Main Library at 449 N. Drylake St. and the Vista Grande Library at 1556 N. Arizola Road. All you need is a photo ID with a current Pinal County address. If your ID does not have that, bring in your ID with a piece of mail with your name and current address.

With a library card, you can access thousands of resources from print to digital.

Did you know you can use your Casa Grande Library card at all Pinal County libraries? You can also request items from any Pinal County library be sent to either of the Casa Grande locations. The Pinal County Library District runs a county courier that stops at our libraries twice a week.

Don’t miss out on all the awesome things happening at the Casa Grande public libraries. Follow us on Facebook at cglibraryaz, and check out our website at www.cglibrary.org

Vista Grande Public Library 1556 N. Arizola Rd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Casa Grande Main Library 449 N. Drylake St. Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Are You Gonna Eat That?!?

by Gigi McWhirter

Dogs have a lot of strange habits we humans don’t understand, and, to us, are quite nasty. Things like licking their tail section, sniffing each other’s rear-ends, slurping up a cold one from the toilet bowl, rolling in nasty swampy stuff or farm animal pens are all worthy of a: “What the heck?!”

The one that tops the list must be eating poop. Dogs don’t do it to freak us out, but it sure does — so much so that eating feces is why some owners have their dogs re-homed and sometimes even want to have them euthanized.

The scientific name for the habit of poop eating is coprophagia (kopruh-fey-jee-uh). Dogs are by nature scavengers. It is in their DNA. Most dogs will eat whatever they find on the ground or in the trash can. This instinct goes back to when canines had to do whatever it took to survive, which, even as we humans have a hard time understanding, includes eating feces.

Not all dogs indulge in this poop du jour habit. For those that do, it has been observed, these gourmet eaters prefer normal stools and rarely eat poorly formed or loose stools.

Most poop eaters prefer fresh droppings no more than two days old. They also prefer the “logs” left by other dogs and rarely eat their own

creations. Girl dogs are more likely to indulge in this habit, while intact males prefer not to.

Owners with one dog don’t witness this event as often as owners with more dogs. It is not harder to housetrain a poop eater, although, it should be noted that some dogs try to hide the evidence by eating it if they have an accident in the house.

Table surfing canines are more likely to be poop eaters.

Dogs do not have to eat stool as a nutritional source.

If you have ever watched a mother dog with a new litter of puppies, you have probably seen her licking them on their “private parts.” She does this to help them potty and poo. Once the puppy has had a bowel movement, she will eat it to help keep their space clean. Puppies may eat their own feces as they are growing up.

While eating their own stool is usually harmless, eating the stools of other animals like cats, horses and birds may cause health problems, especially if they are contaminated with toxins, viruses or parasites. The puppy poop habit usually goes away after the pup turns 9 months old.

Consult with your pet’s veterinarian, not Dr. Google, if your adult dog starts to eat poop. The vet may want to rule out health issues such as parasites, possible diet deficiencies, drugs such as steroids, malabsorption syndromes, and conditions like diabetes, thyroid or Cushing’s disease or other ailments that could cause an increase in appetite.

Happy Tails to You!

Cactus Mine Owners, ADEQ Win Award

Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc., owner of the Cactus Mine (formerly the ASARCO Sacaton mine) just west of Casa Grande, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) have been presented an award by the American Exploration and Mining Association for their collaboration on redeveloping the site into an asset that could generate more than $8.5 billion in total economic output.

The 4,000-acre site was in production for a decade by ASARCO from 1974-1984 and was transferred to an environmental trust after the company declared bankruptcy in 2009 because of companywide issues.

The trust managed the care and maintenance of the site until the mine property was acquired in 2020, following a $20 million reclamation of the asset.

Arizona Sonoran, formerly known as Elim Mining, has been working on permitting the site and exploring its mineral content while planning an operation that’s water-efficient and aiming for a low-carbon footprint.

The Cactus Mine’s adjacent ParksSalyer deposit, with a maiden mineral resource estimate announced in October 2022, dramatically increased the property’s potential output, containing an additional 2.9 billion pounds of copper.

I-10

Continued from page 12

In other I-10 news, U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced in late January she and Kelly had sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant seeking funding to

The addition marks Cactus as the third largest independent copper project in the U.S.

Ian McMullan, chief operating officer of Arizona Sonoran, gave much of the credit for the award to the state agency.

“It was through the vision of the state that this project became a reality,” he said. “In 2019, this property was a taxpayer liability, however, on the basis of a strong working relationship with the ADEQ, the project continues to be de-risked and through the company’s feasibility studies, is advancing quickly toward a construction decision.”

Arizona Sonoran spokesman Adam Hawkins said that upon a positive construction decision expected in late 2024, the company hopes to begin mining activity in 2026.

“We were actually hoping for a construction decision in late 2022 until the discovery of the Parks-Salyer deposit, which was great news because we were able to find a lot more copper, but it also took us back to the drawing board to plan the potentially larger project,” he said.

Continued on page 73

build a new interchange at Kortsen and Kleck roads, citing its strategic position near Lucid Motors and Nikola.

“Improving mobility for both plants and thousands of good-paying jobs, the I-10 Kortsen Interchange is truly the gateway to the electric vehicle future,”

the senators said.

The $25.5-million interchange is included in the voter-approved Pinal Regional Transportation Plan but was left unfunded after the defeat last year of Proposition 469.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Sonoran Copper Company Inc.

Maricopa Mayor Smith on the Road to Expansion

Maricopa

Mayor Nancy Smith didn’t reach her current role through an election, but she didn’t face a big learning curve.

Once the City Council unanimously voted to tap Smith, who had been a Council member since 2014, to take the mayor’s gavel in August following the resignation of Christian Price, she jumped to the forefront of the battle to get state Route 347 widened to six lanes for the 13 miles it spans between the city and Interstate 10.

She didn’t miss a beat when voters rejected Pinal County’s Proposition 469, which would have funded that and other road projects, and she’s excited that the road’s design is expected to start this year.

“Once the design is done, we will be all ready to go so that when we do find that $300 million to $400 million, everything’s ready to go, put the bids out, let’s get started,” she said. “So I think it’s encouraging for us to know we have some irons in the fire and we’re making small improvements.”

Those could include changing some intersections to improve traffic flow and increased safety enforcement from the state Department of Public Safety, which could release a report about its recommendations in April or May.

CG Commerce Park Continued from page 13

industrial land purchase in the city.

“The buyer has been successful with multiple industrial developments of this type across the Valley and recognized a need for existing industrial space in Pinal County,” McCarville said. “Thanks to the

Maricopa is more than just the sum of how many lanes the highway has to ferry residents to and from jobs.

Smith is overseeing the city’s expansion into being more than a bedroom community as construction starts on a new emergency room/hospital. Other uses on what had been part of Copper Sky Regional Park are being considered, as well as how to market municipally owned land on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway with the goal of attracting a major employer.

She said S3 Biotech is moving quickly on the first phase of its medical campus, with an innovation center and sports academy to follow.

“I like the fact that this hospital is so closely linked to sports, because it’s definitely an element that we don’t have here in the City of Maricopa,” she said. As for physicians and other medical personnel living in or interested in coming to the community, “All I see is jobs.”

The Exceptional Community Hospital Maricopa, which opened at the end of 2021, is doing brisk business, Smith said, but Dignity Health has not made any more movement to date toward developing its property on Route 347 at Smith-Enke Road.

Maricopa’s 230-acre land purchase for

industrial development will go through a master-planning process to prepare it for development, she said.

“It’s something that we desperately need because, going back to high-paying jobs, I want as many of the residents that live in the city of Maricopa working in the City of Maricopa, so they don’t have to venture out onto 347.”

She is hopeful that at some point the city will eventually have enough jobs to keep a majority of residents in town, but said she doesn’t think it will happen in the near future.

Smith and her husband Tony moved into their Maricopa home in July 2003 with absolutely no intention of getting into local politics. “But once we moved out here, we got so engaged with the community in a variety of different ways that it almost became this strong desire to just help wherever we could,” she said.

Her husband spent four years as mayor and eight years as county supervisor, and Smith’s already getting comfortable in the mayor’s job and planning to run for election in 2024.

“It is a lot more work, but it’s fun work. I’ve had just awesome discussions in trying to really procure what’s best for the City of Maricopa. And to me, I find that just fascinating and fun,” she said.

site’s unique layout, which accommodates their product perfectly, the land price and the market’s growing needs for this type of product, we were able to complete the transaction and welcome a new industrial park to Casa Grande.”

Cavan’s company, Cavan Commercial, lists several projects under development and completed throughout the Phoenix area, including sites in Mesa, Goodyear, Glendale, Gilbert, El Mirage and Queen Creek.

More news on page 72

Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith

Show Your Flair with Proper Table Setting

by Valerie Demetros

Setting a table properly used to be common knowledge, but these days it’s a lost art.

Yet the fact remains that food is more appetizing when served in a beautiful setting. Also, an elegant table setting sets the tone for the evening, letting guests see you went that extra step to show them just how welcome they are.

If you’re feeling a bit unpracticed on your setting skills, no worries. For both casual and formal dining, the tips below will keep your guests coming back for more.

BASIC DINING The basic table setting we are all familiar with, perhaps for a quick lunch with a friend, generally includes a fork, knife, spoon and napkin. As a general rule, the folded napkin sits to the left of the plate with the fork on top. To the right of the plate, place the knife with the blade facing the plate and the spoon to its right. Pretty simple.

CASUAL DINING A casual setting should be intimate and unfussy, but still demonstrate your flair and style. Start with the basic setting but step it up with your flatware and linens. Now is the time to get creative. Flatware can be crossed and tied with ribbon or raffia and you can tie the napkin in a knot or fold it and place it on the plate.

If needed, add a salad plate and then a soup bowl on your dinner plate. The water glass should sit just above the knife and to its right a wine glass.

FORMAL DINING The formal table setting gets a bit more complicated, but don’t worry. You just need to provide your guests with everything they need for a beautiful meal.

Adding a tablescape can elevate your setting but make sure it doesn’t block anyone’s view. It’s difficult to carry

on a conversation while peeking through greenery and flowers.

First, place a charger in the center of the setting, add the plate and top off with the salad plate. If you’re serving soup, place the bowl on the salad plate. Add a salad fork next to the dinner fork and beside your spoon, add the soup spoon. Just above the plates, place a dessert spoon horizontally.

A formal setting generally has more courses and may need more cutlery. If you’re serving bread, add a bread plate with the knife horizontally on the plate, directly above the napkin (if you are limited on space, it can go on top of the salad plate).

If you are serving more than one wine option, add a white wine glass just beneath the red wine glass to form an elegant triangle. Even though you don’t need a butler’s ruler to even up everything precisely, try to make sure everything is properly lined up.

For the next level of style, add place cards directly above the dessert spoon. Be sure and put the name on both sides so guests can find their seat, and guests sitting across won’t have to guess who they are talking to.

These 5 Plants Help Purify Indoor Air

by Blake Herzog

Back in the 1980s, NASA was looking for solutions to indoor air pollution for everything from real homes to theoretical space colonies, and the results of one study found some species of houseplants were capable of removing one of the major classes of air pollutants from within controlled experimental chambers over a 24-hour period.

Scientists today contend plants can’t make much of a dent under real-world, uncontrolled indoor air pollution circumstances unless you have so many of them in a room they crowd out any people trying to get in.

But having plants in your home or office does reduce stress and improve your mood, so those are two really good reasons to keep them around. And these five were among the top performers in that NASA study, so they’re probably going to do even more for your environment than most!

1. Ficus (weeping fig) — These tropical evergreens generally don’t get taller than 3 to 6 feet inside but are fast growers. They sport lots of glossy dark-green leaves that may drop when they’re stressed. Needs bright, but filtered, sun and fast-drying soil.

2. Gerbera daisy — These brilliant flowering plants are mostly grown outdoors but can thrive in sunny rooms where they get lots of indirect sunlight. They should be watered when dry to the touch, since overwatering can lead to root rot as well as crown rot.

3. Mass cane — Also known as corn plants, these have canelike stems that produce long, slender green leaves with a yellowish stripe down the middle. Good for newbies or nervous plant parents because they are low maintenance, grow in any kind of soil as long as it’s well-drained, and do best in low to medium light conditions.

4. Potted mums — Potted chrysanthemums are one of the most popular flowers for growing indoors as well as flower arranging. Keep their soil moist and fertilize them regularly for best results, keeping them away from drafts; remove faded flowers.

5. Warneckeii — From the same undemanding dracaena family as the mass cane, they’re distinguished by their white striping and ability to grow just about anywhere.

Real Estate Market Statistics

The Kitchen is Enclosed

by Blake Herzog

The ubiquity of the open-concept floor plan and its centering of the kitchen has made it difficult to try to picture anything else.

Kitchens in older homes have long been built with more walls and placed farther from the main living area, though it’s often more open than other rooms, featuring an entryway with no door.

Pandemic conditions fueled a lot of fire at the largely wall-free home, but even before many people longed for barriers behind which they could prepare meals without family and visitors constantly intruding — and hide the dirty pots and pans.

Here are a few ideas on enclosing that kitchen.

RAISE YOUR ISLAND

If a kitchen island is the main visual barrier between your kitchen

and living room and you’re most concerned about hiding messes and spills from view, raising its edge might be all you need to do.

Putting up even a small visual barrier like a wood or stone border can work. If you have room, add a taller counter with a couple of barstools on the living room side, adding another place to eat while blocking the view into the kitchen for anyone not sitting right there.

PUT YOUR DOORS ON TRACK

If you’re looking to add a door to a doorway you can slide a barnstyle door into that slot instead. The styling and materials can make it look as classic or contemporary as you need.

They’re also much easier to install than pocket doors. If yours is one of the many kitchens with an attached counter instead of an

island providing a partial boundary between the kitchen and living room, an accordion door or glass partition between the counter and ceiling creates a lot more privacy.

WORK FROM THE CEILING DOWN

Pendant lighting, other types of light fixtures or hanging art pieces suspended over open counters are a great way to delineate the kitchen without getting too heavy-handed by putting in a wall or door.

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE

This can be a primary or secondary strategy to emphasize the division between a kitchen or living room — simply make sure the sofa is nearest to the kitchen and is facing away from it.

Because the couch will likely draw most people in the kitchen it’ll position their eyes and thoughts away from where all the grunt work is being done.

What SUX and What ROX?

What SUX in furniture? Trendy but cheaply made pieces!

It’s tempting to dial down your budget while furnishing your home when you’re living in perpetual fear of it getting branded with the “dated” kiss of death. But it won’t look very fresh as cracks and scratches develop and paint starts to chip off.

Not all inexpensive furniture is flimsy, but it usually costs you and our planet more in the end as you replace it while chucking the old stuff into the landfill.

What ROX? Furniture that’s built to last!

One of the best places to look for well-built furniture is in your own garage or storage locker, those of family members or friends, or garage and estate sales.

Whether buying old or new, look for solid wood (which can be repainted and resurfaced), iron or steel over fiberboard, plastic or thin metal tubing.

Most importantly, put some time and thought into your furniture purchases — maybe not as much you would a car, but if you choose right, it could outlast a car.

Want to SPARK UP your Landscaping?

by Blake Herzog

Most homeowners do a good job overall with plant choice, basic landscaping design and creating a pleasant space for outdoor time. Still, how can you elevate what you’ve got, and transport your family and guests to a slightly different plane?

Plants on structures — Use climbing vines to wind up, around and over trellises and pergolas to add green, natural shade.

Canyon Grape, Virginia creeper, bougainvillea, honeysuckle, wisteria, rambling roses, trumpet vines and jasmine are among the best choices.

Plant walls are lovely to look at and can be used to improve drab areas, whether by attaching pots or planters to an existing wall or adding the framework for a living wall hosting nothing but plant life (and

the accompanying birds and bees).

For an extra-organic look, build your pergola out of branches and twigs.

Wildflowers — Every climate has its own compatible seed packets that can be scattered around your property to produce spontaneous crops of color and beauty.

Try to avoid seed mixes with plants from other parts of the country or world, even if you think they will work in your climate. California poppies, purple coneflower, blue flax, several varieties of penstemon and goldeneyes are great for the north, while desert beauties include Mexican gold poppies, Arizona lupine and desert bluebells.

One reputable source for native seeds is Plants of the Southwest (www.plantsofthesouthwest.com), a

New Mexico-based nursery that has an extensive catalog of regionally appropriate seeds and seed mixes.

Freeform or natural pools — Quite effective in forested areas, freeform pools are made from concrete sprayed onto an irregularly shaped frame to create a more organic shape, which is often rimmed with manufactured rock and other features to help it blend with the landscape.

Most of these are conventional pools with pumps and chlorine. A natural pool is usually poured the same way, but is “treated” by its water constantly moving between it and an adjacent pool of roughly the same size, which incorporates flowering plants and natural filtering material (such as shale).

If you have room for it, a natural pool doubles the charm.

Nikola Moving Battery Plant to Coolidge, Unveils Energy Brand

and Houser Road. Planned automation will be geared toward improving quality and increasing efficiencies.

The move will put Nikola’s truck assembly, fuel-cell assembly, fuel-cell module assembly and battery module and pack production at its Coolidge location, where it builds zero-emission, electric- and fuel-cell powered cargo trucks for the regional- and long-haul markets.

commercially available hydrogen-fueled tractor-trailer, the Nikola Tre FCEV. Fifteen are scheduled to be delivered to Napa, California-based Biagi Bros. by the end of this year.

Nikola Corporation announced in January it will be relocating its battery manufacturing from Cypress, California, to its Coolidge manufacturing facility by fall 2023 after completing its purchase of lithium-ion battery producer Romeo Power last October.

Nikola said in a press release the Cypress factory will be operational until mid-2023 as the company works to integrate the battery production line into its 395-acre property at Route 87

“This decision reinforces our commitment to finding ways to optimize our cost structure and create a sustainable business model,” said Michael Lohscheller, Nikola Corporation President and CEO. “We remain focused on meeting our 2023 milestones, including pack and module production targets.”

Also in January, Nikola held an event at its Phoenix headquarters to announce a new brand name, HYLA, for its hydrogen energy production, distribution and dispensing products as it begins production of its first

“Hydrogen energy is the catalyst for the HYLA brand and serves as a forward-looking solution for our customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and dramatically reduce the overall carbon emissions in the transportation sector,” said Carey Mendes, president of Nikola Energy. The HYLA brand will be attached to Nikola’s:

• Hydrogen production, including its Phoenix Hydrogen Hub in Buckeye.

• 60 hydrogen stations planned by 2026, with the first three located in California.

• The flexible mobile fueler program, a fleet of trucks which will bring hydrogen to customers as needed while the hydrogen stations are built out.

Peralta Regional Park Open to Public

Pinal County’s long-planned Peralta Regional Park near Gold Canyon opened in January, offering almost 500 acres in lightly developed Sonoran Desert with trails, campsites, stargazing, picnic ramadas and an equestrian staging site.

The new public open space at 17975 Peralta Road is near the Peralta Trail and other access points to the Superstition Mountains and is expected to draw hikers, campers and eventually rock climbers.

It’s limited in terms of infrastructure to minimize disturbance to the environment, with no electricity or water and “waterless” restrooms typically found in more remote

settings.

Nine miles of unpaved connecting trails loop around the L-shaped property to offer a variety of perspectives and levels of difficulty, including an interpretive trail suitable for beginners and strollers.

Other features include a “stargazing node” taking advantage of the area’s dark skies and 31 campsites intended for either cars or tents or tents only, intended for backpackers. There’s no trash service so everyone is required to pack out their own trash, and no RV spaces are provided.

There are also 20 picnic sites, including two for large groups. Campsites and

picnic areas can be reserved via the park’s website at www.pinal.gov/1204/PeraltaRegional-Park. The day-use fee is $7.

Peralta Regional Park stargazing node

Photo courtesy of Pinal County

Nikola battery plant in Cypress, Calif.,

Photo courtesy of Nikola Corporation

Hospital, Mixed-Use Plan Near Copper Sky Advances

Aproposal to build a hospital and medical building with rental housing and a hotel is moving ahead after approval from the City of Maricopa Planning and Zoning Commission.

The project is slated for the southeast corner of Route 347 and Bowlin Road, on about 9.5 acres bounded by Copper Sky Regional Park and the planned Seasons at Copper Sky project on the east and southeast. Work on the site has begun and construction is slated to begin this spring.

The site, elevation, landscape and photometric plans for the site were approved by the commission in December. They include an 80-foot hospital tower with beds for standard and ICU care, a 60-foot medical office building for outpatient medical care, a 140-unit multifamily building to house medical personnel and others in the community, and a 138-room hotel, according to a City staff report.

According to a report submitted by developer S3 Biotech LLC, the hospital will be built at the corner of 347 and Bowlin and include 14 emergency room beds, two trauma rooms, an operating room and general procedure room. There also will be 14 standard care beds, four ICU beds and an empty floor for expansion of services.

A helicopter pad will be located on the roof.

The seven-story apartment building, Copper Sky Lofts, is set to be built southeast of the hospital with a three-story parking garage (with one floor built underground) topped by five floors of living units and such amenities as a fitness center, pool, lounge and elevated walkways to the other buildings on the site.

The living units are mainly for doctors and other health care workers who want to live next to the hospital or are visiting from

Cactus Mine Continued from page 54

The company’s 2023 plans include completion of its prefeasibility study, which may extend into early 2024, leading up to a definitive feasibility study late in 2024; exploration and infill

other areas, but some will be available to the general public.

The medical office building will go just east of the hospital and include leasable space for medical practices. The “high-end” hotel will be placed south of the hospital, separated by a courtyard with a fountain and include a conference center, restaurant, bar and rooftop amenities.

This medical campus is the first phase of “District 3,” part of S3 BioTech’s bigger plan encompassing 28 acres. In September, the City Council approved a zoning change to clear the way for the hospital/apartment/hotel development and another 5 acres across Graythorn Drive on its eastern end, where the police substation currently is located.

This eastern portion, plus another 9-acre slice of the park south of the La Quinta Inn and Suites, where the dog park and three sports fields are located, will be devoted to an “innovation center” including a sports and science academy, sports psychology and behavior health and other services, plus condos and more apartments. The dog park is being replaced by three smaller ones throughout the City.

A study by Elliot D. Pollack and Associates projects the entire project will generate 11,000 construction jobs and 3,000 annual permanent jobs and up to $4.3 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years.

S3 BioTech has another project in the works for 60 acres at the northeast corner of Farrell and White and Parker roads. The City Council in January approved zoning changes and general plan amendments for commercial and high- to medium-density multifamily residential uses.

drilling programs along the Cactus Mine 4 km mine trend; and completion of permitting for the Cactus Mine.

“The revitalization is a real 360-degree win for Arizona,” said former ADEQ

Director Misael Cabrera. “It’s a win for the environment, great for the creation of jobs and the economy, and the end result will be copper, a necessary building block for green technology.”

Copper Sky Park

Photo courtesy of the City of Maricopa

Fun TRAVEL, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

All Aboard in Zurich

by Tori Ward, ROX Travel, Cruise and Resort Specialist

We recently started a train journey across several countries beginning in Zurich, Switzerland. The central rail station is a wonderful artery within about an hour’s journey to picturesque Bern, cozy Lake Lucerne or artistic Basel.

However, you may get distracted by the plethora of restaurants, shops and unusual sites you’ll encounter at the station. Hello lady carrying a spinning wheel on her head!

Zurich is a global banking center, and much of the city reflects its gold standard of luxury. However, as we previously had been to Zurich, this time we skipped the museums, churches and designer shopping. Instead, we concentrated on outdoor activities in that tiny window of time before the heavy snowfall and skiers descended.

A walk from our hotel within a block of the station led us to Viadukt Arches, an eclectic urban area created under 36 railway arches originally built in 1894. It is now home to boutiques, delicatessens and studios.

At the far end, and close to Limmat River, is the Market Hall — or Restaurant Markrhalle to keep it Swiss. We collected our lunch from one of the delis, but stopped to make reservations for dinner that evening. Fondue was on the menu.

Then, on to the Limmat where we sat in the chilly autumn watching the last leaves fall from the giant sycamores and linden trees lining the river. Benches placed along the Platzspitz made resting, eating and people watching a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

As someone raised around the warm Florida waters, though, I could only stare in wonder at the cold water swimmers. If you’re there at the beginning of December you won’t want to miss the Samichlausschwimmen, a charity event involving about 300 swimmers paddling across the freezing cold river.

After dinner we stopped in at Widder Bar, a piano bar between our hotel and train station that was a little quieter than some of the nightclubs that appeal to a younger crowd. Zurich has a vibrant late night scene that caters to all demographics.

Since many venues are closed on Sunday, we opted for a walk along the banks of Lake Zurich with the backdrop of snowcapped Uetliberg Mountains in the morning, again marveling at the nonchalance of those taking to the glacial water.

Tori’s tips:

There is a promenade that borders both sides of the lake for several miles with dedicated lanes for bikers and skaters. Small cafes and coffee shops present an opportunity to fuel up after a brisk morning walk. There are many boat rental venues available as well as charter boat rides from Zurich itself, but we opted to get out of town and up into the mountains for the afternoon.

We traveled along the coast of Lake Zurich about 15 minutes to Meilen where we boarded a boat for a short ferry ride to the other side. From Adliswil we took a cable car up 2,630 feet to Felsenegg. And, although we took the ferry, it’s easy to get to Felsenegg from Zurich’s main train station. After we exited the car we took the path up the mountain for a 20-minute hike to the restaurant. Sundays are a busy time, so reservations are definitely recommended.

The following morning, we walked the short block back to the train station and boarded the train for our trip across the Arlberg Pass, through Innsbruck and to Salzberg.

Next in the series I will take you through the Alps by rail to Austria.

• Download a translation app if you aren’t familiar with German. English is not always translated on signage and menus.

• Watch out for electric scooters that are quiet, quick and everywhere. Pay attention to walking paths versus those for other modes of transport.

• Train transport from Zurich airport to the heart of the city is fast and inexpensive.

• Switzerland’s currency is the Swiss franc, not the Euro, and the best exchange rates are usually through a bank ATM. Avoid street kiosks or airport exchange shops if possible.

Photo by Tori Ward

Pinal County Fair Runs

March 15-19

Get ready for fun as the Pinal County Fair brings five days of celebration with something for everyone!

Put on your dancing shoes! Friday night will feature a live concert with La Brissa! Come back Saturday night for Gypsy Dreams, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, for even more live musical fun.

Daily entertainment includes magician Louie Foxx, balloon man Skip Banks, Cooks’ Racing Pigs, Roberto the Magnificent, The Wagon of Whimsy and SO much more! We are especially excited to welcome the Superhero Stunt Bike performers this year with their high-flying bike tricks.

You will also enjoy seeing our animal exhibits — 4-H, FFA and other Pinal County youth will have their cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry onsite so you can see all their hard work. Saturday will include two livestock auctions, so if you are interested in purchasing meat, poultry or turkey for your freezer and supporting local youth this is the place to be!

Saturday we will also be hosting the first “Children’s Entrepreneur Market” where local youth set up booths and sell their items in a mini business model.

The Fair would not be the Fair if there were no turkey legs, cotton candy and carnival rides. There will be many food vendors to appease all your fair food cravings. After you fill up, head over to the carnival and ride the carousel, the Music Express, and if you are brave jump on the Freak Out!

If rides do not interest you, there is always something you cannot live without at our vendor mall, so let’s go shopping.

At only $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-12, admission to the fair is a bargain when you consider that all the shows are free. You’ll find discounts and more information by visiting the website at www.pinalfairgrounds.com.

See

‘Maricopa Has Never Been So Busy’: First Boom as Railroad Junction

by Blake Herzog

Maricopa’s Amtrak station at 19427 N. John Wayne Parkway has been the closest stop to Phoenix for the past 27 years but receives little notice for its status. An earlier station on the same site created a major buzz when it opened 116 years ago.

According to documents at the Maricopa Historical Society, “The year was 1887 and the citizens of the Salt River Valley (Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Kyrene) had one thing in common ... they all were excited about the arrival of the railroad! The Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad from Maricopa would be at their door soon and open up unlimited opportunities for industry and growth for the entire country.”

On July 4, a large crowd in Phoenix greeted the first inbound steam engine on the line, which connected to the Southern Pacific Railroad in Maricopa, along with a parade, brass band, picnics and fireworks. Speakers hailed the prosperity the rail was certain to bring.

Then the train backtracked all 35 miles to the brand-new, two-story station in Maricopa. The village (1900 population: 160) could finally proclaim its status as a railroad junction, having moved its base 3 miles east from Maricopaville, a boomtown that quickly went bust after another planned junction was changed.

Photo of busy Maricopa rail station, circa 1900 Courtesy of Maricopa Historical Society

The area around this station developed, including the construction of a hotel just to the northwest with a restaurant and store on the first floor and rooms for rent on the second. The property went through several owners and was usually known as the Maricopa Hotel or Harvey House.

It hosted many travelers on their way out to California or north to Phoenix or Prescott.

In 1890, owner James Edwards’ wife Mary Ellen became the first white woman to settle in the community. Her accounts of running the hotel included hosting two presidents, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, and heavyweight boxing champion John L. Sullivan.

Maricopa also became a popular honeymoon destination for couples from Phoenix. Mary Ellen Edwards delivered the community’s first baby at the hotel in September 1899, born to a woman who was traveling back from her summer on the California coast. She named her baby after the town.

In the early 1900s, three trains were running daily between Phoenix and Maricopa. Tom Gregory, who managed one of Maricopa’s hotels, told the Arizona Daily Citizen in Tucson he’d been especially busy in February 1900:

“For three months, we have had our hotel filled to the attic every night, and the other hotel is crowded, too. The depot has its usual number of loungers, and the Pullman ac-

commodations have been generously patronized. Maricopa has never been so busy. The crowds going to Phoenix this winter have been greater than ever.”

The rail station and Maricopa Hotel prospered until they were destroyed by fire in 1931, and the Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad ended its service to the town four years later.

Sources: Maricopa Historical Society, City of Maricopa

Photo of Edwards House (Maricopa Hotel), with train station to the right. Courtesy of Maricopa Historical Society

Photo of Maricopa Junction train station Courtesy of Maricopa Historical Society

Now ! EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

March 15th

Events at Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center

Maricopa

The Entertainment Center offers movies, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, parties, and special events. See the Ak-Chin Circle website and Facebook page for this month’s featured events.

520.568.3456

www.ak-chincircle.com

Karaoke with James G. Gallopin’ Goose - Coolidge

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

The Gallopin’ Goose has karaoke every Wednesday with host James G. Check their Facebook page for the weekend DJ schedule. Located at 1980 S. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge.

520.723.0300

www.facebook.com/gallopingoose

March 16th

Zipline EcoTours

Arizona Zipline Adventures - Oracle

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Zipline EcoTour allows you to zip on 5 different spans ranging in length from 400 to 1,500 ft. and lasts approximately 2 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

March 16th

Live Music at San Tan Flat: Rod Kent

San Tan Flat - Queen Creek

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

San Tan Flat has live music every week. Located at 6185 W. Hunt Highway in Queen Creek. Visit the events calendar page on their website for the March music lineup. Rod Kent plays every Wednesday

480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

March 16th

Pinal County Fair

Pinal Fairgrounds & Event Center - Casa Grande

4:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Pinal County Fair takes place March 15-19 at the Pinal Fairgrounds & Event Center. Admission is $10 for adults (13 or older), $5 for kids 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under. See website for fair events and activities. 512 South Eleven Mile Corner Rd. in Casa Grande. Opening day only: buy 1 get 1 free admission 520.723.7881

www.pinalfairgrounds.com

March 16th

Casa Grande Art Museum Exhibits

Casa Grande Art Museum

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Current exhibit is by Marsha Hindman, on display from March 10 through April 1. The Central Arizona College Student Show will run from April 14-29. Museum hours are Wed. through Sat., 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Located at 319 West 3rd Street in Casa Grande. There is no charge to visit the museum, and donations are gratefully received.

520.705.2055

www.casagrandeartmuseum.org

March 16th

CGAA Art Show at Casa Grande Municipal Airport

Casa Grande

7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Casa Grande Art Association’s “Surrender” group art show will be on display in the lobby of the Casa Grande Municipal Airport from Feb. 15 through Apr. 10 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. Free event with art available for purchase. The CGAA will provide art shows year-round at the airport.

www.casagrandeartassociation.org

Comedy Night & Karaoke

The Roost Sports Bar & Cafe

Maricopa

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

The Roost has Comedy Night every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Free admission to this stand-up comedy show. They also have Karaoke on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturdays starting at 10:00 PM. Located at 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy in Maricopa. Check Facebook page for updates.

520.568.5338

www.facebook.com/TheRoostAZ

March 16th

Jim Westover Elvis Tribute - St. Patrick’s Day Concert

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

3:00 PM

Tickets $25 general admission. VIP and VIP balcony tickets available. The Paramount Theatre is located in historic downtown Casa Grande. 708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

Learn about Arizona’s Geology

Pinal Geology & Mineral MuseumCoolidge

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Exhibits include fossils from all over the world, gems and minerals, and children’s activities. Check their website for information on monthly meetings of the Pinal County Gem and Mineral Society. The museum is located at 351 N. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge. Open Wed.-Sat. 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. through May 31.

520.723.3009

www.pinalgeologymuseum.org

March Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop - Casa Grande

Located in Casa Grande. Check the website for March class details and availability. Book your spot early as there are limited spaces available. They also have a Fiber & Fabric Club that meets monthly, Sept-May. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor, and more!

www.casitaworkshop.com

The Museum of Casa Grande

Presents: History Speaks!

City of Casa Grande Dorothy Powell

Senior Center - Casa Grande

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

The topic of today’s presentation is “They Beat the Heat: How AZ Survived

The Desert Heat Before Air Conditioning,” with Christine Reid. Free and open to the public.

520.836.2223

www.tmocg.org

March 17th

Valley Humane Society 2023 Golf Tournament

Dave White Golf Club - Casa Grande

8:00 AM

Net proceeds donated to the Valley Humane Society. You can register online or at the tournament. 18-hole four-person scramble. Team prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Longest drive and closest to the pin prizes. Raffle and 50/50 drawing. Registration and check-in starts at 7:30 AM and tournament will begin at 9:00 AM. 720.201.9653

www.vhsazgolf.com

Florence 3rd Fridays on Historic Main Street

McFarland State Historic Park

Florence

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Held on the 3rd Friday of each month from October through April. Enjoy live music, shopping, food and fun on Historic Main Street in Florence!

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

March 17th

Sierra Sound at the Pita Patio Grill

Pita Patio Grill - Coolidge

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Sierra Sound will be playing their eclectic mix of soft rock and country at the Pita Patio Grill in Coolidge on Friday, March 17 and Friday, April 7. Great food and drinks. Large dance floor too! Located at 235 W. Coolidge Ave. See the Pita Patio Facebook page for the live music schedule.

520.635.5576

www.facebook.com/coolidgerocks

Visit the Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Superior

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Discover Arizona’s first and oldest botanical garden, situated on 343 acres of scenic upland desert with nearly five miles of trail. See website for tours, tai chi and yoga classes, special events and visitor information. Located 4 miles west of Superior on Hwy. 60. Open daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, October through April.

520.689.2723

www.btarboretum.org

Visit the Casa Grande Ruins

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - Coolidge

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

March 17th

Nick Offerman - Comedy Show

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino

Maricopa

8:00 PM

Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Located at 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. Nick Offerman is an actor and comedian, known for his role in the NBC show "Parks and Recreation."

www.caesars.com/harrahs-akchin/shows/calendar

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is open daily, including the monument, museum exhibits, movie theater, monument bookstore, and picnic area. Free admission. See website for details special events.

520.723.3172

www.nps.gov/cagr

Visit the Ostrich Ranch

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

Picacho

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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. Open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM until Apr. 30.

520.466.3658

www.roostercogburn.com

RC Flyers Helps Pets

submitted by Casa Grande RC Flyers

The Casa Grande RC Flyers gave out $3,000 during their annual Fly-In for Pets in January.

During the event, the Academy of Model Aeronautics awardwinning club presented donations received from the Diane Warren Foundation of $2,000 to Debra Woodard, board member of the Valley Humane Society, and $1,000 to M.J. Radel, treasurer of the Pets in Need Action League.

This is the 8th year the Casa Grande RC Flyers held a Fly-In for Pets at their airfield, 2725 S. Isom Road. The event was Jan.14. The club also holds events that support the Casa Grande

Food Bank, the Hospice Charitable Funs of Central Arizona and the Boys and Girls Club of the Sun Corridor.

The Fly-In was held in conjunction with a swap meet where individuals from all over the area came to buy, sell or trade their radio-control items. The club holds major charity events on the second Saturday of each month November through March, always at their field.

The events are open to the public.

A list of events and other club information is posted on the group’s website, www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers. com.

The club has several Academy of Model Aeronautics certified flight instructors willing to teach any interested person to fly model aircraft at no charge, using the club’s training airplanes.

The Diane Warren Foundation is funded by Academy Award winning songwriter Diane Warren who has family ties to the area through the club’s founder and president. Warren has been nominated more than 13 times for Oscars for writing the best original song from a motion pictures and received an honorary Oscar for her work in November.

Debra Woodard, left, of Valley Humane Society and Nancy Friedman.

Mary Jane Radal, left, of Pets in Need Action League, and Nancy Friedman.

March 18th

35th Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival Festival Grounds - Gold Canyon

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

The Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace is a medieval amusement park with a 50-acre village, 16 stages, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament, people powered games and rides, costumed characters, and a medieval feast. Open on Sat-Sun only until April 2. Tickets available online or at the gate.

520.463.2600

www.arizona.renfestinfo.com

March 18th

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

6:00 PM

Challenge Cup sprint cars, modifieds, sport mods, stock cars, hobby stocks, mini-dwarfs. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande.

602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/ CentralArizonaRaceway

Explore Local History

The Museum of Casa Grande

Casa Grande

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

The Museum of Casa Grande is open

12:00 - 4:00 PM Wed-Sat. 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 is free for children and museum members. Located at 110 W. Florence Blvd.

520.836.2223

www.tmocg.org

March 18th

Florence Cemetery Walking Tours

Pinal County Historical Museum

Florence

See Florence’s rich history come alive on this guided tour of the Florence Cemetery! Join Chris Reid and learn about the people who made Florence what it is today including the oldest birthday on a headstone in Arizona. This tour begins at Pinal County Historical Society Museum. Tours are limited to 12 participants and tickets are $20 per adult and $15 for museum members.

520.868.4382

www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org

Hashbrowns, History & Hiking: Architectural History of Superior Town of Superior

7:30 AM - 11:30 AM

This event starts with a hearty breakfast and presentation on the architectural history of Superior. Following the presentation, guests will embark on a guided walk through downtown Superior to learn more about the architectural history. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water for the walk.

520.689.0200

www.superiorarizonachamber.org

March 18th

Live Music at the Windmill Winery: Sam Meric

Windmill Winery - Florence

5:00 PM

Live music night in the Wine Tasting Room! The Viet Q food truck will be on site. Music and food service begin at 5:00. Live music every Thu-Sat-Sun in March. Visit the Windmill Winery website for the schedule. Located at 1140 W. Butte Ave. in Florence.

520.858.6050

www.thewindmillwinery.com

Main Street Market

Historic Downtown Casa Grande

Casa Grande

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The market is held in Historic Downtown Casa Grande. Drop by the Sunset Court/Highway 84 mural for a small market consisting of vendors, crafting classes, and entertainment. If you’re a vendor and would like to take part in the market, contact Holly at Casa Grande Mainstreet.

520.836.8744

www.cgmainstreet.org

March 19th

Biosphere 2 Tours

University of Arizona Biosphere 2

Oracle

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Biosphere 2 is a world-famous research facility operated by the University of Arizona and located near Oracle. The Biosphere 2 Experience allows visitors to tour the interior of the facility. This fascinating, family-friendly experience is guided by a mobile app. Download the tour app prior to arrival. Tickets must be purchased online. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

520.621.4800

www.biosphere2.org

Yoga in the Lavender Field

Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm

Oracle

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

All levels vinyasa yoga flow between rows of lavender. Finish with a light refreshment and lavender bundle.

520.444.4453

www.lifeundertheoakslavenderfarm.com

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

March 19th

Live Music: Fred Cap Band

River Bottom Bar & Grill - Florence

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

The River Bottom Bar & Grill has 13 bands on their March schedule. See their new website for the live music lineup. Located at 2501 North Highway 79 in Florence.

520.868.3131

www.riverbottombar.com/eventcalendar

March 20th

McFarland State Historic Park

Museum & Visitor Center

Florence

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The museum and visitor center are open Mon. through Sat., 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Oct. through Apr. Park entrance fee is $5 and free for ages 18 and under. Visit the AZ State Parks website to plan your visit and to see the upcoming talks and lectures at the park.

520.868.5216

www.azstateparks.com/mcfarland

Pinal County Libraries - Upcoming Events

Pinal County Library District

Each library branch in the Pinal County Library District System hosts a variety of events and activities. Find events at your local library by visiting the library district website and selecting your library branch and then search by age group, event type, and date range. Some of the events offered including storytime, book clubs, arts & crafts, language classes, chess clubs, STEM programs, and much more.

520.509.3555

https://pcld.libnet.info/events

March 21st

King in Concert Central Arizona College Pence Center

Coolidge

7:00 PM

Elvis tribute show with Victor Trevino. The Pence Center is located at the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Tickets are available online.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

March 22nd

Live Music & Karaoke

Tumbleweed Inn - Eloy

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Tumbleweed Inn has Karaoke with Rosie on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, and live music throughout the month. See their Facebook page for the current live music schedule. Located at 3802 W. Frontier St. in Eloy. You can reserve a seat by calling ahead

520.466.9972

facebook.com/tumbleweedinnaz

March 22nd

Art & Sip - Guided Art Class

The Roost Sports Bar & Cafe

Maricopa

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Paint and sip events every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at The Roost in Maricopa. No experience necessary. Visit website for details and to sign up. Contact Kaui Wilson at kauiwilson.art@gmail.com or on social media: @KauiWilson. 602.796.8194

www.theartandsip.com

March 23rd

Saviors and Saints on the Arizona Frontier

McFarland State Historic Park

Florence

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

This presentation by Jan Cleere takes place at McFarland State Historic Park. Learn about the women who influenced the history of the territory through their medical expertise and their spiritual leadership. See the park website for additional talks and programs.

520.868.5216

www.azstateparks.com/mcfarland

March 24th

Bob Villa at Throwback Family Fun

Casa Grande

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Come enjoy the sounds of Bob Villa. Great food, great friends and a great time. See the website for more events, including Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 1.

520.635.6411

https://throwbackfun.com/events

Canyon Sounds Performance Series: Black Oak Ensemble

Gold Canyon United Methodist Church

7:00 PM

The Black Oak Ensemble is one of the most innovative and exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage. Black Oak presents exciting programs from Bach to the music of today. Tickets available online.

480.493.6731

www.goldcanyonarts.org

Concert in the Park

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Concerts are held in Central Park, 601 N. Main Street.

www.eloyaz.govMarch 24th

March 24th

Learn to SkyDive - Ground School

Skydive Arizona - Eloy

Learn to skydive at the largest jump zone in the world! Skydive Arizona is located in Eloy. See website for additional ground school dates. Skydive Arizona also has upcoming events and courses for experienced skydivers, including AXIS B License training, night jumps, USPA Safety Day, and Airspeed Advanced 40-ways.

520.466.3753

www.skydiveaz.com

Live Theatre - “Bright Star”

Zao Theatre - Gold Canyon

7:30 PM

“Bright Star” tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and and 1940s. Nine performances from March 24 through April 15 at the Zao Theatre in Gold Canyon. See website for description of this live theatre production. Tickets are $35 for adults (13+) and $20 for ages 6-12. Tickets available online.

480.924.5122

www.zaotheatre.com

Rec, Dine & Dash

Casa Grande Community Recreation Center

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Food trucks, field day activities, obstacle courses, yard games, pop-up fitness for kids courses and more!

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

March 25th

“Casa Grande on Canvas” - Plein Air Painting Competition

The Museum of Casa Grande

Casa Grande

A full day of free arts and culture for the entire family, including museum tours, live entertainment, food and more! Artists - Please register by mail by March 17, or on the day of the event from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the museum. Fee is $20.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

March 25th

“Where’s Sapphire Blue?”Whodunnit Mystery Dinner

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

5:00 PM

Written and directed by Sonja Camille, with Serenity Jade7 as Sapphire Blue. Tickets are available online. $35 general seating, $40 VIP seating. 708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

Casa Grande Roller Derby

Roller Derby Hanger - Casa Grande

4:00 PM

The Big House Bombers have a home game vs. So Cal Derby from San Diego. Doors open 3:00 PM. Tickets are presale online at https://checkout. square.site/buy/FLVBNVC6IA7P6VNWSI5B4AES. Location is 798 N. Picacho St. in Casa Grande. 520.450.1790

www.facebook.com/CGRollerDerby

March 25th

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

6:00 PM

ASCS non-wing sprint cars, pure stocks, bombers, dwarfs, microsprints. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande. 602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/ CentralArizonaRaceway

Check out our online events calendar at

www.pinalnow.com for more events.

March 25th

Dancing For Our Stars 2023: Fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Events Center - Maricopa

5:00 PM

Tickets are available online for this signature fundraising event for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor. The dance teams are composed of a community member and a professional dancer. They have worked for months to prepare for this night — let’s show our support! Red carpet reception at 5:00 PM and the performance begins at 7:00 PM. You can also show your support by making a donation and voting for your favorite dance team on the Boys & Girls Clubs website 520-876-5437

www.dancingforourstars.net

March 25th

Florence Farmers Market

McFarland State Historic Park - Florence

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

The market is held on the porch at McFarland State Park in Historic Florence on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. Produce from local farmers, farm fresh eggs, meat, cheese, bread, sweets, coffee & tea, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

March 25th

Fly-In Breakfast

Casa Grande Municipal Airport

Casa Grande

7:00 AM

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 begins at 7:00 AM. $10 per plate for a full breakfast. Enjoy the exhibits on display at the airport from the Casa Grande Art Association and The Museum of Casa Grande. Held on the last Saturday of each month.

520.426.3616

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

Main Street Market

Historic Downtown Casa Grande

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The market is held in Historic Downtown Casa Grande. Drop by the Sunset Court/Highway 84 mural for a small market consisting of vendors, crafting classes, and entertainment. If you’re a vendor and would like to take part in the market, contact Holly at Casa Grande Mainstreet.

520.836.8744

www.cgmainstreet.org

Movies Under The Stars

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

7:30 PM

Movies Under The Stars are held in Central Park.

www.eloyaz.gov

March 25th

Squid Hazard Improv BlackBox Foundation Theatre

Casa Grande

7:00 PM

Two shows! 7:00 PM - all ages show. 9:00 PM - Late night show for adults. Tickets $10 presale or $12 at the door. Located at 407 N. Sacaton St. in Casa Grande. Tickets available online. Presented by Blackbox Theatre. 520.532.2337

www.blackboxcg.org

March 26th

Freeform Movement and Dance Party

Studio of Dance - Casa Grande

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Enjoy freeform creative movement sessions where no experience or skills are needed to enjoy the benefits of dance. Shake, groove, let out stress and have fun. Family event for ages 10+. $5 or $10 suggested donation per person but not mandatory. Held at The Studio of Dance, 395 N. Sacaton St. in Casa Grande. Refreshments provided. See website to confirm start time.

www.yogahealingartsproject.org

March 31st

Pinal 40 Gala Reception & Dinner

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort & Casino

Events Center - Maricopa

5:00 PM

The Pinal 40 annual Gala is a fundraising event to support Pinal County youth through scholarships and programs. The event headliner will be the group December ‘63, performing a tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and other bands. Sponsorships are available.

480.986.9238

www.pinal40.org

March 31st

Jazz Trio Concert

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Tickets available online. $35 general admission. $40 VIP.

708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

March 31st

Movie on the Lawn & Egg Hunt

Casa Grande Community Recreation Center

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Grab a blanket or a chair and meet us at the Community Recreation Center Lawn for some Easter and spring festivities. We’re kicking the night off with an Easter Egg Hunt and some yard games, and then enjoying a family movie night under the stars. Movies are free to attend; food will be available for purchase

520.421.8677

www.casagrandeaz.gov/ calendar

Rock of Ages (Musical Theatre)

Pence Center for the Performing Arts

Coolidge 7:00 PM

An electrifying musical, featuring hits by Twisted Sister, Styx, Europe, Pat Benatar and more! Tickets available online. Presented by Blackbox Foundation and Central Arizona College. Tickets $15-$20.

520.532.2337

www.eventsatcac.com

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

April 1st

Public Safety Day

Paul Mason Sports Complex

Casa Grande

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Location will be the Paul Mason Sports Complex in Casa Grande from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is the perfect opportunity to meet and greet your Casa Grande and Pinal County first responders. all ages are invited to get a hands-on experience with police cars, fire trucks, EMS and SWAT vehicles, watch K9 demos, get your kids registered with CHILD ID and much more! The address is 2525 N. Pinal Avenue.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

April 1st

Arizona VFW Youth Program Golf Tournament

Dave White Golf Course

Casa Grande

7:00 AM

35 teams - 4 player teams. Registration begins at 7:00 AM. Shotgun start at 8:00 AM. Register online at vfw3713. org. $300: green fee, carts & lunch + additional packages available.

304.615.6872

www.vfw3713.org

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

6:00 PM

Modifieds, sports mods, stock cars, hobby stocks, pure stocks, bombers, and mini-dwarfs. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info.

Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande.

602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/CentralArizonaRaceway

Coolidge Airport Fly-In & Breakfast

April 1st

Fred Cap Band at the Pita Patio Grill

Coolidge

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

See the Pita Patio Grill Facebook page for more upcoming music events. Located at 235 W. Coolidge Ave. The Fred Cap Band will also play at the Pita Patio on Saturday, May 6 from 5:30-8:30 PM.

520.635.5576

www.facebook.com/coolidgerocks

Guided Hike - Picacho Peak State Park

Picacho Peak State Park

8:00 AM

Join a park volunteer guide on the Hunter Trail and enjoy 360-degree views from the top of Picacho Peak. This is a challenging hike that involves steep switchbacks, rock scrambles, climbing up several cableways and an elevation change of 1,600 feet. For experienced hikers. No children under the age of 10. See website for details and for registration info. Free with paid park entry.

520.466.3183

April 1st

2023 Magma Royale - Mardi Gras

Masquerade Magma Club - Superior

The Superior Optimist Club is once again hosting their annual Magma Royale fundraiser. A night of casino style games, food, fun and entertainment. This event is the primary fundraiser for the Superior Optimist Club and supports all of the activities hosted by the club. Tickets are $35 per person. Tickets available online

520.689.0200

www.superiorarizonachamber. org/events

April Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop

Located in Casa Grande. Check the website for April class details and availability. Book your spot early as there are limited spaces available. They also have a Fiber & Fabric Club that meets monthly, September-May. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor, and more. www.casitaworkshop.com

Coolidge Municipal Airport - Coolidge

7:00 AM - 10:00 AM

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

First Saturday at the Museum

Pinal County Historical Museum

Florence

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Family Day at the Pinal County Historical Museum! Free admission and kids’ activities. Takes place on the first Saturday each month.

520.868.4382

www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org

www.azstateparks.com

Rock of Ages (Musical Theatre)

Pence Center for the Performing Arts

Coolidge

2:00 PM

Two shows today at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM. An electrifying musical, featuring hits by Twisted Sister, Styx, Europe, Pat Benatar and more! Tickets available online. Presented by Blackbox Foundation and Central Arizona College.

Tickets $15-$20.

520.532.2337

www.eventsatcac.com

The Pony Ranch featuring Tiny Town

The Pony Ranch - Casa Grande

A fun place for tiny cowboys and cowgirls to experience riding a pony and feeding ranch animals at the petting zoo. Visit the Pony Ranch

Facebook page for their current hours. Located at 18536 W. Houser Rd. in Casa Grande.

480.236.4500

www.facebook.com/theponyranchfeaturingtinytown

April 2nd

Oracle Piano Society - Signature Series

Oracle Center for the Arts

3:00 PM

Upcoming performances will be on April 2 with Red Rock Brass, and April 23 with Jeremy Ajani Jordan, jazz and classical pianist. Tickets available online. Concerts are at the Oracle Center for the Arts, 700 E. Kingston St. in Oracle.

www.oraclepianosociety.org

Art Classes at the Divine Art Institute

Divine Art Institute - Casa Grande

Visit the Divine Art Institute website to see their art class lineup. Located in Casa Grande. Workshops and classes from 1 to 3 sessions are offered in the areas of drawing, painting, and mixed media. Open to artists of all ages and experience levels. Private lessons available.

520.340.4162

www.divineartinstitute.com

April 7th

Eloy Easter Egg Hunt

Jones (Little League) Park - Eloy

10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

The Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by the City of Eloy and will take place in Jones Park, located at 421 E. 1st Street. www.eloyaz.gov

April 8th

Open Mic Night - Casa Grande

BlackBox Foundation Theatre

Casa Grande

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Monthly all-ages open mic music and arts showcase. Open to all creative artists, including singers/songwriters, spoken word, poetry, dance and comedy. Doors open for sign-up at 5:00 PM. Open mic starts at 6:00 PM, with max. 10 minutes for each performer. Mics and sound system provided. $5-$10 suggested donation. Presented by the Yoga Recovery & Healing Arts Project and the BlackBox Foundation.

520.532.2337

www.yogahealingartsproject.org

April 8th

Speaker Series - Arizona’s Vintage Signs: Lighting the Future

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

1:00 PM

Presented by Marshall Shore. This informative and entertaining visual presentation explores the social significance of the rise of commercial neon signs, references the designers whose signs became iconic and what efforts are afoot to save our signage history. Will take place on the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Tickets are free - registration required.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

April 13th

Live Music at San Tan Flat:

Neil Bunker

Queen Creek

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

San Tan Flat has live music every week. Located at 6185 W. Hunt Highway in Queen Creek. Visit the events calendar page on their website for the April music lineup. Neil Bunker plays acoustic sets every Thursday.

480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

April 13th

Country Thunder Arizona

Canyon Moon Ranch - Florence

April 13th

Matilda the Musical Combs Performing Arts Center

San Tan Valley

6:00 PM

Live theatre - musical based on the novel “Matilda” by Roald Dahl. Performances April 13-14-15. Tickets are $7. The theatre is located at the Combs High School Campus in San Tan Valley. Visit the website for the events calendar and information about upcoming live music events, dance show, live theatre, concerts, and school shows.

480.987.5300

www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter

April 15th

Catfish Rodeo

Dave White Regional Park

Casa Grande

6:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Get your tackle and pole out for our 42nd Annual Catfish Rodeo at Dave White Pond where youth ages 15 and under compete for the biggest catch! Free for youth 15 and under! Fishing License provided by City of Casa Grande for participating youth.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

Country Thunder Arizona is an annual four-day music festival held in Florence, featuring some some of the top names in country music. Single day and full festival passes are available. See website for the Thursday music lineup

1.866.388.0007

www.countrythunder.com/az

April 15th

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

6:00 PM

ASCS wing sprints, pure stocks, bombers, Challenge Cup sprint cars and micro sprints. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande.

602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/CentralArizonaRaceway

Karaoke with James G. Gallopin’ Goose - Coolidge

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

The Gallopin’ Goose has karaoke every Wednesday with host James G. Check their Facebook page for the weekend DJ schedule. Located at 1980 S. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge.

520.723.0300

www.facebook.com/gallopingoose

April 17th

All-Levels Yoga Class with Tiffany

Thrive Academy - Casa Grande

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Organized by Yoga Recovery & Healing Arts Project. Weekly yoga classes take place every Monday at Thrive Cultural Academy for Performing Arts in Casa Grande. See website for location details. $5 or $10 suggested donation per class. Bring a yoga mat.

www.yogahealingartsproject.org

Community Recreation Center

Programs and Classes

Community Recreation Center

Casa Grande

Open Monday-Friday from 5:15 AM to 9:00 PM. Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Facilities include a fitness center, gym, indoor walking/jogging track, community meeting space, and more. The CRC offers a variety of group fitness and sports activities and classes. See website for the group fitness and gymnasium schedules.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/crc

April 18th

CAC Student Art Show

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

5:00 PM

Admire the creative work of our Visual Arts students as they debut their pieces in the Student Art Gallery! Location is the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Free admission

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

April 20th

Comedy Night & Karaoke

The Roost Sports Bar & Cafe

Maricopa

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

The Roost has Comedy Night every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Free admission to this stand-up comedy show. They also have karaoke on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturdays starting at 10:00 PM. Located at 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy in Maricopa. Check Facebook page for updates.

520.568.5338

www.facebook.com/TheRoostAZ

Ernest Talks: The History of Arizona Highways Magazine

McFarland State Historic Park

Florence

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

April 18th

CAC Spring Band & Orchestra Concert

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

7:00 PM

Join the Central AZ Symphony and concert band in a fun-filled concert featuring traditional band and orchestra music. Takes place on the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Free admission.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

Live Music & Karaoke

Tumbleweed Inn - Eloy

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Tumbleweed Inn has karaoke on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and live music throughout the month. See their Facebook page for the current live music schedule. Located at 3802 W. Frontier St. in Eloy. Reservations are recommended - call to reserve a seat.

520.466.9972

facebook.com/tumbleweedinnaz

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

“The Evolution of an Icon - The History of Arizona Highways Magazine.” In this presentation, former publisher Win Holden will share the fascinating story of how a brochure produced by the Arizona Highway Department evolved into one of the most respected and revered publications in the world.

520.868.5216

www.azstateparks.com/mcfarland

April 21st

3rd Annual Gila River Music Festival

Sheriff’s Posse Arena - Kearny

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

The festival will take place on Fri., April 21 and Sat., April 22 in Kearny. Two days of bands, along with food trucks, vendors, and artists. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. Tent camping sites are available. See website for live music lineup.

www.gilarivermusicfestival.com

Florence 3rd Fridays on Historic Main Street

McFarland State Historic Park

Florence

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Held on the 3rd Friday of each month from October through April. Enjoy live music, shopping, food and fun on Historic Main Street in Florence.

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

continued on page 94

Copa Night Market’s Time Machine Big Hit

Photos courtesy of City of Maricopa

This year’s Copa Night Market series of events was themed Time Machine and took visitors on a tour of five decades of history all in one night.

The event at Copper Sky Regional Park offered music, a car show and more than 70 food and shopping vendors.

“After three years of hosting the Balloon Glow at this time of year, we decided to try something different, and the community responded well,” said event planner and City of Maricopa Recreation Supervisor Brenda Campbell of the Jan. 18 event.

“It was great seeing residents checking out all of the cars, shopping from local vendors, and also out dancing to the awesome music of the various decades.”

Sixty car owners showcased their vehicles throughout the park grounds. Winners:

• Kids Choice:  1978 Pontiac Trans Am, Lorrie Schick, $100

• Crowd Favorite:  1967 Chevrolet El Camino, Tony Murell, $200

• 2nd Place Tie for Crowd Favorite: 1952 Oldsmobile Super 88, Paris Holman, 1957 Chevrolet 210, Scott Sullivan; each receiving a $25 gas gift card

• Mayor & Council Pick: 1978 Chevrolet Corvette, Dennis Margevich, $100

• Best in Show: 1941 Ford ½ Ton, Sam Clements, $250

The vinyl banners promoting the event, including stage backdrops representing each of the decades were printed by local entrepreneur Eliana Alley of RJA Enterprise, a high school junior at Maricopa High School.

April 22nd

Casa Grande Roller Derby

Roller Derby Hanger - Casa Grande

4:00 PM

The Big House Bombers have a home game vs. Wasatch Roller Derby from Utah. Doors open 3:00 PM. Tickets are presale only at https://checkout. square.site/buy/OGQIWW4KNMD64EUFGKY5IIOL. Location is 798 N. Picacho St. in Casa Grande.

520.450.1790

www.facebook.com/CGRollerDerby

Live Music at the Windmill Winery: Sierra Sound

Florence

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Live music night in the Wine Tasting Room! Music and food service begin at 5:00. There’s music every Thu/Sat/ Sun in April. Visit the Windmill Winery website for the schedule. Located at 1140 W. Butte Ave. in Florence.

520.858.6050

www.thewindmillwinery.com

Maricopa Copa Cultural Night Market

Copper Sky Recreation ComplexMaricopa

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Copa Cultural Night Market is Maricopa’s premier multicultural event. Returning for the second year, this event is a celebration with a focus on diversity and the arts. An event with artisans, cultural entertainment and performances, a beer garden, food trucks, vendors/shopping, art demonstrations and more.

520.568.9098

www.facebook.com/CityOfMaricopaAZ

April 23rd

Freeform Movement and Dance Party

Studio of Dance - Casa Grande

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Enjoy freeform creative movement sessions where no experience or skills are needed to enjoy the benefits of dance. Shake, groove, let out stress and have fun. Family event for ages 10+. $5 or $10 suggested donation per person but not mandatory. Held at The Studio of Dance, 395 N. Sacaton St. in Casa Grande. Refreshments provided. See website to confirm start time. www.yogahealingartsproject.org

April 27th

Live Theatre - Newsies Jr. Combs Performing Arts Center

San Tan Valley

7:00 PM

Disney’s Newsies Jr. is the 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in the turn of the century in New York City. Performances April 27-28-29. The theatre is located at the Combs High School Campus in San Tan Valley. Visit the website for the events calendar.

480.987.5300

www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter

April 28th

Concert: Jordan Davis

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and CasinoMaricopa

8:00 PM

Country/pop singer and songwriter. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Located at 15406 N. Maricopa Rd. General admission tickets are $49.50. www.caesars.com/harrahs-akchin/shows/calendar

Dia de Colores

Town of Superior

A celebration of art! Includes an art exhibit, vendors, mural walk, live entertainment, and more.

520.689.0200

www.superiorarizonachamber.org/ events

April 29th

CAC Spring Handbells & Choir

Concert 2023

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

3:00 PM

The CAC choir and handbells present their annual Spring Concert. Enjoy traditional choral music and handbell music and a few surprises! Takes place at the Signal Peak Campus of Central Arizona College in Coolidge. Free admission.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

Central Arizona Raceway Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

6:00 PM

Modifieds, sports mods, stock cars, pure stocks, bombers, and minidwarfs. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande. 602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/CentralArizonaRaceway

Dia de los Niños

Paul Mason Sports Complex

Casa Grande

5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Help us celebrate International Children’s Day. Activities, games, inflatables, a foam/bubble party, cultural activities, food trucks and more!

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

April 29th

United Way Golf Tournament

Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf ResortCasa Grande

7:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Join us for a fun day of golf for a great cause - including awards, contests, prizes, raffles, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and more! The tournament will raise money for our Reading by 3rd Grade Initiative, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

520.413.1057

www.facebook.com/ events/607884731168773

April 29th

Fly-In Breakfast

Casa Grande Municipal Airport

7:00 AM

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 begins at 7:00 AM. $10 per plate for a full breakfast. Enjoy the exhibits on display at the airport from the Casa Grande Art Association and The Museum of Casa Grande. Held on the last Saturday of each month

520.426.3616

www.casagrandeaz.gov/calendar

April 29th

Movies Under The Stars

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

7:30 PM

Movies Under The Stars are held in Central Park.

www.eloyaz.gov

May 1st

May Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop

Located in Casa Grande. Check the website for May class details and availability. Book your spot early as there are limited spaces available. They also have a Fiber & Fabric Club that meets monthly, Sept-May. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor, and more. www.casitaworkshop.com

May 3rd

CAC Rocktacular Final - Spring 2023

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

7:00 PM

The spring final performance for the EIT program will take place in the Black Box Theatre turned into nightclub!

Location is the Central Arizona College campus in Coolidge. Free admission.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

May 3rd

Coolidge Rotary Club Meeting

Coolidge Chamber of Commerce

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

The Coolidge Rotary Club was established in 1937 and is a part of Rotary International. Meets on 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month at 7:00 AM. Attend in person at the Coolidge Chamber of Commerce (351 N. Arizona Blvd.) or join via Zoom. For a Zoom meeting link, send an email to suebacon1210@gmail.com.

520-518-5060

www.rotaryd5500.org/clubInfo/ coolidge

May 4th

CAC Student Recital - Spring 2023

Central Arizona College - Coolidge

3:00 PM

CAC music students present the music they’ve learned this semester in an intimate recital in our black box theatre space. Free admission.

520.477.7469

www.eventsatcac.com

May 5th

Weekend Live Music at San Tan Flat

Queen Creek

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

San Tan Flat has bands on Fridays and Saturdays. The May lineup has South of Somewhere (May 5/6), Arizona Blacktop (May 12/13), and the Curt N Rod band on May 19/20. Located at 6185 W. Hunt Highway in Queen Creek. Visit the events calendar page on their website for the full May music lineup. 480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

May 6th

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

7:00 PM

ASCS non-wing sprint cars, pure stock, bombers, and mod lites. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande.

602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/CentralArizonaRaceway

May 6th

First Saturday at the Museum

Pinal County Historical Museum

Florence

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Family Day at the Pinal County Historical Museum! Free admission and kids’ activities. Takes place on the first Saturday of each month.

520.868.4382

www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum. org

Live Music at the Windmill Winery: Todd & the Two Tars

Florence

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Live music night in the Wine Tasting Room! The Viet Q food truck will be on site serving Vietnamese street food. Music and food service begin at 5:00. Live music every Thu/Sat/Sun in May. Visit the Windmill Winery website for the May schedule. Located at 1140 W. Butte Ave. in Florence.

520.858.6050

www.thewindmillwinery.com

May 11th

Comedy Night & Karaoke

The Roost Sports Bar & Cafe

Maricopa

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

The Roost has Comedy Night every Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Free admission to this stand-up comedy show. They also have karaoke on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 10:00 PM and Saturdays starting at 10:00 PM. Located at 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy in Maricopa. Check Facebook page for updates.

520.568.5338

www.facebook.com/TheRoostAZ

May 13th

Central Arizona Raceway

Motorsports Event

Casa Grande

7:00 PM

Modifieds, sport mods, stock cars, sport compacts, hobby stocks and mini-dwarfs. See Facebook page for racing lineup and visitor info. Located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner in Casa Grande.

602.292.7607

www.facebook.com/CentralArizonaRaceway

The Interview

Continued from page 45

GRANDE LIVING: Any last things you want to say before we talk about Craig McFarland, the guy?

Mayor Craig McFarland: If I had one thing that I’m going to be critical of myself is, we still have a lot of buildings that need attention. There’s the Kmart building and Casa Grande Mall.

Finally getting the auto mall built because people see the old Sam’s Club and they say, “Can’t we get Sam’s Club back?” I said, “Nope, because it’s been sold. “And can we get a Costco?" "Nope." Because Sam’s Club won’t let Costco use the building.

Can we get the Target back? Well, Target owns the building, and that’s a business decision on their part. And have you recently looked at big box stores and how well they’re doing? Not very. Look at the Chandler Fashion Center. What did they do to the whole Macy’s building? It’s now an entertainment center. They’re building a massive indoor roller coaster...

GRANDE LIVING: Along those lines, when it comes to buildings, there’s a deficit in the realization that this is America. It’s free enterprise, business goes where business goes. It has nothing to do with the city.

Mayor Craig McFarland: True, it is all about free enterprise and up to business to build and develop. But, I will say that the city can make it easier for businesses to do business. And, I always say...cities and towns are where the rubber meets the road.

GRANDE LIVING: I know you don’t want to have this conversation, but there’s a horizon to your term in office and on that day, many

politicians find it hard to let go. They find it hard to not be a part of the game, a part of the solution, a part of the conversation. You’re faced with either letting that go and golfing more and buying that RV or running for some other office. Your thoughts?

Mayor Craig McFarland: I’m still mulling it over. I’ve got about six months or so before I may need to make a hard decision. I like being involved. And I guess that the allure of what you speak is that you feel that you’re needed, and everybody wants to be needed.

And I certainly feel like I can give more. I’m not worn out, I’m not tired. I’m not tired of people enough to not try and do something else.

But can I do it from a volunteer, charitable direction? Probably, because I know most nonprofits will scoop up anybody who wants to volunteer. And there’s certainly a lot of worthy programs around Casa Grande that you could have an impact on.

Would I like to run possibly for state House or Senate? Maybe. But I like being in local government because you have more of an impact on people in your community.

GRANDE LIVING: What about county level?

Mayor Craig McFarland: County is a possibility. It depends on what Supervisor Steve Miller’s going to do.

GRANDE LIVING: OK, now let’s talk about Craig McFarland, the man. I have to say that I don’t have many role models, but you’d be right up there on many different fronts.

But looking at what’s on your horizon, let’s talk about golf and Hawaii and RVs and European river cruises. You’re not getting any younger.

Mayor Craig McFarland: In fact, I’ll turn 70 in my last year in office.

GRANDE LIVING: Might a solution be a little more leisure and a little less direct involvement, but still some involvement?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Yeah, I would think so. I think whether I’m elected or not I’d like to be in some position of being able to maybe still influence what goes on in the City. Obviously I won’t be involved in all of the boards that I’m involved in today; like the Arizona Mayors’ Education Roundtable, which I am now chairman. CAG, being part of Central Arizona Governments, being the chair of the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority…

Neon Sign Park Marquee

GRANDE LIVING: But you failed on that one, didn’t you? As far as Prop 469 being defeated last year?

Mayor Craig McFarland: I did, yeah.

GRANDE LIVING: So golf, Hawaii, come on. Skiing, Colorado.

Mayor Craig McFarland: Obviously it’ll give me some more opportunities to travel.

GRANDE LIVING: Show Low, Pinetop. Grandchildren, greatgrandchildren.

Mayor Craig McFarland: Grandkids, for sure. But Rock, I can’t sit still. The problem with me is if I get involved in something, it’s not a part-time deal. I don’t work that way; it’s not how I’m wired. I’m either all in or I’m not.

GRANDE LIVING: OK, can you cap this off with a heartfelt, genuine statement about your time in office and what you like; community, you, your family, whatever?

Mayor Craig McFarland: Some of the fun part is when I go to an event and my grandkids are there and they get to introduce their papi as the mayor. So that’s some of the heartwarming part. Or when somebody sends me a note and says, “Thanks for doing a great job.”

And the little girl that came up to me today, shook my hand and handed me four little chocolates and said, “Are you the mayor?” And I said, “Yes, I am.” And she ran away, talking to her mother. And then she came back and says, “I was born in St. Louis.” And I say, “Well, I used to live in St. Louis.” She goes, “I know.” And she ran away again.

Or when I go to the mayor’s reading program with kindergartners or first-graders, and the teacher introduces me as the mayor and they always look at me and go, “You’re really the mayor? Is that like the president?”

GRANDE LIVING: OK, last statement?

Mayor Craig McFarland: It’s been a good ride. We, as in the Council and the staff, have accomplished a lot in the last six years. It’s been a really good run and I hope we can continue it.

I hope that we can find somebody who is going to put as much time into it as I put into it. I just hope we find the right person. This shouldn’t be a popularity or partisan contest. It should be: Who’s going to do the best for the city?

GRANDE LIVING: Well, for what it’s worth, speaking for my constituency, I agree with everything you just said about the job you’ve done and what it takes. Kumbaya.

Mayor Craig McFarland: It’s a lot of work. Hope somebody’s prepared.

Casa Grande Love It!

PJ Ybarra, 520 Elite Hitters Club

Q: What brought you to Casa Grande/Pinal County; how long have you been here?

A: I was born and raised in Casa Grande. I am a veteran and small business owner. I’ve contributed to the community for over 20 years from volunteering to coaching high school wrestling, high school baseball, CG Little League, and CG Youth Baseball league Cal Ripken.

Q: What is the brief history of 520 Elite Hitters Club?

A: Over the years, as I coached and watched my own kids play baseball; I witnessed the youth baseball community grow and the need for a baseball facility to be a little closer to home. That demand is what initially drove me to re-open the CG Hitzone indoor batting cage and training facility in 2015.

Unfortunately, I had to close the doors with a promise to reopen when the time was right. In November 2021, an opportunity presented itself to open a batting cage facility at a new location, so I got to work.

By July 2022, my business partner Jay Gonzales and I were ready to open the 520 Elite Hitters Club doors to the public.

Q: Who can use the facility? Age ranges, etc.

A: The facility is the only indoor batting cage facility in Casa Grande. It is open to the public. We accommodate baseball and softball athletes individually or with

their teams. Everyone from T-ball age to senior softball ages are welcome. We offer personal training, camps and weekly training classes.

We also rent the facility out by the hour for special events such as birthday parties and fundraisers.

Q: What is the cost; when is the facility open?

A: We are located at 958 E. Rodeo Road, Suite 7, in between Latte Vino and Throwbacks. We are open Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cage rentals range from $20 to $40 per hour.

Q: How can people get involved?

A: We are currently working on teaming up with local businesses and offering them our sponsorship program. Their sponsorship will ensure multiple local youth athletes have a chance to practice and train at our facility. Please contact me at 520.705.0550 or Jay at 520.509.5458 for more information.

Follow us on Instagram @520elitehc and on Facebook at 520 Elite Hitters Club. For more information call 520.635.5471.

www.520Elite.com coming soon.

From left: Jay Gonzales and PJ Ybarra