Grande LIVING Late Summer 2023

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EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Elaine M. Earle, CPA

SALES & MARKETING

Julie Turetzky

Director of Public Relations

John McGuire

Business Development Manager

Jenna Leatherman

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

OPERATIONS

Bea Lueck

Vice President of Operations

COMMENTS AND IDEAS: editor@roxco.com

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CORPORATE OFFICE:

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

Elaine M. Earle, CPA

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Bea Lueck

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.

Keep yourSummer Groove Going

We’re in the middle of another Pinal County summer, and most of us would say we want it to be over. Yet when the season ends and school year and accompanying changes begin, there will be a few things we will be nostalgic for.

There are those hours spent lingering by the pool. Having the school-age kids home all day brings its own joys. There’s the bliss felt when stepping outside a freezing office or store into the warm, warm sun, transformed from curse to cure.

So take some time to revel in the slower pace and spend some time reading Grande LIVING’s Late Summer issue!

We have lots of ideas for cooling down your world through your home décor with pastels. We have a list of home to-dos that might not have occurred to you but definitely merit your attention. If you’re in the market for a new house, check out our list of the 10-step homebuying

process to make sure you aren’t skipping any of them.

We also sit down with Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith to get her take on the City’s present and future, and our Pinal County Press section has the latest on state funding for Pinal County roads and how you can help relieve overcrowding at Pinal County Animal Care and Control’s shelter at Eleven Mile Corner.

And because all the good (and bad) things about summer must come to an end, this is also our Education issue, and we have lots of content that’s all about getting ready for the academic year. There’s enrollment information from Central Arizona College, back-to-school fitness tips, school schedules and a profile of the identical twins who were this year’s covaledictorians at ASU Prep in Casa Grande.

Enjoy your summer, and remember there’s lots to look forward to in the fall!

Elaine Earle Publisher, Grande LIVING magazine

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

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

T he P inal Coun T y Press

Pinal Road Projects Get State Budget Boost

Multiple road improvements or construction projects in western Pinal County are benefitting from the passage of Arizona’s 2023-24 budget, winning the funding needed to start building or get closer to the starting line

The biggest-ticket item local and state officials have been trying to accomplish is the widening of Interstate 10 between Casa Grande and Chandler, and the budget allocates $89 million toward the estimated $300 million shortfall left when the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) application for a federal “Mega” transportation grant was not funded earlier this year.

The state also allocated $19 million to the design for the widening of AZ-347 from Chandler to the City of Maricopa and another $35 million toward the construction of an overpass at the intersection of 347 and Riggs Road, located in Maricopa County, to improve the flow of traffic. Another $18 million will go toward the removal of traffic lights at Cement Plant and Casa Blanca roads.

Other Pinal projects that received funding include:

• The reallocation of $13 million left over from the design of the widened AZ-347: $10.5 million to Maricopa for improvements on AZ-347 and/or AZ-238; $2 million to the Gila River Indian Community; and $700,000 for AZ87 near Coolidge.

• $19 million toward the study of the North-South Corridor and another $9.4 million for the East-West Corridor, which are both included in the Pinal Regional Transportation Plan.

• $800,000 for improvements on AZ-238 (Smith-Enke Road) in Maricopa between AZ-347 and Green Road.

• $5.3 million to Coolidge for reconstruction of Coolidge Avenue between Christensen and Clemans roads.

• $5 million to Eloy for an overpass for Sunland Gin Road at I-10, as well as improvements between the freeway and Arica Road.

• $1 million for replacement of the Butte Avenue bridge in Florence.

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

Interstate I-10, Arizona

Stories by Blake Herzog

County Animal Shelter Faces ‘Critical’ Overcrowding

about 250 dogs and only 153 kennels available for them, a number that hasn’t changed in 30 years. Cats fare better due to the number of cat rescue groups pitching in.

“We don’t have any cats in our adoptable cat room, we have dogs in there, in crates,” she said.

to consider euthanizing some that are potentially adoptable, as is happening at others around the country.

The “dog days” of summer are being compounded at Pinal County’s animal shelter by overcrowding caused by a relentless influx of dogs and a shortage of adopters, foster homes and volunteers.

County Animal Care and Control Director Audra Michael said in June the main shelter near the Pinal County Fairgrounds east of Casa Grande had

The shelter has been coping with high numbers of dogs coming in from across the county since 2021, she said, but “It just feels like this year is worse than this time last year. It seems like we’re getting a lot of animals that are strays but have a microchip and their owners aren’t reclaiming them. And we’re also just getting a lot of strays.”

The shelter has maintained a no-kill status since 2018, but the sheer number of dogs there now is forcing the staff

Michael is looking for any kind of help she can get. Volunteers largely dry up this time of year, so dogs are not getting as many walks or socialization opportunities. Many people who offer to foster dogs return the animals quickly because they aren’t perfectly behaved.

She said she wishes more owners struggling to pay for pet food or with other pet-related issues would take advantage of assistance programs the county provides.

For more information on adopting or fostering animals from the shelter call 520.509.3555 or visit www.pinal. gov/451/Animal-Care-Control or the department’s Facebook page.

Home Depot Gets Ready to Build in Maricopa

The City of Maricopa is getting a long-awaited Home Depot, with the home improvement giant announcing its intent to build a location there in April, followed by the filing of initial applications to the Development Services Department for approval of design and infrastructure plans

The store will be located at Casa Grande-Maricopa Highway and Stonegate Road, anchoring the expansion of The Wells shopping center already home to the city’s Walmart. Documents state the store will cover almost 108,000 square feet

and include a garden center of more than 28,000 square feet.

The store’s major development plan was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission June 12, where it was welcomed by members as they assured the public a traffic impact study will be done and encouraged staff to hold to local design standards.

“We don’t just want a box,” commissioner Alfonso Juarez III said. “We want to have a Home Depot that represents the community, blends in with the community.”

Home Depot representative David Leyvas thanked City officials for their cooperation over the years, adding, “We started this process in 2005.” The store is expected to open in 2024.

Maricopa is poised to draw more retailers to the community as growth continues. It was named the 12th fastest-growing city of more than 50,000 in the U.S. by the Census Bureau in May, with a total of 66,290 residents. The estimate covers the year ending July 1, 2022, and officials say building permits issued since then indicates the population is now over 71,000.

MARICOPA MAYOR NANCY SMITH

Sees Bright Days Ahead

Interview by Bea Lueck

Nancy Smith was appointed to replace former Maricopa Mayor Christian Price in August 2022 after she’d served eight years on the City Council. She’s now preparing to run for election to that office as she and the City pursue several forward-looking projects.

Grande LIVING: So give us a quick overview of Nancy Smith. Where were you born and raised, and how did you end up in Maricopa?

Nancy Smith: I was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, went to a local college and was the first female to receive their degree in electronic technology. I then interviewed with Motorola and was offered a position in either Schaumburg, Illinois or Phoenix, Arizona and chose Phoenix.

I spent 40 years with Motorola in the military division and worked project management on various projects including the space station project.

My husband Tony and I lived in Chandler and we had a friend who actually designed the Duke golf course. When discussing the possibility of moving, he said to us, “Well, you really ought to give Maricopa a chance. I think it’s going to be a great community.”

When we visited the unincorporated Maricopa, we fell in love with being able to see the stars and decided

Nancy Smith Maricopa Mayor

to move out here to Rancho El Dorado in 2003, right before the City incorporated.

Grande LIVING: First, Tony was involved with the city government, then county government and now he’s with the Pinal Partnership. And now you are in city government. So you guys are a glutton for punishment?

Nancy Smith: You would think so. And there can be some hard times, but at the same time if you know you’re doing the right thing for the residents who live here or live in the county you can endure all the tough times and enjoy helping make the decisions that are being made for the better of the community. It kind of goes hand in hand. But to me it's just full of joy.

Grande LIVING: What's new on the horizon for the City?

Nancy Smith: Well, definitely continuing on with economic

development such as all the different variety of retail and restaurants that the city residents want. But even bigger and more important is our partnership with Maricopa Economic Development Alliance (MEDA) and bringing in high-paying jobs.

I’m getting ready to start my campaign for mayor and my platform has some very important things on it. One is finding the first industrial, highpaying employer that will come to Maricopa. One of the exciting things in this year’s budget and in partnership with MEDA, is creating a master plan for the industrial park planned on cityowned land on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

My other critical element is getting a project on AZ-347 that breaks ground and that keeps us moving forward to complete expansion on that critical road. We have quite a few irons in the

fire for this road. I attended the Arizona State Transportation Board meeting in May where they reviewed their preliminary fiveyear-plan, and I was delighted that AZ-347 shows up in many ways. The first is Riggs Road overpass. Not only is it fully funded, the state budget added $16 million to cover inflation. It’s currently in design, a survey was just sent out for public input, and if all goes well, they’ll be at the point where it’ll go to bid for construction in 2025.

The state budget also includes $18 million for the removal of the traffic signals at the Casa Blanca and Concrete Plant intersections. They will change the road so that it becomes a parkway concept. What this does is eliminate the stop-and-go for those traveling north and south and makes for a more constant flow.

Later this year the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), which still maintains

Mayor Smith with U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani

the maintenance rights from Smith-Enke Road to the northern boundary, and the city will start a project that will improve AZ-347 from Smith-Enke/347 intersection to the northern city boundary. At Smith-Enke a continuous right turn, off Smith-Enke going north, will be added. For Lakeview Rd/AZ-347, which is out of Rancho El Dorado, a continuous right turn lane heading north will be added and an additional left turn lane into Rancho El Dorado coming south on SR347. After all that a third lane on the east side will be added. That’ll be a major project and require a lot of patience from our citizens. But it will help tremendously.

Grande LIVING: Let’s talk about what’s going on around Copper Sky.

Nancy Smith: The S3 Biotech medical campus will be exciting. They are moving dirt, and we look forward to them submitting their final plans and being able to see something go vertical.

Then at Copper Sky, at the park, we have added some elements in our capital improvement plan for next year to improve it by adding more family elements. We have this beautiful green area around the lake and we don’t do much with it, so we’re looking to incorporate a partnership with a restaurant. And we’ll add some things like the giant game formations, checkers and chess you see in parks, and more ways for families to hang out and do things like listen to music

Grande LIVING: The City has been very proactive in elements like the art and beautification around town.

Nancy Smith: Just recently we had a competition for signal box art. I’ve seen some of the artwork that

has been submitted and it is very, very beautiful. But the crux of art being added to our community is that a community that is diverse and has artistic offerings helps in economic development. There are companies that want to come and support a community that has art as one of their offerings. And we have a significant number of artists in the community who enjoy the idea that we support the arts.

One thing to note is that our new entry monument and landscaping has been noticed by other cities that have state routes through their cities, and they’re asking, “How did you get that approved? We need something like that.” Also for new businesses that considered coming to Maricopa, once that landscaping went up and that monument went up, they’ve indicated, “That is absolutely beautiful.” Art is in the eye of the beholder and I love it.

Grande LIVING: Has there been any talk of a performing arts center?

Nancy Smith: Yes, we have a new police department building going up right across the street from the current one. Once the current building is vacated, the concept is that half of it would be a very small performing arts center. It would have a stage that could be used for poetry slams, galleries, plays, concerts, even business presentations. We would start out small but it will be very valuable to our city.

Grande LIVING: What is your favorite event that the City hosts each year?

Nancy Smith: I would say the new Copa Cultural Night Market is my favorite, because it celebrates all diversity at one event. We had a lot of individual groups celebrating events such as Black History Month, Cinco de Mayo, and other cultures. Most made a request of the City to join in on those individual events. It just became clear that what we really need is to celebrate the diversity of our city all at one time. This event brings in dance, food, art

Mayor Smith and family

and other elements from many different cultures and gives us the opportunity to celebrate everyone together.

We held our second one in March, and it was estimated that 5,000 people attended. The first year had 3,000 people. You get to see, hear, feel and taste cultures all at one event. To me, that’s a celebration of everything we have in common because we all have to eat. We all love art and music.

Grande LIVING: What else is there that you’d like to talk about?

Nancy Smith: I was asked recently at a town hall about one of the things that I’m most proud of for the City of Maricopa, and to me, there’s a lot of things to be proud of. But one thing that I’m proud of is that from incorporation of the city until today, we have always had a mayor and city council that has insisted on being conservative with the budgeting. Because of our conservatism, the City has a solid reserve account, which is critical for a new city, and we budget below our means to save for important capital projects in the future.

With this philosophy, the city is able to complete these projects without putting additional tax on our homeowners and our businesses. I love the financial stability. On top of that we (City Council) have, over the last five years, lowered our property tax rate every year, primary and secondary.

Grande LIVING: What do you see as the attraction for Maricopa from outsiders coming in? There are the housing permits. Maricopa has four, five, six times the number of permits issued as other communities. What’s the driving factor in the growth?

Nancy Smith: I think there are several things. Our median age is 35, so it’s a younger community, and I really do believe that the young people in the city love that aspect. When they go out to the parks, when they go to the events, they’re seeing a lot of young families and a lot of children. Another element is if you compare prices to homes here in the City of Maricopa to Chandler, Tempe, it’s a significant difference. When I talk to someone regarding how they feel about the City of Maricopa, outside of the traffic on 347, people love living here.

There’s a sense of community. This is due to the friends and/or family they knew before they arrived. Many families with children enjoy also having their grandparents in the same community. One of the big challenges is to always keep that community feel.

That’s something that we strive to do on a pretty regular basis by having events and bringing our community together and having a lot of fun together.

Mayor Smith at a Little League game.

Leveraging talent here in Casa Grande will serve as a pathway to connect talent to postsecondary and career opportunities. We need to match the workforce needs of our new economy to the education system of tomorrow.

Both of our local school districts have programs looking to do just that.

Casa Grande Elementary School District’s program is COIL, Center for Online and Innovative Learning. It is a new school within the elementary school district. It is located at the Evergreen Elementary School campus.

COIL is a public K-8 school of choice. Computing, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (C-STEM) content and practices are integrated in the curriculum in a manner to drive instruction and focus the learning. It creates an environment that blends projectbased learning, high academic standards, access to advanced technologies and a culture of collaboration.

The team of educators work collectively to create deep and personalized learning opportunities for all students. They create a learning environment that emphasizes finding solutions to real-world problems using

EDUCATION: GROWTH, PROJECTBASED LEARNING AND SUCCESS!

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

reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration (project-based learning, PBL). More information can be found at www. COIL@cgesd.org.

Casa Grande Union High School District’s program is called PACE, Pathways Accelerating Career Experiences. It, too, is a new school within the Casa Grande Union High School District. It is located at the high school district office, 1362 N. Casa Grande Ave.

“A School of Tomorrow,” as it is being dubbed by the school district, will be 9th and 10th grade its first year and will add grades each year until it is 9-12. It also will be a mastery learninggrading system of 90% mastery of skills on learning targets. Team courses will connect to advanced technology. It will be self-paced, based on mastery and not time.

It will offer post-secondary opportunities with access to college prep and dual credit courses as a community connected with internship and employment opportunities with local industry. Local industry has helped advise the school with actual real-world workplace needs.

Career and work readiness preparation will come through simulations and leadership skills support.

PACE is a new approach to new workforce needs. It is innovative and creative; it will help us build the needed workforce of the future. For more information go to www. PACEinfo@cguhsd.org.

SWITZERLAND BY RAIL with Railbookers

GRAND TOUR OF SWITZERLAND SCENIC SWITZERLAND FROM BASEL

Zurich > Interlaken > Lausanne > Zermatt > Gornergrat > St Moritz

Lugano > Lucerne

15 DAYS

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Experience Jungfrau Railway, Europe’s highest-altitude railway station

• All in one blockbuster tour of Switzerland including all the scenic lines and key mountain excursions

• Traverse the Swiss Alps onboard the Golden Pass Line

• Take in a mountain panorama from the top of Gornergrat

• Experience Jungfrau Railway, Europe’s highest-altitude railway station

• Traverse the Swiss Alps onboard the Golden Pass Line

• Board the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz

• and more!

• Take in a mountain panorama from the top of Gornergrat

• Board the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz

• and more!

• Amazing Matterhorn views from the Gornergrat Cog Railway

Jungfrau mountain

Jungfrau mountain

• Enjoy time in two of Switzerland’s most scenic alpine towns – Interlaken and Chur

• Enjoy time in two of Switzerland’s most scenic alpine towns – Interlaken and Chur

• Alpine Adventure via boat and cable car or the worlds steepest cog railway to the top of Mount Pilatus

• Beautiful Scenery of The Golden Pass railway

• Highest railway station Europe atop the world-famous Jungfrau Railway

• Alpine Adventure via boat and cable car or the worlds steepest cog railway to the top of Mount Pilatus

• Highest railway station Europe atop the world-famous Jungfrau Railway

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Enjoy wonderful views of the iconic Matterhorn mountain from the Gornergrat Cog Railway

• Admire the majesty of the Swiss Alps from the panoramic carriages of the Glacier Express

• Marvel at the change in scenery onboard the UNESCO listed Bernina Express, and enjoy a true Italian pizza in Tirano!

• Marvel at the change in scenery onboard the UNESCO listed Bernina Express, and enjoy a true Italian pizza in Tirano!

• Experience the glamorous and world-famous Swiss resorts in Zermatt and St. Moritz

• Experience the glamorous and world-famous Swiss resorts in Zermatt and St. Moritz

CG ASU Prep’s Twin Grads

by Blake Herzog

Nick and Andrew De Lapp, who graduated from the Casa Grande campus of ASU Preparatory Academy in May, are identical twins who embodied both aspects of the campus as they earned their identical 4.8 GPAs that landed them as co-valedictorians.

“The reason it was so similar was because we took basically the same classes, because we both were pushing ourselves to take as many academic opportunities as possible. And then we just both ended up, we excelled in the courses and ended up with basically the same grades,” Andrew says.

The brothers, 18, thrived within the innovative academic program while practicing and playing as students of the Barca Residency Academy USA, the only North American training school operated by the iconic FC Barcelona soccer club and the site of the ASU Prep campus, adjacent to Grande Sports World on the western edge of the city.

Andrew says, “We started when we were around 4 or so when we would play for a little soccer team that our dad would coach. And then we just kept getting better and better and then moved out to Arizona to play with Barca.” They started as sophomores after the pandemic affected their school schedule at home in Leesville, Louisiana, he says.

They spent as many as 15 hours a week practicing and playing soccer on top of their rigorous academic schedule but were able to volunteer during their junior and senior years, primarily at Catalysts Helping Increase Potential (CHIP), which aids people transitioning out of homelessness.

Nick De Lapp

Photo courtesy of ASU Prep

are Top Scorers of Class

Nick, who is the elder brother by two minutes, said they helped set up groups of their classmates to work with the faith-based nonprofit distributing food and handling other duties.

“I really enjoy making a positive impact on people’s lives, and with Barca that was setting up the excursions so that some of the kids could not only improve their resumes, but also help out organizations in Casa Grande that are making a difference,” Nick says.

Their father, mother, uncle and several other relatives have pursued medical careers and both plan to follow their surgeon dad’s footsteps. Nick intends to be an orthopedic surgeon like their dad while Andrew is leaning toward neurosurgery.

Both are headed in the fall to Macalester College in Minnesota on soccer scholarships, where Andrew will play as a winger and Nick as center back. Both would consider going pro if the right opportunity came along but are mainly gearing themselves for medical school. That’s the point where they say their paths will likely diverge due to the low odds of getting into the same school.

“I know that it’ll probably happen one day where we separate, but we’re just enjoying things right now,” Andrew says.

Nick adds, “At the end of the day, we both know that, we’ll take the best opportunity that ends up coming up for us and that’ll likely change in medical school.”

Andrew De Lapp

Photo courtesy of ASU Prep

EDUCATION DIRECTORY

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Apache Junction Unified School District

1575 W. Southern Ave., Apache Junction 480.982.1110

www.ajusd.org

Casa Grande Elementary District 220 W. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.2111

www.cgesd.org

Casa Grande Union High School District 1362 N. Casa Grande Ave., Casa Grande 520.316.3360

www.cguhsd.org

Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT)

1789 W. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge 520.423.1944

www.cavitschools.com

Coolidge Unified School District 450 N. Arizona Blvd., Coolidge 520.723.2040

www.coolidgeschools.org

Eloy Elementary District

1011 N. Sunshine Blvd., Eloy 520.466.2100

www.eloyesd.org

Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District 900 N. Main St., Eloy 520.466.2220 www.scvuhs.org

Toltec Elementary District 3315 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy 520.466.2360

www.toltecsd.org

Florence Unified School District 1000 S. Main St., Florence 520.866.3500

www.fusdaz.com

Maricopa Unified School District

44150 W. AZ-347 Hwy., Maricopa 520.568.5100

www.musd20.org

Oracle Elementary School Dostrict 2618 W. El Pasao, Oracle 520.896.3070

www.osd2.org

Superior Unified School District 1500 Panther Dr., Superior

520.689.3000

www.superiorusd.org

UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES

Central Arizona College 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Coolidge 800.237.9814

www.centralaz.edu

NAU at Central Arizona 8470 N. Overfield Rd., Bldg. M, Coolidge 520.421.1394

www.nau.edu/statewide-campuses/nau-centralarizona-college

TECHNICAL & TRADE SCHOOLS

Turning Point Beauty College 1355 E. Florence Blvd., Suite No. 143, Casa Grande 602.882.0928

www.facebook.com/TurningPointBeautyCollege

PRESCHOOLS

Casa Grande Head Start 468 W. McMurray Blvd., Casa Grande 520.421.2660

www.facebook.com/CGHeadStart

Early Childhood Learning Center 390 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Casa Grande 520.876.0045

www.cgesd.org/Domain/13

Coolidge Head Start

227 W. Pinkley Ave., Coolidge 520.723.4951

www.facebook.com/CoolidgeHeadStart

Eloy Head Start

114 E. 3rd St., Eloy 520.466.7189

www.facebook.com/EloyHeadStart

Toltc Head Start 3720 N. Marsh St., Eloy 520.466.4036

www.facebook.com/ToltecHeadStart

Florence Head Start

40 E. Celaya St., Florence 520.868.8640

www.facebook.com/FlorenceHeadStart

Maicopa Head Start

44931 W. Edwards Cir., Maricopa 520.568.2577

www.facebook.com/CityofMaricopaHeadStart

San Tan Valley Head Start

310 E. Combs Rd., San Tan Valley 480.987.1845

www.facebook.com/STVHeadStart

Superior Head Start

150 N. Lobb Ave., Superior 520.689.2812

www.facebook.com/SuperiorHeadStart

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Cholla Elementary School

1180 E. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.4719

www.cgesd.org/Domain/10

Cottonwood Elementary School

1667 N. Kadota Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.5601

www.cgesd.org/Domain/11

Desert Willow Elementary School 2172 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande 520.876.5397

www.cgesd.org/Domain/12

Evergreen Elementary School 1000 N. Amarillo St., Casa Grande 520.836.6694

www.cgesd.org/Domain/14

Ironwood Elementary School 1500 N. Colorado St., Casa Grande 520.836.5086

www.cgesd.org/Domain/15

McCartney Ranch Elementary School 2631 N. Brown Ave., Casa Grande 520.876.4235

www.cgesd.org/Domain/16

Mesquite Elementary School 129 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande

520.836.7787

www.cgesd.org/Domain/17

Palo Verde Elementary School 40 N. Roosevelt Ave., Casa Grande

520.421.1650

www.cgesd.org/Domain/18

Saguaro Elementary School

1501 N. Center Ave., Casa Grande

520.836.7661

www.cgesd.org/Domain/19

Heartland Ranch Elementary

1667 W. Caroline St., Coolidge

520.424.2100

www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/11

West Elementary School

460 S. 7th St., Coolidge

520.723.2702

www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/12

Arizona City Elementary School

12115 Benito Dr., Eloy

520.466.2450

www.toltecsd.org/arizonacityelementaryschool_ home.aspx

Cruiel Primary School

1000 N. Cruiel St., Eloy

520.466.2120

www.eloyesd.org/Curiel-Primary-School

Eloy Intermediate School 1101 N. Sunshine Blvd., Eloy

520.466.2130

www.eloyesd.org/Eloy-Intermediate-School

Anthem K-8 Elementary School

2700 N. Anthem Way, Florence

520.723.6400

www.fusdaz.com/Domain/8

Florence K-8 Elementary School

460 S. Park St., Florence

520.866.3540

www.fusdaz.com/fk8

Magma Ranch Elementary School

10980 E. Desert Mountain Blvd., Florence

520.868.7300

www.fusdaz.com/mr

Butterfield Elementary School

43800 Honeycutt Rd., Maricopa

520.568.5100

www.musd20.org/bes

Maricopa Elementary School

18150 N. Alterra Pkwy., Maricopa

520.568.5160

www.musd20.org/mes

Pima Butte Elementary School 42202 Rancho El Dorado Pkwy., Maricopa

520.568.5100

www.musd20.org/pbes

Saddleback Elementary School

18600 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa

520.568.6110

www.musd20.org/ses

Santa Cruz Elementary School

19845 N. Costa Del Sol Blvd., Maricopa

520.568.5170

www.musd20.org/sces

Santa Rosa Elementary School

21400 N. Santa Rosa Dr., Maricopa

520.568.5100

www.musd20.org/sres

Circle Cross Ranch K-8 Elementary School

35900 N. Charbray Dr., San Tan Valley

480.987.7600

www.fusdaz.com/cc

Copper Basin K-8 Elementary School

28682 N. Main St., San Tan Valley

480.888.7500

www.fusdaz.com/cb

Mountain Vista Academy Elementary School

33622 N. Mountain Vista Blvd., San Tan Valley

480.474.6172

www.fusdaz.com/mva

San Tan Heights Elementary School

2500 W. San Tan Heights Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.888.7555

www.fusdaz.com/sth

Skyline Ranch Elementary School

1084 W. San Tan Hills Dr., San Tan Valley 480.888.7520 www.fusdaz.com/sr

Walker Butte Elementary School

29697 N. Desert Willow Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.987.5360

www.fusdaz.com/wb

JFK Elementary School Elementary School

1500 Panther Dr., Superior 520.689.3000

www.superiorusd.org/JFK_Elementary

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Cactus Middle School 1220 E. Kortsen Rd., Casa Grande 520.421.3330

www.cgesd.org/Domain/8

Casa Grande Middle School

260 W. McMurray Blvd., Casa Grande 520.836.7310

www.cgesd.org/Domain/9

Villago Middle School 574 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Casa Grande 520.423.0176

www.cgesd.org/Domain/20

Toltec Middle School 3315 N. Toltec Rd., Eloy 520.466.2360

www.toltecsd.org

Desert Wind Middle School 35565 Honeycutt Rd., Maricopa 520.568.7110

www.musd20.org/dwms

Maricopa Wells Middle School

45725 W. Honeycutt Ave., Maricopa 520.568.7100

www.musd20.org/mwms

HIGH SCHOOLS

Casa Grande Union High School

2730 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande 520.836.8500

www.cguhsd.org/casagrandeunionhighschool_ home.aspx

CGUHSD Online Academy

1362 N. Casa Grande Ave., Casa Grande 520.836.3434

www.cguhsd.org/CGUHSDOnlineAcademy.aspx

Vista Grande High School 1556 N. Arizola Rd., Casa Grande 520.876.9400

www.cguhsd.org/vistagrandehighschool_home.aspx

CAVIT - Central Arizona Valley Institute Of Technology

1789 W. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge 520.423.1944 www.cavitschools.com

Coolidge Alternative Program & Virtual Academy

800 9th St., Coolidge

520.723.2115

www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/10

Coolidge High School

684 W. Northern Ave., Coolidge

520.723.2304

www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/8

Coolidge Junior High

684 W. Northern Ave., Coolidge 520.723.2304

www.coolidgeschools.org/Domain/9

Eloy Junior High School

404 E. Phoenix Ave., Eloy 520.466.2140

www.eloyesd.org/Eloy-Junior-High-School

Santa Cruz Center for Success 900 N. Main St., Eloy

520.466.2220

www.scvuhs.org/Santa-Cruz-Center-for-Success

Santa Cruz Valley Union High School 900 N. Main St., Eloy

520.466.2220

www.scvuhs.org/SCVUHS

Florence High School 1000 S. Main St., Florence 520.866.3560

www.fusdaz.com/fhs

Desert Sunrise High School 16200 N. Murphy Rd., Maricopa 520.509.0400

www.musd20.org/dshs

Maricopa High School 45012 W. Honeycutt Ave., Maricopa 520.568.8100

www.musd20.org/mhs

Florence Virtual Academy 33622 N. Mountain Vista Blvd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6188

www.fusdaz.com/fva

Poston Butte High School - Florence 32375 N. Gantzel Rd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6100

www.fusdaz.com/pbhs

San Tan Foothills High School 1255 W. Silverdale Rd., San Tan Valley 480.474.6240

www.fusdaz.com/foothills

Superior Junior High & High School 1500 Panther Dr., Superior 520.689.3000, ext 3102

www.superiorusd.org/Superior_JrSr_High

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Logos Christian Academy 9745 N. Trekell Rd., Casa Grande 520.421.1220

www.logosclassical.org

Education Directory

Continued

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School

501 E. 2nd St., Maricopa

520.836.7247

www.stanthonycgschool.org

CHARTER SCHOOLS

ASU Prep

12684 W. Gila Bend Hwy., Casa Grande 520.374.4200

www.asuprep.asu.edu/casa-grande-high-school

Grande Innovation Academy 950 N. Peart Rd., Casa Grande 520.381.2360

www.grandeinnovationacademy.com

Legacy Traditional School - Casa Grande

1274 E. O’Neil Dr., Casa Grande

520.421.2323

www.casagrande.legacytraditional.org

Mission Heights Preparatory High School

1376 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande

520.836.9383

www.mhprep.com

PPEP Tec

220 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande 520.294.6997

www.ppeptechs.org

Imagine Coolidge Elementary 1290 W. Vah Ki Inn Rd., Coolidge

520.723.5391

www.imaginecoolidge.org

A+ Charter School

41735 Alan Stephens Pkwy., Maricopa

520.265.5589

www.aplusaz.org

Heritage Academy 41000 W. Heroes Way, Maricopa

520.367.3800

www.hamaricopa.com

Leading Edge Academy - Maricopa 18700 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa

480.633.0414

www.leadingedgeacademy.com

Legacy Traditional School - Maricopa

17760 Regent Dr., Maricopa

520.423.9999

www.maricopa.legacytraditional.org

Sequoia Pathway Academy - Elementary 19265 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa

520.568.9333

www.sequoiapathway.org/#

Sequoia Pathway Academy - Secondary 19265 N. Porter Rd., Maricopa 520.568.2112

www.sequoiapathway.org

Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

The

Central Arizona College –Enroll Today for Fall 2023!

by Angela Askey, Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing

Central Arizona College provides a world class learner experience that supports student success and academic achievement.

It is the college’s goal to be transparent about what is needed for each program of study or transfer pathway while providing inspiring and relevant courses. CAC’s guided pathways provide a clear road map of sequenced courses that lead to a specific degree or certificate.

With nine areas of interest, students can find the pathway they want to a great career. For a listing of the nine areas of interest and related guided pathways maps visit: www.centralaz.edu/academics/areas-of-interest.

Community members are provided multiple learning opportunities through career training, personal enrichment classes, online and university transfer courses, and continuing education classes.

Students who choose Central Arizona College as the place to pursue their educational dreams can do so without the worry of having to pay too much for their continued education. In-state tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $75 per credit.

All students who live in Pinal County and graduate from a Pinal County high school are eligible to receive two years of in-state tuition (fall/spring, fall/spring) funded by CAC and the CAC Foundation through Pinal Promise. This alleviates a huge financial burden for students who may not otherwise be able to attend college.

Pinal Promise provides funding for any tuition need that has not been met, meaning that Pinal Promise funds will be applied after all other financial aid has been applied to the student’s account (this excludes student loans).

To be eligible for Pinal Promise, students must live in and graduate from a Pinal County high school, participate in 20 hours of community service that can be completed in high school or while attending CAC and complete the CAC scholarship application. For a complete listing of requirements and additional information visit www.centralaz.edu/pinalpromise.

Classes begin Aug. 21. Advising appointments are available face-to-face on campus, virtually through Microsoft TEAMS, or by phone. To schedule an appointment with an advisor, visit www.centralaz.edu/ advising.

CAC business hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. For additional assistance please call 520.494.5111 or email centralhelpdesk@centralaz.edu.

We are your community college. We are CAC!

Professor Heather Moulton presenting to a group of students.

Photo courtesy of CAC

BACK TO SCHOOL

Pinal County School Schedules 2023-2024 School Year

CASA GRANDE CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Casa Grande Elementary School District #4 July 24 www.cgesd.org

Casa Grande Union High School District #82 July 20 www.cguhsd.org/ vistagrandehighschool_home. aspx Grande Innovation Academy July 26 www.grandeinnovationacademy. com

Legacy Traditional School July 19 https://casagrande. legacytraditional.org

Logos Christian July 24 www.logosclassical.org

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School  www.stanthonycgschool.org

COOLIDGE CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) July 19 www.cavitschools.com/Home

Coolidge Unified School District July 24 www.coolidgeschools.org

Imagine Aug. 2 www.imaginecoolidge.org

ELOY CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Eloy Elementary School District  www.eloyesd.org

Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District #840 July 24 www.scvuhs.org

ELOY & ARIZONA CITY CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Toltec School District #22 July 24 www.toltecsd.org

FLORENCE CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Florence Unified School District July 23 www.fusdaz.com

MARICOPA CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Maricopa Unified School District July 20 www.musd20.org

A+ Charter Schools July 24 www.aplusaz.org/schoolcalendar

Heritage Academy July 19 www.heritageacademyaz.com

Leading Edge July 25 www.leadingedgeacademy.com/ maricopa

Legacy Traditional School July 19 https://maricopa. legacytraditional.org/calendars/ Sequoia Pathway July 20 www.sequoiapathway.org/##

SUPERIOR CLASSES BEGIN WEBSITE Superior Unified School District  www.superiorusd.org

 Start date not yet available at time of publication

All dates are subject to change. Please check your school's website for the most up-to-date information.

Education is the basis for the growth and progress of society, allowing people to contribute more in their areas of expertise and create better communities. Education on every level develops problem-solving skills and provides the opportunity for empowerment through hard work.

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life.”

—Plato

Survive the Summer Business Slowdown

by Blake Herzog

Getting through the summer doldrums is an issue every southern Arizona business owner must think about; the dropoff in tourism and increase in vacationing residents makes it a hurdle for nearly every firm to clear to some degree.

Fortunately the number of them that have been around for years, decades or generations is a testament to entrepreneurial resilience.

Financial planning months in advance is the most effective survival tool available, but there are many other things to do while we’re in the thick of the heat.

TRIMMING EXPENSES

Now’s a great time to experiment with lower-cost suppliers, putting in a smaller order to see if their products meet the standards you and your customers have come to expect before committing to a larger order for the high-season crowd.

If you’re satisfied with the ones you’re using now you can seek discounts with them by renegotiating terms based on larger orders, bigger upfront deposits or longer-term commitments.

TRAINING

This is a great time to think about training and continuing education classes for your employees as well as for yourself. Investigate where your team has some room for improvement and set aside time for meetings and classes where everyone can brush up on their skills.

So many more online resources may be available since even the last time you checked that it’s a good idea to take a look at what’s out there; reach out to your network to brainstorm innovative approaches.

CUSTOMER RETENTION

Training employees can feed into the broader goal of earning and maintaining customer loyalty, which is particularly important with yearround customers.

Sending out surveys and having one-on-one conversations can help to uncover strong points and weaknesses, and drilling down into customer complaints often reveals patterns that can be corrected.

Find ways to reward repeat customers through coupons or loyalty programs, and if you’re planning a seasonal shutdown do everything in your power to notify customers ahead of time so they aren’t caught off guard.

Bridging the Gap to Justice

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

According to the American Bar Association Commission on the Future of Legal Services: “(M)ost people living in poverty, and the majority of moderate-income individuals, do not receive the legal help they need.”

In 2017, the Legal Services Corporation released a report saying that 86% of legal matters involving low-income parties received either inadequate legal help or none at all.

Attorneys’ fees have skyrocketed in recent years, leaving many Arizonans unrepresented and

their legal rights and basic human needs ignored. There are, however, alternatives that aim to bridge the “justice gap” such as retaining a certified legal document preparer (LDP) or legal paraprofessional (LP).

Unlike paralegals, whose work must be supervised by an attorney, LDPs and LPs are legal professionals who have specific education and experience, have passed examinations (similar to mini bar exams), and who have obtained licensure through the Arizona Supreme Court to allow them to provide legal services to the general public without attorney regulation.

LDPs are licensed to prepare any legal document for self-represented parties (e.g., estate plans, child support orders, etc.), whereas LPs are licensed to give limited scope legal advice, negotiate rights and represent clients in a courtroom in matters involving family law, civil litigation, criminal law, administrative law and juvenile law proceedings.

Life happens. And it sometimes leads to a courtroom or other legal challenge. No one should have to choose between paying for quality legal services or maintaining life’s necessities.

VACANT LAND  INDUSTRIAL  COMMERCIAL  LEASING

These 3 parcels are located .5 miles north of I8 and just miles SW of the Booming Industrial Activity in Casa Grande.

Zoned for Single and Multiple Family Residence and is at the hard corner of Corman Rd/Corrales Rd.

 Property is part of the Bright Sky Farms and surveys are available

 Additional land in Pinal County available as well

3-37 acre adjacent parcels SW of Casa Grande’s Industrial Area

Location: NW Corner of Cornman & Corrales Rds, Casa Grande, AZ

APNs/Size: 511-67-0060 37.99 ac 511-67-0080 37.6 ac 511-67-0090 37.3 ac

1919 N. Trekell Rd., Ste. B, Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Price: $2,258,800 ($20,000/ac)

Zoning: CR-2/CR-5, Pinal County

520.421.9000 | roxcommercial.com

Steps to Buying a Home

Provided by Coldwell Banker ROX Realty

Buying a first home, or any home can be an anxiety-driven experience. A lot of money is involved and self-doubt can emerge as you ask yourself if you can afford it. Is it the right property? How do I know what lender to pick?

The stress might even bring on tears. These steps should help ease your way:

1. Reach out to your favorite local Realtor® who can help guide you from start to finish in the home-buying process.

2. Determine what you can afford. Take a look at your finances and decide what you’re comfortable paying on a monthly basis.

3. Shop for a loan and get pre-approved. Talk with a local lender to see what you qualify for before you start shopping.

4. Learning about available home-buying programs. FHA, classes, first-responder and veteran’s discount programs can help your bottom line.

5. Start shopping for a home! Choose your favorite neighborhoods and school districts, decide what you do and don’t want in a home.

6. Make an offer. Work with a licensed Realtor® to submit an offer.

7. Get a home inspection. Once your offer has been accepted, get the home inspected. The inspector will check the roof, AC, plumbing and many other areas of the home.

8. Shop for homeowner’s insurance.

9. Sign the paperwork. You’ll sign your final paperwork with a neutral third party title company.

10. Enjoy your new home!

Photo by Alyssa Lopez

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Photo by Alyssa Lopez

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Photo by Bea Lueck

New Beginnings: Reunifying Families

by Donna McBride, Pinal County Juvenile Court Program Administrator II

June is usually a time where kids celebrate the end of a school year, sleeping in and look forward to family vacations. But for some families this year, it was a different kind of celebration and new beginnings.

June was National Reunification Month. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Pinal County had its first “Family Strong” celebration to recognize the efforts of families who worked so diligently to overcome obstacles to provide a safe home and reunify after their children were placed in out-of-home care or what most refer to as foster care.

The purpose of the event was to celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of families who overcame difficulties to reunify with their children. We wanted to recognize the vital roles that others play in helping to reunify, strengthen and support those families.

Thanks to our supporters:

Throwback Fun Center

Casey Family Program

Caliente Clowns of Florence

Pinal County Juvenile Court

Pinal County Community Advisory Board

This included family members, social workers, foster parents, health and wellness providers, attorneys, CASA advocates, court leadership and our communities. Our goal is to also inspire other parents to know that it is possible to address and resolve the issues that led to their separation and to reunify with their children.

We especially want to thank Throwback Family Fun Center in Casa Grande for opening their doors to host this special day. Owners Peter and Kelsey Redwine are true champions for foster children and didn’t hesitate to partner with CASA of Pinal County to make this special day happen for our children and families we serve.

It truly does take a village to raise a child and Pinal County made it happen.

Yost Realty Group at RE/MAX Casa Grande

United Way of Pinal County

U of A Cooperative Extension

PCCI, Inc.

MiKid

Child Family Resource Department of Child Services (DCS)

Wildman Phil

Casa Grande Alliance APS

Photo by Throwback Family Fun Center

Photo

Back to School Fitness for the Whole Family

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

Can you believe summer is waning as thoughts of school prevail?

Going back to school can be a relief for many families as we juggle multiple schedules and activities. Try looking for ways to add fitness as a family. Along with all the health benefits, you can also enjoy some family bonding by spending time together.

P.S. — Let me clue you all in on a little secret: Setting fitness goals as a family is a great way to get everyone learning healthy habits. It ensures a workout for the kiddos, and you get in on the action, too! Add some healthy competition to the mix and everyone benefits.

Exercise can help with weight loss, maintain your weight and lower heart disease risks. It can even

improve memory, which will be very useful at school. And it also helps reduce anxiety and even improves your mood.

First, and of course most important, is adhering to a bedtime.

Sleep is important to help the body be more rested and have clearer thoughts the next morning. Having enough sleep is important for kids so they can do their best, and of course us adults as well.

Remember to start off slow. If you haven’t worked out all summer, be sure to start yourself back into your routine slowly.

Exercise where you can throughout your day. If your schedule permits an afternoon bike ride or walk, meet your child back at school and ride or walk home together.

Challenge each other. Maybe a pushup and a situp challenge each week. Kids feel empowered because it’s not just you telling them to get moving, you are all competing as a group.

Walking is an easy activity to do every day. Walking helps balance the pelvis and relieve stress. It’s also something you can do anywhere, with or without your children. Aim to walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day. Maybe use it as a time to talk about your day and connect as a family. These memories will be special when your child is older.

Set realistic goals; maybe three days a week if that works best for you and your family.

You know YOU better than anyone, set goals that you know you can do. Goals are made to be met!

You Health, Happiness & Education

Gear Up for Back to School

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

Summer Reading is all wrapped up and we hope that many were able to participate to help with the “Summer Slide” over the break.

Parents and caregivers, you might be looking for ways to help your children with some of their schoolwork, or homeschoolers, you may be looking to add to your curriculum. College students heading back in the fall, do you need to brush up on some skills? The library is here to help.

Start by going to www.cglibrary. org where you can then click on the Research Tab. Scroll down to Student Resources. You will see an extensive

list of databases you can access with your library card.

Brainfuse is the first free resource we will focus on. Brainfuse can be used for live online tutoring, help with writing, has an extensive Skill Surfer link which allows you to read lessons, watch videos, as well as take tests to practice new and past skills. Brainfuse can be used from Kindergarten through college and adult learning.

Brainfuse also has “study” and “collaborate” features. To fully take advantage of using this resource, you will need to create an account. Creating an account allows you to keep track of your lessons, tutoring sessions, tests, messages and more.

Are you looking to learn a new language? Under the Student Resources Tab, you will find access to Duolingo. Duolingo offers 40 different languages to learn. Upon clicking on Duolingo, it will ask you

what language you want to learn and then a series of questions such as why you want to learn the language, a daily goal and and if you know any of the language already.

And last, but not least: Khan Academy. We have a quick link to Khan Academy in our Student Resources. Khan Academy offers help in the areas of math, science, computing, arts and humanities, reading and language arts, life skills, economics and test prep.

Again, to fully use all its features, you will want to create an account. By doing so, you will be able to keep track of the items you viewed and work you have completed. Whether you go to public school, private school, home school, college, or even are a parent searching for ways to help your child, Khan Academy can be a resource for you.

But don’t stop with these three great resources. Look around at all the outstanding resources that you will find on www.cglibrary.org under the Research tab.

We are always here to help you get started at the library. You can stop in either location where we would be happy to show you around the site: Main Library, 449 N. Drylake St., and Vista Grande Library, 1556 N. Arizola Rd.

You Pets

Prisoners to Help Dogs Become Adoptable

by Gigi McWhirter

Ruff Lives is a new program developed by the Valley Humane Society of Casa Grande (VHS) in conjunction with the CoreCivic Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy.

Ruff Lives is a canine version of “Tough Love” — or “Ruff Love” as I like to call it.

According to VHS Shelter Manager Crystal Fox, 10 dogs will participate in the Ruff Lives project. They were picked because they have behavioral issues that currently make them difficult to place in a loving home environment.

Each dog will have two inmates to care for and train them. The dogs will remain with their assigned handlers for eight weeks.

These dogs can be adopted even while training. VHS has created a journal on their social media pages so you can follow the canine’s progress and find out how to make one your own.

The intent is for the dogs to learn basic commands, overcome fears and learn to trust people. The final goal is to have each dog receive the AKC Good Citizen Certification and to have them all adopted so they can go straight into your arms and not back into the shelter.

Here is a quick introduction of the first pack of Ruff Lives participants:

Sonja was found, with pups, on the streets of Mexico. She is fearful and should go to a home where she is the only animal.

Lola is a feral mom dog.

Garth was in a hoarding situation. He is fearful and unsocialized.

Waikiki was born at VHS and was adopted. She was ignored by her adopters and was returned to the shelter. She is fearful of men.

Vera came to the shelter as a feral pup. She, too, was adopted and then returned. The adopters did nothing to develop her. She likes other dogs but is fearful of people.

Winnie was trapped in a building with her two sisters. She is fearful.

Grady was an owner surrender. He is a biter.

Nell doesn’t like people.

Johnny was found in a backyard where he had no human contact. It took agents three hours to catch this fearful boy.

Thriller is a distemper survivor. He is about 10 months old and does not like white men.

Pictures of the dogs can be found on the Valley Humane Society Facebook page.

Orange is the New Bark. Adopt. Don’t Shop. Happy Tails to You!

Sustainable Kitchen Upgrades to Make Now

by Blake Herzog

When it’s time to update your kitchen there’s a bunch of factors to balance, including style, functionality and cost. There’s one more — sustainability.

In some cases this last dimension can add to your expense but will save money in the long run, while others can be a fraction of the cost of other alternatives.

These are just a few of the many steps you can take to make your next remodel more eco-friendly.

INVEST IN ENERGYEFFICIENT APPLIANCES

We don’t need to scrap wellfunctioning refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers before their time to be decommissioned (and recycled as much as possible), but when it is time look for Energy Star-certified products, which may well have a presence in your home already and save on electric and water usage.

Beyond that, it’s a good idea to explore alternative versions of large appliances like induction stoves, touchless faucets and convection ovens that will keep you at the vanguard of eco- and budgetfriendly kitchens for years to come.

USE NONTOXIC PAINT

Nontoxic paint uses raw, natural ingredients including clay, citrus, food-grade proteins, plant oils and dyes, minerals and water to create products with very low to nonexistent levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contain chemicals easily released at room temperature and can increase indoor and outdoor air pollution with the potential to cause short-term irritation or longterm harm.

Look for paint (and other household products) certified as UL GREENGUARD, which signifies a product with very low VOC emissions, or GREENGUARD Gold, which has stricter standards and tests for more chemicals.

CHOOSE RECYCLED PRODUCTS AND INGREDIENTS

These can be used almost everywhere in your kitchen — reclaimed wood for counters and cabinets, recycled glass and paper composite for countertops and

recycled tiles for flooring, reusing drawer and cabinet pulls from old furniture, repurposing old iron or copper bowls into eye-catching sinks, upcycling vintage cake tins, wine bottles or even auto parts as light fixtures — use your imagination to keep things out of the landfill and lower your shipping needs.

SELECT SUSTAINABLE FLOORING MATERIALS

The word “linoleum” doesn’t exactly have a 21st-century ring to it, but turns out true linoleum is entirely made of biodegradable materials including linseed oil, tree resin, wood flour and ground limestone. With proper care it’s an incredibly durable surface, and it won’t have an extended afterlife in the landfill once it is replaced.

It’s becoming harder and harder to find, however, so other options include bamboo (though its transportation from tropical environments does enlarge its carbon footprint), cork and engineered hardwood.

REFACE YOUR CABINETS

Outdated cabinets and drawers are often the prime motivation for a kitchen remodel, but if their

boxes are in good shape it’s much cheaper and friendlier to the environment to replace their drawers and fronts and keep as much of the rest as you can.

In many cases the hinges and hardware can be saved while you create a radically different look for your kitchen.

Real Estate Market Statistics

Cool your Summer Down

with Pastels

by Blake Herzog

You may have heard that earth tones have been storming back into the interior decorating limelight this year, with warmer beiges and browns getting particular attention as homeowners retreat from the whites and grays that have dominated design for the past several years.

Pastels are a close second, however, infusing a sense of freshness and calm that can invigorate any space with a cool vibe that’s especially welcome as everything outside heats up.

Simple seasonal add-ons like pillows, rugs and wall art can chill a room faster than your HVAC, while more permanent fixes like painting walls and furniture, reupholstering seating and switching out countertops can extend the summery feel throughout the year.

Try these inventive ways to inject pastel tones into your home.

ACCENT WALLS

As many people are finding out, these don’t have to be painted bright, saturated colors to make an impression. Accent walls that don’t scream for attention are coming into vogue to bring an understated sophistication to living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Use a soft sage-green to evoke natural growth, light yellow for cheery sunrays, rosy pinks for luminous sunrises and sunsets or sky blue for a steady, calming influence to get you through the day.

MIX WITH DARK WOODS

If you have mid-tone or darker wood furniture, floors and other design

elements you don’t think will play well with pastels, take a closer look.

A warm-wood dresser or headboard can look even glowier contrasted with bubblegum bedding, and deep brown and black can be dramatically offset by any color on the pastel spectrum — try pistachio or tea green for an unexpected choice that can reap big dividends.

CORNER HAVENS

If some in your family don’t share your love for pastels, you can still furnish a corner of a room with a chair and ottoman or pouf that complements the rest of your home’s décor with a sturdy yet cute side table and a cheerful rug as your personal oasis, one that can in its way make a bigger splash than a whole room of champagne, mint and robin’s egg-tinged furnishings.

Home ‘To Dos’ you May Not Have Thought Of

Most of us try to keep a checklist of home maintenance tasks that should be done at least once or twice a year, taking some inspiration from magazine articles, blogs or other “todo” lists that they come across.

Most of these sound pretty much the same — clean the gutters, check your roof, seal up all the cracks. Not that we generally need more stuff to do, but what are some other checks and tasks should be done to protect your house’s integrity and resale value?

We’ve come up with a few that need to be done periodically:

• Check all electrical outlets and other sources of power to make sure they’re functional. If not, bring an electrician in to address any problems, and get things back up and running.

• Clean the inside of your dryer cabinet and dryer vent of any built-up lint, which if left unaddressed can spark damaging fires.

• Wash the inside of heavily used trash cans with bleach and hot water once a month — you can make this easier by spraying disinfectant each time you change a bag.

• Wipe down inside walls with a mop or Swiffer implement with a long handle to clear out cobwebs, dust and other debris that collect on upper walls without having to use a ladder.

• Maintain your garage door by lubricating the tracks on which any springs or rollers run, and check safety sensors to make sure they stop the door when something or someone gets in the way.

• Unplug and clean any exhaust fans, like the ones in your bathroom and range hood. If you can’t simply unplug them, you’ll need to shut off the applicable circuit breaker.

• Empty out and clean your refrigerator drip pan, which is found behind the kick plate (grill) at the bottom of the fridge beneath the defrost drainage line.

• Unblock outside drains by removing leaves and other debris before they get to the point of flooding your yard and home.

• Inspect the foundation and concrete slabs for hairline or larger cracks that need to be repaired before they compromise the foundation’s integrity.

What ROX and What Sux?

WHAT ‘SUX’ IN WALL DÉCOR?

Floating shelves!

These stubby little planks attached to the wall to look like they’re “floating” in space are an interesting concept by themselves, but they’re also magnets for small objects that quickly turn into dust-drenched clutter.

These knickknacks are difficult to clean without knocking something else off the shelf and cause all the same problems they do when jammed on top of a dresser or counter.

These shelves are rarely used to store anything so they serve no useful purpose.

WHAT ROX?

Wall art!

Whether you display paintings, drawings, tapestries or ceramic pieces, wall art is a much more attractive and efficient way to draw the eye and add pops of color and style to the room.

Hanging arty objects on the wall makes them easier to see and admire then when placed on a hanging shelf to lean against the wall.

Well-chosen wall art honors your sensibility and effortlessly elevates a room toward whatever vibe you want — formality, cheerfulness, calm, vitality, etc.

Fun TRAVEL, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

Training in Southern Japan

by Tori Ward, Cruise and Resort Specialist, ROX Travel

In the next couple of issues, I’m going to take a detour from the continuing series of train travel in Europe to share a trip I just completed to southern Japan that involved as many as five trains a day.

Osaka was our launch pad for two nights while we explored and attended a maiko dinner performance at the Ganko Mansion House Takasegawa in Kyoto. Maiko are geisha in training as they master the art of and music and dance.

The maiko performed two dances, posed for pictures and answered questions about this fascinating career. The geisha and maiko have become so harassed by tourists stopping them for selfies that a law recently has been passed that fines anyone caught stopping one of these women on the street or snapping unauthorized photos.

The following day we did a slow bus crawl to Himeji Castle and Gardens. The traffic was relentless, and I longed

for the train. It was snowing cherry blossoms at this UNESCO World’s Heritage site as the trees were at the peak of their beauty and families were taking advantage of this once a year spectacle.

Advance tickets are definitely advised as the wait time to purchase can be well over an hour. Also, shoes are not allowed inside the castle that is one of the few if not the most beautiful castles from the 1600s in Japan that have survived. The gardens

White Castle Panarama Photo by Tori Ward

themselves are quite beautiful and you can keep your shoes on.

The bullet train station or Shinkansen was about a mile walk from Himeji where we boarded for the quick trip of just under an hour to Hiroshima. The trains are clean, quiet and fast with announcements in both Japanese and English. A quick pre-trip internet tutorial will explain how easy it is to understand how to find your train, car and seat.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum was an emotional, but necessary, stop for us where it was hard not to become emotional over the cost to civilians of international conflict. It was a reminder for us to never take a single day for granted or forget to let our children know how much we love them.

Another quick train ride delivered us to Miyajimaguchi Station where we walked to the ferry terminal and after a 10-minute ride, arrived at the island of Miyajima.

The island is a wonderful collection of walkable streets filled with pastry and coffee shops, but if you like oysters this is your world. Raw, grilled or fried,

there are dozens of oyster bars and restaurants where service is quick.

Full of oysters and Sapporo we walked along the shore to Itsukushima Shrine, better known as the floating shrine where the red torii gate seems to float on the water at high tide. We wanted to spend more time there, but we were headed to Nagasaki, a train journey of over three hours.

Our stop in Nagasaki included the Peace Memorial Park, Glover Garden and the oldest standing Catholic Church in Japan, Oura. Glover Garden is a park where Thomas Glover, a Scottish merchant who contributed to Japanese modernization in several industries, had a house built in 1863. It is the oldest western-style house in Japan. The park with the residence museum involves climbing a hill, but once you ascend the views overlooking Nagasaki harbor are stunning.

In our next issue we will conclude our cherry blossom tour of southern Japan as we visit Kumamoto, Takachiho Gorge, Yufuin, Shikoku and finally Ritsurin Garden before heading back for a neon night in Osaka.

Tori’s Tips:

If you’re flying from the U.S. to Japan to visit western or southern Japan, try to book flights to Kansai International Airport. Both Tokyo airports are large and while friendly, the lines for both immigration and security were over an hour long at Haneda.

Have patience, a GPS, and a Japanese translation of where you are going if you take a taxi or Uber. Tipping is not expected or encouraged. (Download Google Translate or another language translation application.)

Wear socks as many restaurants, shrines and other facilities prohibit the wearing of shoes indoors.

Be prepared to depart the train as soon as it stops. That means being up with your possessions gathered and moving toward the door before arriving in the station.

If you are lost either in a train station, airport or street just stop and look lost. Someone will help you and often walk with you to where you need to go.

Tori and Torii Gate

Photo by Tori Ward

Bullet Train

Photo by Tori Ward

Scan for more information or to book your next trip with ROX Travel.

Now ! EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

July 15th

Maricopa Master GardenersPreserving the Garden Bounty and ask a Master Gardener

University of Arizona Maricopa Ag Center

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Presented by Maricopa Master Gardeners at MAC. A productive garden provides an abundance of food. Preserving the foods you grow in your garden ensures the fruits of your labor are available long after the growing season has passed. Come and learn the safe methods to preserve your foods. Stay after to have your questions answered by MAC Master Gardeners.

520.374.6263

www.facebook.com/ events/2411308472375753

Live Music at the Windmill WineryJuly Events

Windmill Winery - Florence

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Enjoy the live music events in the Wine Tasting Room. July schedule - Sat.

7/15: Kenny Samuelson, Sat. 7/22: Warren Young, Sat. 7/29: Jeremy Marsh. Check website to confirm performers and times. Located at 1140 W. Butte Ave. in Florence.

520.858.6050

www.thewindmillwinery.com

July 16th

Live Theatre: “Is He Dead?”

BlackBox Foundation TheatreCasa Grande

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Blackbox Foundation in Casa Grande is presenting the comedy “Is He Dead?” from July 14-23. All shows will include a silent art auction, themed concessions and merchandise. Tickets are $10 presale and $12 at the door. Tickets: www.blackboxcg.org. The theater is located at 407 N. Sacaton St.

520.532.2337

www.blackboxcg.org

July 16th

Dinner & Jazz Showcase

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

6:00 PM -

Presented by New Groove Entertainment. Held at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Casa Grande. Features performances by Les Paul Roque and Renee Rice. Tickets: $30 general admission / reserved VIP seating $35. Tickets available online. 708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

July 17th

July Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop - Casa Grande

Located at 127 W. Wilson St. in Casa Grande. Check the website for July class details and availability. Book your spot early as there are limited spaces available. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor and more. Teen Art Experience workshops are available.

www.casitaworkshop.com

Community Recreation Center Programs and Classes

Community Recreation CenterCasa 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

July 18th

Karaoke with Rosie

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 July live music schedule. Located at 3802 W. Frontier St. in Eloy. Reservations are recommended - call ahead to reserve a seat.

520.466.9972

www.facebook.com/tumbleweedinnaz

July 19th

Explore Pinal County’s History

Pinal County Historical MuseumFlorence

July hours Wed.-Sat. 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Closed in August. Exhibits include Native American culture, day-to-day life in early Florence, 2nd Territorial Prison artifacts, antique clothing, cactus furniture, farm machinery, vintage fire engines and much more. Admission is $7 for adults and free for ages 18 and under. Free admission and special activities on first Sat. of each month.

520.868.4382

www.pinalcountyhistoricalmuseum.org

Splash, Dine & Dash

Community Recreation CenterCasa Grande

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Beat the heat and cool off at the splash pad on select Wednesdays this summer! Bring your friends and family to enjoy a meal from one of the food trucks onsite, cool off at the splash pad, enjoy lawn games and music! Activities are free and open to the public, food trucks will be onsite selling cold beverages and tasty eats! Also offered on Aug. 16.

520.421.8677

www.casagrandeaz.gov/crc

2023 Roaring '20s Casino Night

Viney Jones Community CenterFlorence

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

2023 Casino Night at the Viney Jones Community Center. Sponsored by Epcor. This Roaring 20’s themed signature Chamber of Commerce event will be sure to entertain and delight you. We are indulging in 1920’s style this year by offering MORE gaming tables, MORE food, and of course the bubbly will flow at the bar. Table games include blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps. Silent auction with prizes to bid on from your winnings at the tables. Attire for the event should range from cocktail to formal (if you’re feeling like Mr. Gatsby). Tickets available on Chamber website.

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

July 19th

Events at Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center

Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment CenterMaricopa

The Entertainment Center offers movies, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, parties, live music, 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

Pinal County Libraries - July Events

Pinal County Library District

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

520.509.3555

https://pcld.libnet.info/events

July 20th

Explore Gila River Indian Community History and Culture

Huhugam Heritage Center - Chandler

Open Tue.-Fri. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free admission. This modern cultural center highlights the ancestral, historic and current cultures of the Gila River Indian Community. The gallery features items from the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History, Yale Peabody Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Gila River Indian Community members and HHC collections. Tours should be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. Located at 21359 South Maricopa Rd. in Chandler.

520.796.3500

www.grichhc.org

Events at Throwback Family Fun

Throwback Family Fun - Casa Grande Activities include arcade games, axe throwing, live music, birthday parties and more! Can host private events. Check the Throwback Family Fun website and Facebook page for their latest events. Open Thursday-Sunday.

520.635.6411

www.throwbackfun.com/events

July 21st

Visit the Ostrich Ranch

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich RanchPicacho

8:00 AM - 2:00 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 Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in July, August, and September.

520.466.3658

www.roostercogburn.com

Visit the Casa Grande Ruins

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - Coolidge

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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 special events. Summer hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

520.723.3172

www.nps.gov/cagr

Learn about Arizona’s Geology

Pinal Geology & Mineral MuseumCoolidge

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Exhibits include fossils from all over the world, gems and minerals and children’s activities. Check the website for information about the Pinal County Gem and Mineral Society. The museum is located at 351 N. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge. Summer hours: Fridays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM through Sept. 5.

520.723.3009

www.pinalgeologymuseum.org

Live Music and Karaoke - Arizona City Tap Inn Restaurant and Bar6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Tap Inn is located at the Arizona City Golf Club and has weekly karaoke and live music. Check the events calendar on their website for the schedule.

www.arizonacity.golf/calendar

July 21st

Live Music at A Latte Vino: JC & Laney

A Latte Vino - Casa Grande

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

A Latte Vino offers a variety of live entertainment including live music, improv comedy, paint & sip, and other fun events! Check their website for the entertainment schedule. Located at 958 E. Rodeo Road in Casa Grande.

520.788.6677

www.alattevino.com/music-events

Old Town Club - Downtown Casa Grande

Old Town Club - Casa Grande

Located at 412 N. Florence St. in Casa Grande. Visit their Facebook page for the live music, special event, and DJ schedule.

520.208.3442

www.facebook.com/Old-TownClub-100263734817435

July 21st

Live Music at San Tan Flat: Arizona Blacktop Acoustic Duo

San Tan Flat - Queen Creek

7:00 PM - 11:00 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 July music lineup. Rod Kent plays every Wed. and Neil Bunker every Thu. There are bands on Fri. and Sat. night from 7:00-11:00 PM .

480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

July 22nd

Florence Farmers Market

McFarland State Historic ParkFlorence

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 and tea, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products.

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

Live Music: Guns Out!

River Bottom Bar & Grill - Florence

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The River Bottom Bar & Grill has bands most weekends and karaoke on Mondays and Tuesdays. See their new website for the live music lineup. Located at 2501 North Highway 79 in Florence.

520.868.3131

www.riverbottombar.com/events

Jazz Night at the Paramount Theatre

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

7:00 PM

Presented by New Groove Entertainment. Held at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Casa Grande. Featuring Gregory Goodloe, Bibre Harmony, and host/comedian Tommy Brown. General admission tickets

$35. Reserved VIP seating $35. Tickets available online.

708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

Live Theatre: “Is He Dead?”

BlackBox Foundation Theatre - Casa Grande

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Blackbox Foundation in Casa Grande is presenting the comedy

“Is He Dead?” from July 14-23. All shows will include a silent art auction, themed concessions and merchandise. Tickets are $10 presale and $12 at the door. Tickets: www.blackboxcg. org. The theater is located at 407 N. Sacaton St.

520.532.2337

www.blackboxcg.org

July 26th

Explore the History of the Superstition Mountains

Superstition Mountain MuseumApache Junction

Summer hours are Mon.-Sun. 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The museum sits on 14 acres of Sonoran desert and the exhibits include artifacts, art work, memorabilia, mining equipment, Indigenous history, an outdoor model railroad exhibit and much more.

Admission $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for students 11-17. Free admission for children 10 and under.

480.983.4888

www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org

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 and upcoming live music. Located at 1980 S. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge.

520.723.0300

www.facebook.com/gallopingoose

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 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

July 28th

Fly-In Breakfast

Casa Grande Municipal Airport

7:00 AM

Takes place on the last Saturday of the month at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport. The community is invited to enjoy breakfast with local aviators and enjoy a great view of aircraft on the ramp at the airport! Breakfast is hosted by the local Masonic Lodge (Pinal Lodge 30), and serving begins at 7:00 AM. Cost is $10. Enjoy the Art @ the Airport displays from the Casa Grande Art Association.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov

July 29th

Butterfly Walk

Boyce Thompson ArboretumSuperior

8:00 AM

Learn about the different butterflies that call the Arboretum home! This 1.5-hour walk led by butterfly experts will enhance your appreciation and understanding of butterflies. Space is limited. Pre-registration required. Register on website.

520.689.2723

www.btarboretum.org

Desert Scorpion Hunt at Lost Dutchman State Park

Lost Dutchman State Park

8:15 PM

Come and join us for a brief informative talk about scorpions with a ranger, and then head out into the desert darkness in search of scorpions! Bring your camera, a black light or flashlight, and water! Wear sturdy closed-toed shoes. If you do not own a black light, we will have some for sale for $9, cash only (limited availability). No pets, please! Meet in the Palo Verde Day Use area. $5 per person, online registration required. Check the Parks website for additional events.

480.982.4485

www.azstateparks.com

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. Ground school training is offered monthly. See website for details and to register. Skydive Arizona also has upcoming events and courses for experienced skydivers, including AXIS B License training and night jumps. Tandem skydiving is also available.

520.466.3753

www.skydiveaz.com

DJs & Karaoke at The Roost

The Roost Sports Bar & CafeMaricopa

Check The Roost Facebook page for updates on DJs and Karaoke. Located at 20800 N. John Wayne Pkwy in Maricopa.

520.568.5338

www.facebook.com/TheRoostAZ

July 29th

Walk on the Wild Side - Blooming Nights

Boyce Thompson Arboretum - Superior

6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Summer nights come alive when you Walk on the Wild Side at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Families discover the unique sights, sounds, and smells of the Sonoran Desert’s nocturnal life as your flashlight beams along the trails. Learn from BTA Staff about the majestic night-blooming cacti, marvel at insects, and enjoy educational activities. Keep cool with a treat from Breezy Pops, available for purchase. Pre-registration required.

520.689.2723

www.btarboretum.org

August 6th

Community Yard Sale

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

6:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Vendors must bring their own tables, chairs, and shade. No food items can be sold.

www.eloyaz.gov

August 7th

August Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop - Casa Grande

Located at 127 W. Wilson St. in Casa Grande. Check the website for August class details and availability. Book your spot early as there are limited spaces available. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor, and more. Teen Art Experience workshops are now being offered.

www.casitaworkshop.com

August 8th

Karaoke with Rosie

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 August live music schedule. Located at 3802 W. Frontier St. in Eloy. Reservations are recommended - call ahead to reserve a seat.

520.466.9972

www.facebook.com/tumbleweedinnaz

Mercado y Carniceria

August 10th

Events at Throwback Family Fun

Throwback Family Fun - Casa Grande

Activities include arcade games, axe throwing, live music, birthday parties and more! Can host private events. Check the Throwback Family Fun website and Facebook page for their latest events. Open Thursday-Sunday.

520.635.6411

www.throwbackfun.com/events

Newcomers and Neighbors of Casa Grande - Meet & Greet

Central Meeting Hall - Casa Grande

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Casa Grande is a great place to meet new friends. Activity and interest groups meet regularly and all-club events are held several times throughout the year. Learn more at the monthly “Meet & Greet” orientation meeting, held on the second Thursday of most months. Meetings take place at 408 N. Sacaton Street. See website for details.

www.cgnnc.com/calendar

EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

August 12th

McFarland State Historic Park Museum & Visitor Center

McFarland State Historic ParkFlorence

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

The museum and visitor center are open Mon. through Sat., 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, May through Sept. 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 list of upcoming talks and lectures at the park.

520.868.5216

www.azstateparks.com/mcfarland

Open Mic Night - Casa Grande Museum of Casa Grande - Heritage Hall - Casa Grande

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Second Saturday of every month. 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 signup at 5:30 PM. Open mic starts at 6:00 PM, with maximum 10 minutes for each performer. Mics and sound system provided. Free. $5-$10 suggested donation. Presented by the Yoga Recovery & Healing Arts Project.

520.532.2337

www.yogahealingartsproject.org

August 14th

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

August 16th

Explore Gila River Indian Community History and Culture

Huhugam Heritage Center - Chandler

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Open Tue.-Fri. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Free admission. This modern cultural center highlights the ancestral, historic and current cultures of the Gila River Indian Community. The gallery features items from the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Natural History, Yale Peabody Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Gila River Indian Community members and HHC collections. Tours should be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. Located at 21359 South Maricopa Rd. in Chandler.

520.796.3500

www.grichhc.org

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

August 16th

Events at Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center

Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment CenterMaricopa

The Entertainment Center offers movies, bowling, laser tag, an arcade, parties, live music 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

Pinal County Libraries - August Events

Pinal County Library District

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

520.509.3555

https://pcld.libnet.info/events

August 18th

Learn about Arizona’s Geology

Pinal Geology & Mineral MuseumCoolidge

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Exhibits include fossils from all over the world, gems and minerals and children’s activities. Check the website for information about the Pinal County Gem and Mineral Society. The museum is located at 351 N. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge. Summer hours: Fridays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM through Sept. 5.

520.723.3009

August 13th

R&B Tribute: Soultown Train Band

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Presented by New Groove Entertainment. Held at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Casa Grande. R&B tribute to Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays and more. Music by the Soultown Train Band. Tickets available online.

708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

DJ schedule and upcoming live music. Located at 1980 S. Arizona Blvd. in Coolidge.

520.723.0300

www.facebook.com/gallopingoose

www.pinalgeologymuseum.org

Live Music at San Tan Flat: Danny and Kristin Duo

San Tan Flat - Queen Creek

7:00 PM - 11:00 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 Aug. music lineup. Rod Kent plays every Wed. and Neil Bunker every Thu. There are bands on Fri. and Sat. night from 7:00-11:00 PM.

480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

August 18th

Live Music at A Latte Vino

A Latte Vino - Casa Grande

A Latte Vino offers a variety of live entertainment including live music, improv comedy, paint & sip and other fun events! Check their website for the entertainment schedule. Located at 958 E. Rodeo Road in Casa Grande. 520.788.6677

www.alattevino.com/music-events

August 19th

Casa Grande Farmers Market

702 E. Cottonwood Lane - Casa Grande

7:00 AM

Held on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the First Presbyterian Church/ PCSO-Pinal County parking lot. Cost is $15 for a box of farmer-direct produce. Cash only. Market hours are 7:00 AM until produce is sold out. See Facebook page to confirm market details. Contact the market if you are interested in volunteering. Vendors please see website for info.

www.casagrandefarmersmarket.com

August 19th

Windmill Winery Tamale Festival

Windmill Winery - Florence

4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The award-winning Tucson Tamale Company will be bringing Mama Celia’s recipes to the folks of Florence with their handmade traditional corn husk tamales! Doors open at 4:00 PM at the Big Barn with live music until 9:00 PM. Ticket includes entry to the event along with a tamale plate and three sides. A ticket is required for entrance to this event. Seating is limited and only a limited quantity of tickets will be available at the door, so get your tickets early!

520.858.6050

www.thewindmillwinery.com

August 19th

Maricopa Master Gardeners - Composting in the Desert and ask a Master Gardener

University of Arizona Maricopa Ag Center - Maricopa

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Presented by Maricopa Master Gardeners at MAC. Organic material is required in our desert soils for gardens to thrive. One option is to create your own compost from yard and food waste to feed the plants. There are a number of methods for composting, come and learn about the composting methods that work well in the desert. Stay after to have your questions answered by MAC Master Gardeners.

520.374.6263

Jazz at the Paramount Theatre: The Chicago Experience

Paramount Theatre - Casa Grande

7:00 PM

Presented by New Groove Entertainment. Held at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Casa Grande. Featuring performances by Ray Fuller, Eloni Yawn, Downtown Tommy Brown, Everett B Walters. General admission tickets $35. Reserved VIP seating $35. Tickets available online.

708.657.7485

www.tripleRRRproduction.com

August 26th

Fly-In Breakfast

Casa Grande Municipal Airport

7:00 AM

Takes place on the last Saturday of the month at the Casa Grande Municipal Airport. The community is invited to enjoy breakfast with local aviators and enjoy a great view of aircraft on the ramp at the airport! Breakfast is hosted by the local Masonic Lodge (Pinal Lodge 30), and serving begins at 7:00 AM. Cost is $10. Enjoy the Art @ the Airport displays from the Casa Grande Art Association.

520.421.8600

www.casagrandeaz.gov

August 26th

Movies Under The Stars

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

7:30 PM

Bring your snacks, blankets, and lawn chairs, and enjoy a “Movie Under the Stars” with us! Movie titles will be announced closer to the event dates.

www.eloyaz.gov

August 31st

Live Theatre: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Combs Performing Arts Center - San Tan Valley

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Eight performances from Aug. 31 to Sept. 9. Presented by the INSPIRE Theatre Company. (www.inspiretheatre.org). Based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts bunch explore life’s great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.

480.987.5300

www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter

September 1st

Live Music and Karaoke - Arizona City Tap Inn Restaurant and Bar - Arizona City

The Tap Inn is located at the Arizona City Golf Club and has weekly karaoke and live music. Check the events calendar on their website for September schedule.

www.arizonacity.golf/calendar

September 4th

September Art Classes & Workshops

Casita Workshop - Casa Grande

Located at 127 W. Wilson St. in Casa Grande. Check the website for September 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 through May. Classes include ceramics, weaving, glass, fiber arts, watercolor and more. Teen Art Experience workshops are now being offered monthly.

www.casitaworkshop.com

September 8th

Live Music at San Tan Flat: Last Train to Juarez

San Tan Flat - Queen Creek

7:00 PM - 11:00 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 Sept. music lineup. Rod Kent plays every Wed. and Neil Bunker every Thu. There are bands on Fri. and Sat. nights from 7:00-11:00 PM.

480.882.2995

www.santanflat.com

September 9th

Florence Farmers Market

McFarland State Historic ParkFlorence

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 and tea, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products.

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

September 11th

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

September 15th

Florence 3rd Fridays on Historic Main Street

McFarland State Historic ParkFlorence

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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

520.868.9433

www.florenceazchamber.com

August 13th

Kids Day Maricopa 2023

Maricopa Wells Middle SchoolMaricopa

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Kids Day Maricopa is a free event open to all children in Pinal County held at Maricopa Wells Middle School (45725 W Honeycutt Rd.) Children will have the opportunity to interact with special guests, learning about health, safety, and environmental awareness in a fun, entertaining atmosphere. Free registration: www.eventbrite. com/e/kids-day-maricopa-2023-tickets-425844822327?aff=erelexpmlt. 520.494.4488

www.maricopachiropractor.com/ index.php?p=402739

September 16th

Casa Grande Farmers Market

702 E. Cottonwood Lane - Casa Grande

7:00 AM

Held on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the First Presbyterian Church / PCSO-Pinal County parking lot. Cost is $15 for a box of farmer-direct produce. Cash only. Market hours are 7:00 AM until produce is sold out. See Facebook page to confirm market details. Contact the market if you are interested in volunteering. Vendors please see website for info.

www.casagrandefarmersmarket.com

Maricopa Master GardenersGrowing Garlic in the Desert and ask a Master Gardener University of Arizona Maricopa Ag Center - Maricopa

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Presented by Maricopa Master Gardeners at MAC. Planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, garlic grows well in the winter desert garden. Come and learn the varieties that grow well here in the desert and the key characteristics for taste and cooking that make each variety unique. See which varieties produced the highest yield in the demonstration garden (and were favorites of the Master Gardeners). Stay after to have your questions answered by MAC Master Gardeners.

520.374.6263

September 16th

2023 Fiestas Patrias - Eloy

Central (Main Street) Park - Eloy

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Fiestas Patrias is a two-day festival that commemorates Mexican Independence Day in which we celebrate the rich Hispanic culture with music, food, and entertainment. The celebration is family friendly with entertainment for all ages and is free to attend. It’s hosted by Corazon De Latinos Unidos (CDLU), a local non-profit organization that has the goal of preserving and promoting the rich Hispanic culture through education and celebration. See website for event details.

520.431.3090

www.fiestaspatriascdlu.com

September 17th

Main Street Market

Historic Downtown Casa Grande

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

The market is held in the Main Street Alley in downtown Casa Grande and will have vendors and crafts.

520.836.8744

www.cgmainstreet.org

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