April 17, 2019 • Vol. 17, No. 22
POSTAL PATRON CAVE CREEK
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ECRWSS Carrier Route PreSorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 371 Cave Creek, AZ
Anthem | Black Canyon City | Carefree | Cave Creek | Desert Hills | New River| North Phoenix | Tramonto | Peoria
New River Elementary students officially name the desert wash on its campus after the school’s mascot BY: TARA ALATORRE
NEW RIVER – Every day for years the students on their way to recess at New River Elementary School have crossed a concrete bridge that covers an unassuming desert wash, which no one ever really took much notice of – until recently. The humble desert wash dissects the rural campus from the classroom buildings to the south and the grass fields and basketball courts to the north. It integrates the Sonoran Desert ecosystem into the students’ daily life as they cross it each day,
witnessing its transformation through the seasons from a typical dry desert wash, to a flowing creek, to turbid and flash flooded. But last week the wash became a permanent part of the New River Elementary School [NRES] and the surrounding rural community, as well as an official part of the State of Arizona after students and staff completed the process of naming the wash.
WILDCAT WASH continued on page 13
More than 1,000 pounds of candy will be given out at Peoria’s Easter event PEORIA – A variety of family-friendly activities will be available at Peoria’s 43rd Annual Dolly Sanchez Memorial Easter Egg Hunt from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Apr. 20 at the Peoria Sports Complex, located at 16101 N. 83rd Ave. Celebrate Easter and the spring season with candy hunts – with 1,050 pounds of candy – petting zoo, crafts, entertainment, pony rides, face painting, a balloon artist, inflatables, carnival games and more. The Peoria Cove, the sports complex’s interactive playground for kids, will be open as well. In addition, the Easter Bunny will be available
PEORIA EASTER Photo courtesy of City of Peoria
continued on page 14
Letter to the Editor: NRDHCA Board releases letter opposing incorporation LETTER PROVIDED BY: NRDHCA BOARD
NEW RIVER – The New River-Desert Hills Community Association (NRDHCA) Board voted Tuesday, April 9, 2019, to take a stand against incorporation of the New River - Desert Hills area. "While we support the process of residents determining their own form of government and fully support that process through a ballot initiative, we have a number of concerns," stated NRDHCA Board President, Ed Taylor after hearing from members via email and at the April 9 meeting.
WICKENBURG:
BLACK CANYON:
ANTHEM
Vulture Peak leased,
Free Black Canyon City, AZ
Congressional Recognition
by Maricopa County
Water/Ways presentation
for Youth for Troops
Page 3
Page 9
Page 11
The following summarizes the top concerns: First and foremost, incorporation will create an additional layer of government that will only increase costs to area residents and slow responsiveness to residents’ concerns. The additional layer of government will inevitably result in more taxes and fees. Most of the businesses in the area are home-based and will provide little traditional retail sales tax revenue to a new municipality. Due to the lack of existing store-front
LETTER TO EDITOR continued on page 10
OTHER : • Bluhm Column
6
• Service Directory
15
• Classified Ads
18