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PebbleCreek women quilt for a cause

BY LAUREN SERRATO

West Valley View Staff Writer

For some, quilting is a hobby that helps pass the time. However, for the women of the PebbleCreek Quilters, quilting and sewing skills are used to make a difference in the West Valley.

The Goodyear group creates sensory mats for those in need at Hospice of the Valley. Specifi cally, the quilts were made for dementia patients.

As dementia patients often spend hours sitting or lying down, many times they fi nd themselves bored or anxious. Studies have shown that dementia patients benefi t from sensory interventions as an alternative to reduce their agitation.

“Sensory mats are designed to help reduce that agitation and to provide a sense of calm for people with dementia and those in the end stage of life,” said Patsy Wagner, head of the community service initiative with the PebbleCreek Quilters.

“They are often aggressive or frustrated because they can’t do a variety of basic things. Or they’re fearful; they’re fearful of what might happen to them or what the future will bring. Or they’re just plain bored because their bodies don’t move like they used to move.”

The women assembled their fabrics and made nearly 40 fi dget blankets for Hospice of the Valley patients.

The quilts are adorned with a variety of items, including empty thread spools, zippers, ribbons, buttons, lace, fringe, Velcro and bells. Each item was added to help activate and stimulate the patients’ ability to feel, move and listen.

“Ours are pretty cool. We created mats that are 22 by 22 so they sit on a person’s lap, and they put out a whole variety of colors and textures and different types of fabric. The mat itself was designed to help with the senses,” Wagner said.

The quilters were tickled about receiving a thank-you card from Hospice of the Valley. The quilts were also a hit with other members of the PebbleCreek community.

“We put our fi nished mats in our display window just because they’re a new product, and several of our residents came up and said something like, ‘My mom needs one of these.’ Everybody was just very curious about them when they were in the window. A lot of people ended up knowing somebody that needs something like this. It was really a very popular item,” Wagner said.

This isn’t the fi rst time the PebbleCreek Quilters created for a cause.

“I think just about everybody in PebbleCreek feels that we’re very fortunate, and it’s really our responsibility as human beings to help out people who aren’t so fortunate. We feel that it’s our pleasure to help these people. And besides that, how many quilts can you use?” Wagner said with a laugh, joking that she has run out of friends and family to gift quilts to.

While Wagner admits to loving the access she has to machines like the long arm by being in the group, it’s the relationships she has within the group of women that have made all the difference.

“It’s the camaraderie. I mean, it’s just great to go up there to the Creative Arts Center, spend a couple of hours with other cultures, and almost always I learn something new,” Wagner said. “It’s just amazing to sit and talk to people who have the same love that you have. It’s really wonderful.”

PebbleCreek Quilters

pebblecreekquilters.org

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21 Creekside Lodge & Cabins is a hidden gem

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

West Valley View Executive Editor

Nestled between State Route 69 in Mayer and the seasonally running Big Bug Creek, Creekside Lodge & Cabins is a hidden gem.

From its restaurant, The Cellar, to the views, it’s the total package for a weekend getaway.

John Papuga is the third owner since Creekside Lodge & Cabins opened in 2000. New to the hospitality field, Papuga owned American Fire Equipment for 28 years, sold it in 2017, and invested in and overhauled Creekside Lodge & Cabins.

“I retired for eight months,” he said with a laugh. “This has been a long time coming. I thought about owning an RV park, a bed and breakfast, or a small resort.

“Here, I just want people to have a good time, have great food, and see fantastic events and relax here.”

From the get-go, Creekside Lodge & Cabins has been a challenge. Papuga took ownership on Thanksgiving 2019 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Papuga and his staff forged through it. He chalks up his success to “pure heart and pure drive.”

“We were able to make it through with live music, good food and the ability to isolate,” Papuga added. “Plus, we had a lot of good marketing and employees.”

Papuga used the pandemic to remodel the hotel resort. He described the lodge’s condition as poor before he bought it.

“We had a three-year remodel plan,” he said. “When I saw what was happening, we made adjustments to have more outside seating and to do a lot of renovations.

“We went into high gear because there really wasn’t any business.”

The Cellar opened in May 2020, and Papuga said that was gutsy.

“I took a big chance opening a restaurant then,” he added. “I thought there wasn’t that much competition in the corridor. We went with high quality, and it seems to be paying off. We went with outside music entertainment to help guests and visitors feel comfortable, and it seemed to help sell the place.”

Papuga describes The Cellar as a red meat specialist with pork ribs ($17.99 to $27.99) and hand-cut steaks, like the 10-ounce top sirloin ($22.99) and 12-ounce ribeye ($27.99). The entrees also include eight panko-breaded shrimp ($16.99), grilled chicken and marinated chicken ($13.99).

The menu includes appetizers, salads, burgers, baskets, wing, pizza, sandwiches and hot dogs. On the creative side is the Sedona wrap, a prime rib wrap with lettuce, tomato, onion and horseradish rash.

The hotel resort boasts private cabins with private porches overlooking Big Bug Creek. They house a king or two double beds. Each cabin comes with a microwave, Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, air conditioning, fireplace and cable TV.

The lodge’s amenities include a restaurant, bar, game room and back patio. Pets are welcome in cabins 9 to 15 at a charge of $25 per night, per pet.

Activities are aplenty. The hotel resort is on 60 acres and the staff created hiking trails.

“We had a group who came in, stayed the night and went to the Grand Canyon on side-by-sides,” he said.

It also offers wine tours, casino trips, and visits to Prescott’s Whiskey Row.

Creekside Lodge & Cabins is quickly picking up steam, Papuga said.

“It’s becoming a quick destination, even for people from Sedona, Flagstaff and North Phoenix,” Papuga added. “It’s great for a one- or two-night getaway. They can stay here, eat here and have great entertainment.”

Already, Papuga has learned a valuable lesson.

“An innkeeper’s job is never done,” he said with a laugh. “Hospitality has earned my respect quickly.”

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ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 “Sad to say ...” 5 Armed conflict 8 Folksinger Joan 12 Jet speed measure 13 Greek mountain 14 Big name in scat 15 Docking site 16 Leftovers carrier 18 Screenwriter’s creations 20 Reddish horses 21 “I’m not impressed” 22 Martini liquor 23 Skilled 26 Flood protection 30 Gun the engine 31 Witty one 32 “As I see it,” to a texter 33 Sleazy hotel 36 Be nosy 38 Train lines (Abbr.) 39 Aunt, in Acapulco 40 Part of Hispaniola 43 Iced desserts 47 Cinched 49 October birthstone 50 Words to a back-stabber 51 In the style of 52 Alpha follower 53 Couturier Christian 54 “Of course” 55 Appear

DOWN

1 Band boosters 2 Secular 3 Computer brand 4 Tempura choice 5 Shoebox datum 6 Big fusses 7 Cleaning cloth 8 Past 9 Jessica of “Dark Angel” 10 Flair 11 Turns sharply 17 Beam 19 Favorite 22 Joke 23 Canine cry 24 N.J. neighbor 25 First lady? 26 Droop 27 Life story 28 I love (Lat.) 29 Republicans 31 Existed 34 Camelot king 35 French cheese 36 -- Lancelot 37 Bigwigs 39 Roman robes 40 Wasted no time 41 Con 42 “Suffice -- say ...” 43 Shopper’s delight 44 Fencing sword 45 London gallery 46 Bridge coup 48 Inlet

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!