THE PATRIOT - InMaricopa · 2020. 6. 16. · THE GAZINE Summer 2015 FOOD A summer recipe to keep you cool PEOPLE Veterans draw notice for USS Liberty BUSINESS First decade of Lizard

THE GAZINE Summer 2015

FOODA summer recipe to keep you cool

PEOPLEVeterans draw notice for USS Liberty

BUSINESSFirst decade

of Lizard Heights

Glass

HOMESolar energy

a growing interest

THE MUSICAL LIFE AND TIMES OF RUSS MARSH

THEPATRIOT

BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE AND RESTAURANT DIRECTORY+

Summer 2015 | InMaricopa.com 1

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ON THE COVER: Maricopan Russ Marsh is always in the mood for a patriotic tune. Photo by William Lange

Janet Buckwalter

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19

Contents Summer 2015

HOME32 FEATURE: Solar energy

36 REAL ESTATE: Most expensive home

36 DIRECTORY: Real estate & home services

37 GARDENING: Bee sanctuary

FOOD38 DIRECTORY: Restaurants

38 INSPECTION: Health Department

39 POLL: Best omelet

39 BY THE NUMBERS: Hot dogs

40 RECIPE: Shepherd’s salad

PEOPLE6 PHOTO GALLERY

8 PROFILE: Russ Marsh

12 VOLUNTEER: Austen Pearce

14 HISTORY: USS Liberty

15 MUSICIAN: Sherman Bell

16 VETERAN: Leon Potter

17 MAN ON THE STREET

FAMILY16 PETS: Tugg

19 FEATURE: Maricopa Cycling

20 MARRIED LIFE: The Kings

BUSINESS22 PROFILE: Lizard Heights Glass

24 FEATURE: Motocross park

28 DIRECTORY

GOVERNMENT30 HOW THEY VOTED

31 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Debra Fink

32 PROFILE: Kazi Haque

33 Q&A: The Honorable Lyle Riggs


PublisherSCOTT BARTLE

EditorRAQUEL HENDRICKSON

WritersJANET BUCKWALTERMICHELLE CHANCE

RAQUEL HENDRICKSONKATIE MAYER

KATIE SELFADAM WOLFE

PhotographersJANET BUCKWALTER MICHELLE CHANCE

RAQUEL HENDRICKSONWILLIAM LANGE

ADAM WOLFE

DesignerCARL BEZUIDENHOUT

OperationsDICK BARKLEY

CELINA SHEPHERD

AdvertisingDONNA ATKINS

CELINA SHEPHERD

Volume 10, Issue 2InMaricopa The Magazine

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Core Values1. Integrity2. Accountability3. Open, honest and real-time

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Published advertisements are not an endorsement of products or advertising claims by InMaricopa. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of InMaricopa. Copyright 2015.

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Summer is inevitably as hot as a firecracker. It’s what drives a sizeable portion of the population to cooler climes. Summer is also, as journalist Regina Brett wrote, “the annual permission slip to be lazy.”

Yet, in Maricopa, we find very cool people doing very cool things with a very cool attitude.

Among them are two musicians with quite different backgrounds. Former Marine Russ Marsh, who gained celebrity status in Utah in the 1970s, has made Maricopa his home and continues to create very patriotic country music for indie radio. Sherman Bell came up through the jazz ranks of San Francisco in the ‘60s and now entertains locally as a musician and DJ.

Meet a couple of people who have put in a decade of work in Maricopa. Kazi Haque came to the zoning department at City Hall in 2005 and is now the senior planner, having had a hand in the young city’s growth. The same year, military

veterans John and Julie Turcott opened Lizard Heights Glass and have ridden out the highs and lows of the real estate market.

Other veterans have been busy, too. Maricopa has become home to survivors and witnesses of the infamous attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. They have succeeded in creating a memorial event and getting a proclamation from the City Council acknowledging their patriotism. You’ll also learn a little more about local veteran, former city council member and Rotarian Leon Potter.

Austen Pearce is the opposite of a veteran, just barely out of high school. But he blazed a trail from his childhood as a volunteer and doer of good deeds. Brad and Tom King are blazing a trail of their own as a married couple in Maricopa.

Creating trails and tracks, Mike Fay is putting in all the heavy labor to open a motocross facility near town, while Maricopa cyclists have an opinion or two on how the future bike routes in town should look.

On the homefront, supporters and purveyors of solar energy in Maricopa are trying to keep things cool, literally, by putting the hot summer sun to work despite a challenging utility climate. Then there is Ed Steidler, who has worked to help revive the local bee population in his own garden.

To top it off, Mark Gentilella shares his recipe for a shepherd’s salad that is refreshing on the hottest day.

Stay cool, Maricopa!

RAQUEL [email protected] ext. 3

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Gallery

4. New military recruits turned out for the opening of the American Legion Baseball season May 30 at Copper Sky Regional Park. Adam Wolfe

5. Evan Picart and James Benson show their medals at a demonstration for Arizona American Institute for Self Defense Arts in April. Submitted

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Russ MarshPE

OPL

E Profile

So many have died Keeping freedom alive, Don’t lose Old Glory.” --Lyrics from “Don’t Tread on Old Glory”

by Russ Marsh


Songwriter Russ Marsh is red, white and country blue

“We are the keepers, keepers of the flame, Can we pass the torch tomorrow, and will they know what it means?”

While his country songs are often playful or lovelorn, his patriotic music can be a tutorial for those not brought up with knowledge of Ameri-can symbolism or even proper flag etiquette.

“There is a lot of meaning that goes with our symbols,” he says.

When the American flag was desecrated in a viral video, Marsh posted his own video on YouTube, challenging others to create selfie

videos of why the flag is important to them. For himself, it was a song that had become a staple of his repertoire, “Don’t Tread on Old Glory.”

“Lookin’ back through the years there was blood, sweat and tears fightin’ for Old Glory. So many have died keeping freedom alive, don’t lose Old Glory.”

“It is his way to express his love for the flag and to educate through the social media,” says Cathy Marsh, his wife of four years.

A songwriter from his youth when he was influenced by Hank Snow and Elvis Presley,

Marsh served with the Marines from 1969 to 1970 and returned home to his father’s Utah farm to work. Even with a growing family of his own at home, his restless spirit kept drawing him away, as he played gigs around the country and tried to find his niche.

Marsh recorded some tunes and also ended up rubbing elbows with some big names in country music. He ultimately rubbed elbows with a big name in the country — the President of the United States.

With his country/folk songs of the 1970s, he shared a variety of stages with Hank Thompson, Mel Tillis, Tex Williams and Marty Robbins. Of the latter, he says, “He was so kind and good even to me.” By chance in the studio at the time, Marsh was lucky enough to hear a reel-to-reel version of El Paso City before it was recorded.

Marsh got enough attention from his patriot-ic tunes that he was asked to write a song for the bicentennial year of 1976. “But nothing seemed to come together,” he says.

In 1977, “America Forever” finally found form. That earned him an invitation to perform for President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter at the White House.

“He was nice. She was really nice,” Marsh says.

“America Forever, forever you will see—The stars and stripes forever In the land of liberty.”

In the meantime, Marsh’s minor celebrity status in Utah took an odd and unforeseen detour that connected him to death row inmate Gary Gilmore.

Country music station KSOP in Salt Lake City kept Marsh’s music on its playlist. One of those songs was the ballad “Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind” from 1976. As Gilmore’s execution date drew near, the KSOP general manager informed Marsh that Gilmore was a fan of the song, getting prison staff to call in and request it.

Gilmore would become the first man in 10 years to be executed in the United States. On the evening of his death by firing squad on Jan. 17, 1977, Gilmore again asked the staff to call in his musical request, and again it was “Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind.”

“When the wind kissed the water and the waves took you away, Now I’m drowning from the memories of today.”

Author Norman Mailer referenced the song in his account of the evening in “The Execu-tioner’s Song,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

“I had mixed emotions about the whole thing,” Marsh says.

By Raquel Hendrickson

Photos by William Lange

Writing a patriotic tune is a tricky business. There is always the danger of sounding jingoistic or smug when the intent is to be inspirational.

For Maricopa singer-songwriter Russ Marsh, penning red, white and blue songs has been a career mainstay and a natural outflow of his beliefs. It was an

organic process that developed from his abiding love of country and came to fruition during his days in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He penned a couple of tunes that were decidedly nationalistic during the divisive Vietnam War years. By the luck of the draw, he was stationed stateside as a lance corporal while friends were sent to Vietnam. Caught up in the national conversation about the U.S. Constitution, he felt inspired to write “Keepers of the Flame.”

Russ Marsh’s musical odyssey has taken him to country stages and the White House.


The attention in the middle of national de-bate on the death penalty boosted the radio play of his song locally and across the country.

Marsh had grown up playing music with his siblings. More recently he performed with his grown children as the band Marsh.

But music is a different industry now and getting airplay isn’t as simple as bringing in a reel-to-reel for a radio station manager to listen to. Marsh says there was far less politics involved before it became so commercial.

“It didn’t matter who you were, they treated each other the same, especially in country music,” Marsh says. “You felt more free, and you at least had the opportunity to send in your songs.”

These days he’s found a place on the Digital Music Registry and the Indie Charts. He has also settled into Maricopa and made his own home studio. This month, on its first week, “We’re American Made” was No. 50 on the National Airplay Top 50 Country Chart. It was also No. 8 the National Top Independent and No. 170 on the National Top 200 Chart.

He was living in San Tan Valley when he met Cathy online at LDSPlanet.com. Both had been hesitant about the concept. Living in Malaysia, divorced with two children, Cathy had a plan to avoid the weirdoes and scammers and other hazards of online dating.

“I prayed and I felt inspired to formulate 48 questions they had to answer,” she says. “That was pretty good screening.” After a year without finding anyone with that kind of fortitude, she left the site. She did not know her page stayed up.

At the same time, a friend of Russ sent him to the site to look at a particular person’s pro-file. Russ didn’t feel the sparks there but scrolled over a couple of other profiles and discovered Cathy. He made contact. She sent her questions.

In 48 hours he sent back her 48 questions.“I thought, ‘Oops, this is unexpected,’” Cathy

says. A correspondence began, and Cathy looked up his music. She says she fell for his music first.

“I really connect with the music,” she says. “I felt his music really had to be heard.”

Russ wrote Cathy a love song that ended up on one of his albums, “I Never Knew Love Until I Met You.”

“I never knew love could be so true Until I fell in love with you”

One of his three albums, “A-M-E-R-I-C-A,” is a compilation of mostly patriotic tunes, from his time in the Marines to his still fervent flag-waving sentiments of today.

“I’ve worked as a farmer and I’ve had other jobs making countertops and cabinets,” Marsh says, “but I’ve got to do this music.”

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12 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 10 Issue 1

Austen PearcePE

OPL

E Volunteer

Maricopa resident and recent high school graduate Austen Pearce was in third grade when Hurricane Katrina struck.

At the time, the youth had been saving every penny he had in hopes of buying himself a Game Boy Advance, but when his school held a coin drive to help families

displaced by the storm, he knew what he had to do. “It was just $36, but I took all the money I saved and just donated to Hurricane Katrina,”

Pearce says.From that moment on, the now 18-year-old knew he wanted to continue helping others.

By fourth grade, Pearce started volunteering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to raise money for childhood cancer research, and by age 10 he began helping out at local food bank F.O.R. Maricopa.

captions

Teen leads by example Austen Pearce, 18, has already made a difference

By Katie Mayer

Austen Pearce spent a good portion of his childhood in Maricopa serving others. He graduated from high school this year.

During his eight years volunteering at the food bank, Pearce spearheaded the formation of a community garden, which provided 37,000 pounds of produce over five years to those in need.

Since then, Pearce has helped those in need in Maricopa and around the state and has received awards for his service, including national recognition and a trip to Washington, D.C., for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Through his role as chairman of the Maricopa Youth Council, Pearce recently implemented a program called Copa Care Boxes, which brings boxes of essential items to homeless people. He has also run half marathons to raise money for various causes, conducted bone marrow donor registration drives, assisted with Shop with a Cop and held recycled art contests during Earth Day.

“If you see how good volunteering makes you feel and see what it does for other people, you just think ‘OK, I have to keep doing that,’” Pearce says.

Throughout his years at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Pearce maintained high grades, participated in choir and theater and volunteered regularly. He was recently accepted into 10 universities and received Presidential Scholarships to eight, but has chosen to attend Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University to study business entrepreneurship.

“When he chose ASU, he said ‘Mom, I have roots here and I still want to be involved with the community,” says Pearce’s mother Marlene Pearce. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back to Maricopa and does something someday.”

Pearce credits his mother with sparking his love for volunteering at a young age. One year after Marlene gave birth to Pearce, she learned she had breast cancer. Although she beat the disease, the experience prompted her to want to help others have a second chance, just like she did. Together, mother and son have run half marathons for a variety of causes and continue to inspire one another.

“I realized when I was young that if my mom is doing all of these busy things while raising me as a teenager and I have all this free time, then I could be doing things too,” Pearce says.

In fact, as rigorous as Pearce’s academics

William Lange

Vol. 10 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 13

Chris Wallace has earned 72 medals as a Senior

Olympian and is world ranked in his age group

in the triple jump.

were, they didn’t take away from his volunteer time. Instead, they fueled it.

“You know you have to sit down and get your work done so you can do the things you want,” Pearce says. “My goals from middle school were that I wanted to be successful because I wanted to help people when I was older.”

This goal also led to Pearce’s selection of a major. With a degree in business entrepreneur-ship, Pearce says he hopes to gain the knowledge and skills required to either start his own non-profit organization or business focused on social good or assist existing nonprofit organizations.

Mayor Christian Price wrote one of Pearce’s college recommendations and calls the young man “a go-getter.”

“He is going to go a long way and is a young man who knows what he wants in life and has just done so many great things,” Price says.

Lee Anne Clark, a volunteer with F.O.R. Maricopa, says she has known Pearce since he was just a young boy.

“I think Austen is a very special young man, and I have thought that since he was a young child serving coffee at the food bank and that hasn’t changed since he grew up,” Clark said. “He’ll go on and do great things.”

Marlene Pearce calls her son “compassionate and passionate” about the things he believes in.

“Ever since he has been small … from the time he was in maybe elementary school, I used to look at him and say to my mother, ‘The world is going to somehow be different because of him, but I don’t know how yet,’” Marlene Pearce says.

She adds with a laugh, “Then I would joke that I hope he doesn’t become a white-collar criminal, because of his ability to think and see things that not everybody sees.”

That sense of humor is a quality Pearce shares with his mom. He also has a talent for performing and takes dance classes and performs with Dance Studio 111 in Ahwatukee.

As Pearce gears up to start college, he says he will continue to volunteer wherever he can.

“I just feel like it’s so easy to help people, especially when it comes to providing them with food to eat or a proper place to live and basic necessities,” Pearce says. “Being in college, I won’t be able to go back through Maricopa as much as I have been, but there are many causes and clubs I can get involved in.”

Price says he is excited to see what the future holds for Pearce, and hopes he will return to the city someday.

“The city of Maricopa is certainly going to miss him when he is gone,” Price says, “but I hope he comes back and continues to do great things in Maricopa and the Phoenix metro area.”

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PEO

PLE History

Frustrated and angry about being relegated to a footnote in the middle of one of the most tense military times in world history, survivors of the technical research ship USS Liberty continue to make a stand to be heard.

And they are doing so in Maricopa. A deadly attack on the U.S. naval vessel in international waters by Israel Defense Forces on

June 8, 1967, has continued to be a hot-button issue for those involved. Some survivors of the USS Liberty have made Maricopa their home, as have those who served on aircraft carriers involved in the incident.

Vets gain local recognition for USS Liberty By Raquel Hendrickson

It is why long-time Maricopa resident John Nuss, who was aboard the Saratoga, has been involved with the Liberty commemo-ration. Kukal, who came down from Wyoming for

the event, said it was only by the grace of God he survived the attack in the eastern Mediter-ranean Sea.

“The heroism by so many crewmembers saved that ship,” said Tourney, former president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association.

During the attack, aircraft from the America were sent in twice but recalled both times. Because the aircraft carried nuclear weapons, Tourney said “the Cuban Missile Crisis was a square dance” in comparison.

Those at the Memorial Day commemoration expressed bitterness toward Israel and, even more so, the Lyndon Johnson administration. Sokol said Johnson willfully left the Liberty crewmen out there to die to keep from embarrassing Israel.

Many medals and awards came to the crew of the Liberty in the wake of the attack, but very few commendations identify the antagonist in the action. Nor does the proclamation from the Maricopa City Council, which primarily honors the “Patriotism of all who served on USS Liberty.”

“Anytime you criticize Israel, you get called anti-Semitic,” Sokol said.

Israel’s official stance has always been that it was a case of mistaken identity, and its tired military personnel first thought the technical research ship was an Egyptian destroyer.

Tourney is among the survivors who call that nonsense and claim the attack was deliberate to prevent the Liberty from reporting Israel’s maneuvers in the Golan Heights. He dismisses Israel’s claim that pilots never saw the American flag on the Liberty even when the ensign that was shot down was replaced with a larger flag.

Many early military reports on the attack accused the Israel military of “gross negligence.” Though Israel has paid out more than $12 million in compensation to the United States over time, the veterans are not satisfied the nation has ever given a factual account of what happened and why.

The efforts in Maricopa, Sokol said, are small inroads toward gaining recognition for their experience.

Ron Kukal, Larry Thorn and Phillip Tourney lead a Memorial Day service for the victims of the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty at Raceway Bar & Grill.

Raquel Hendrickson

Former crewmembers of the Liberty and the carriers gathered at Raceway Bar & Grill on Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to the 34 men who were killed and the 172 injured. George Sokol, who was aboard the aircraft carrier USS America, has played a key role in getting local notice for the survivors and reuniting them. That includes getting a proclamation from the Maricopa City Council.

Liberty survivors Phillip Tourney, Ron Kukal and Larry Thorn led a brief ceremony, including a reading of the names of those who died.

“We want to tell the truth and honor our shipmates,” Tourney said.

Taking place as it did amid the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab nations and the Cold War friction between the United States and the Soviet Union in the Vietnam era, the impact of the incident was quickly minimized at the time.

Official reports, eye-witness accounts and the subsequent release of more records over the years have kept the attack a he-said-she-said affair even half a century later.

The ship was torpedoed, hit with napalm and strafed by the Israelis, but did not sink. Aircraft carriers USS Saratoga and USS America picked up survivors and dead. Ties among the veterans of the three vessels and others that came in support have remained strong over the years with the shared memory of that ugly day.


Adam Wolfe

“My mom got me involved with music at an early age,” Bell says. “One day, on a second grade field trip, I came across a man playing the song ‘Personality’ on a ukulele. Without really thinking about it, I started to sing along. Before I knew it, a crowd came to watch. Everything I’ve done has grown from there.”

Bell has never lost his singing roots, and he continues to perform to this day. When he entered high school, he took up the horn and the saxophone as well. He and some friends formed a musical group known as The Marcels.

“It was always a great time when we played together,” Bell says. “We never made it big ourselves, but we did get to back up some great performers.”

As a jazz performer in San Francisco in the 1960s, Bell has been put in some unique situations. His opportunity with Sly and The Family Stone came through chance and —recreational decisions, he says.

As Bell recalls, his musical group, now known as The Players, was performing next door to Sly and The Family Stone’s show. The original group set to back up Sly was a bit too “happy” to perform. The Players stepped in, and even made an appearance on television with the group.

“I’ve been at the right place at the right time,” Bell said. “We were fortunate enough to back up Sly and The Family Stone on a live show. As the camera panned out, you could see The Players performing.”

Soon after, The Players would be approached by a young man who had written a song that he could not perform due to a stutter. Although Bell could not recall the young man’s name, The Players agreed to play the song in a Veteran’s Day parade. The song, “Them Changes,” would earn The Players two awards from the parade

committee, and eventually would be bought from the young man and turned into a hit by Buddy Miles. Bell still sees the opportunity of being the first person to perform that song as one of the highlights of his career.

As Bell’s career progressed, The Players were given the opportunity to professionally record a song with Fantasy Label. Their record “Lighten Up” never had much commercial success.

Eventually Bell would leave San Francisco and relocate to Sonoma County, California, with his brother. He would continue playing music there, but just on a local level. He organized the first and only “Hot Pants Revival” dance for Sonoma County. It was a block party-style festival he would one day like to bring to Maricopa.

Bell found his way to Maricopa in 2004. Health issues sidelined him from playing in-struments, but he developed talents as a disc jockey, as well as a photographer. Currently, one of his photographs hangs in the Great Western Bank.

“Music is another form of art,” Bell said. “I had a few foot surgeries and wasn’t able to per-form like I used to. So I DJ when I can’t perform live music, and I found a love for photography.”

According to Bell, people have told him that after looking at his picture in the bank, they began to feel better about their day. For Bell, this means more than any record contract or money ever could.

“Anything I can do to help, I’ll do,” Bell said. “That’s what I’m about. Helping people. I’m not physically strong like I used to be, but if I can help with my voice or my art, I’ll do what I can.”

Since settling in Maricopa, Bell has per-formed in his church and at the yearly festival hosted by Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Recently, he joined the musical group “Touch of Class.” They don’t plan to get a record deal, but Bell is excited to be playing music once again.

“Music is in my heart,” Bell said. “I love it, and it kept me out of a lot of trouble. I’m never gonna quit. They’ll have to put a saxophone in my coffin.”

Sherman Bell ‘never gonna quit’ music By Adam Wolfe

Sherman Bell’s love of music began when he was a child in San Francisco during the 1950s, and it continues to grow to this day.

Now a musician and DJ in Maricopa, Bell brings a lifetime of experience to his local entertainment gigs.

Bell credits his mother for getting him involved with music. She always encouraged him to sing, and as he grew, he learned to play the drums, horn and saxophone. He has worked with recording artists such as Bobby Freeman, Red Fox and Sly and The Family Stone, and he has been able to build a life around playing music in San Francisco, and now in Maricopa.

PEO

PLEMusician

Musician/DJ Sherman Bell keeps the music flowing, performing since he was a child and playing jazz in San Francisco in the ‘60s.


PEO

PLE Veteran Q&A

Leon Potter

Age: 44Hometown: Upland, CaliforniaResidence: Villages at Rancho El DoradoFamily: Married with three children and one granddaughterPets: Three dogs, one catHobbies: Coaching soccerGreatest talent: Recognizing and correcting inefficiencies in business operationsAge of enlistment: 17Years in military: 11Branch of service: U.S. NavyHighest rank: E-5

Why did you join the military? Wanted the training and to see more of the world after high school while earning a living.

Where did you serve? San Diego.

What brought you to Maricopa? Affordable homes.

What incident in your military experience has had the biggest impact on your life? I gained a greater appreciation for my family and friends the day I left for boot camp.

What were some challenges you faced entering civilian life? I don’t believe I had anymore challenges than anyone that hadn’t served. In fact, I believe I have been blessed with many opportunities due to my prior service.

Leon Potter served in the U.S. Navy for 11 years.Raquel Hendrickson


What was the best advice you received during your time in the military? Arrive early with uniform ironed, ready for the day’s work.

What is your proudest moment? My proudest moment is when we were in uniform during a port visit to Kuwait in 1992 after Kuwait regained freedom from Iraq. The Kuwaitis were so grateful that they thanked us everywhere we went. I remember one gentleman offered his wrist watch as a “thank you.” I respectfully declined the gift. I will always treasure how grateful they were to us simply because we represented the United States of America.

What is the one thing you would like civilians to know about the U.S. military? Although I didn’t witness any specific act of heroism, the men and women in the military put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis even doing “routine” procedures here in the United States. I am grateful for all the men and women that served before me, with me and after me. Thank you all!

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Man on the Street

“I am going to ASU, NAU or CGC. I have not decided yet, but I hope to become

a medical pilot.” – Angel Moreno

“I am going to Northern Arizona University. I’ll be representing Maricopa as a

mechanical engineer.” – Jacob Bradley

“So far, I’m just working. I’ll be getting a different job. Little by little I’ll make my way up with a little bit of money. I’ll help pay some bills at home and help my parents. Eventually I’m going to get more

schooling done. I’m going to go for criminal psychology. I want to be a federal agent.” – Oscar Ramirez

“I’m here to graduate, finally. I’m happy for everybody here and I’m happy to represent my tribe (Gila River Community). It’s going

to be a good day.” – Ruben Mattia

“I’m just really excited. It’s senior year. We’re finally graduating.” – Armando Rodriguez

What’s on the mind of Maricopa High School’s newest graduates?


PEO

PLE Photo Contest

Photo contests showcase Pinal CountyBy Raquel Hendrickson

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

The winners of the first Pinal County Open Space & Trails Committee Photo Contest have been announced — and the next contest is already getting started.

Janet Schritz’s snowy photo taken below Picket Post on Jan. 2 this year took the top prize, based on “likes” by Facebook readers. The countywide contest focused on beautiful open spaces in Pinal County. Schritz is from Apache Junction.

According to Dorenda Coleman of PCOSTC, Boyce Thompson Arboretum donated park passes, books, food and other items for the winners.

Second place was Frances Cole of Florence, who snapped two crested caracara in Cactus Forest in 2013. Amy Hagedorn of Chandler took third place with a photo of her horse Cheyenne at Jacobs Crosscut Trail in front of the Superstitions in March. H. Hans Brakob of Gold Canyon was fourth with a photo of Gold Canyon on Jacobs Crosscut Trail in March.

Honorable mention went to Brakob for a shot of the Gila River from the Arizona Trail, Jay Wickham of Maricopa for a photo of wild horses at sunset on State Route 347, Barbara Houck of Apache Junction for a photo of a Gila woodpecker in a saguaro, Michelle Bouchard of Gold Camp for a shot of cattle during “rush hour” in Gold Canyon, Aaron Kluth of San Tan Valley for his shot of the Superstitions from Lost Dutchman Park and 15-year-old Lydia Yates of Queen Creek for a photo of misty cactus near San Tan Mountain Regional Park.

The next photo contest runs July 1 through Aug. 31. The theme is “People enjoying Pinal County.” To view the rules and submit a photo — or see all the open spaces submissions — visit the Pinal County Open Space & Trails Committee Photo Contest 2015 on Facebook.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Below Picket Post, by Janet Schritz

Crested caracara, by Frances Cole

Gila woodpecker, by Barbara Houck

Wild horses at sunset, by Jay Wickham

Cheyenne at Jacobs Crosscut Trail, by Amy Hagedorn


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Raegene Womack (left) and Danae Ruiz kiss the state championship trophy the Maricopa High School girls basketball team won March 2. Page 26

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FAM

ILY Pets

The morning Steve Subick’s yellow lab jumped on his bed was the morning he knew something was wrong.

A garage fire started by the water heater in the Rancho El Dorado home in February 2007, sent thick plumes of

smoke inside. It also drove obedient “Tugg” to disobey his owner’s rule of staying off the bed.

“I was sleeping and woke up at 4:30 in the morning when Tugg jumped up on the bed, kind of like growling, and barking, and licking my face, and kind of like nudging me,” Subick says.

Disoriented, Subick was so blinded by the smoke he could not see the alarm clock on the nightstand next to him.

“I was choking almost to the point where I was throwing up; I couldn’t breathe,” says Subick. “I grabbed my phone, it was just right there, and headed out the door.”

As it turned out, the path to safety for Tugg and his owner (who were the only occupants that night) was not so clear and came with a few bumps in the road.

“I couldn’t see the doorway so I ran into the doorframe and busted my head open,” Subick says.

Fortunately, the pair made it out of the house safely with only minor injuries.

“When I got out and finally called the fire department, they gave Tugg some oxygen and they gave me some oxygen,” Subick says.

Two years before the fire, Subick adopted Tugg as a Valentine’s gift for his young daughter Tatum, and although Tugg was an agreeable,

Dog’s heroics sealed close bond with familyStory and photos by Michelle Chance

Tugg, with his family (from right) Steve Subick, Tatum Subick and Thomas Brown, is enjoying life in Rancho El Dorado.

well-mannered pup, he had been put through no formal obedience training. So naturally, his heroic actions the morning of the fire came as a surprise to his owner.

“It kind of reminded me of ‘Old Yeller’ — like something that would happen in the movies,” says Subick. “I wasn’t expecting it because we never really trained him to retrieve or to assist, or gave him any kind of training to do stuff like that so it was definitely surprising that he did, and I’m grateful that he did.”

A self-described “deep sleeper,” Subick says he had doubts whether or not he would have awakened the night of the fire without the help from Tugg.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was so thankful because if he wasn’t there I probably wouldn’t be here,” he says.

Eight years later, Tugg and Subick have since moved to a new home in Senita along Tatum, his grandfather Thomas Brown, and his Chihuahua-pug mix, Buster.

“Nowadays, he’s just a typical lab,” Subick says. At 10 years old, Tugg still enjoys an active lifestyle with his family. True to his breed, he often enjoys a cool dip in the backyard pool, among other activities.

“We take him on long hikes and he loves the water so we take him out on the lake, too,” Subick says.

Tugg’s most favorite thing to do, however, is to spend time with Tatum. Being that Tugg is only one year and one day younger than Tatum, Subick says growing up together has sealed their close bond.

“They are best friends. It’s ridiculous,” Subick says, laughing. “He will follow her around wherever she goes.”

Looking back, Subick said it was a scary experience and he is thankful to have a dog like Tugg.

“He’s definitely a part of our family and we love him,” Subick said. “He definitely saved my life that day.”

Tugg

AGE10 years

BREEDLabrador retriever

COLORYellow

SIZE 80 pounds

BEST TRICK Playing dead

FAVORITE TOY Stuffed purple pig

FAVORITE SNACK Baby carrots

FUN FACT Named after

late Philadelphia Phillies pitcherTug McGraw.


Janet Buckwalter

Cycling

Bicycle riders come in every size and configuration — fit or fluffy; fast or incredibly slow; one, two or three wheels; fancy spandex clothes or faded blue jeans. There are lots of variables, yet one unifying passion — the freedom of being self-propelled, the

wind in their faces, healing themselves.The wide shoulders and relatively smooth pavement of State Route

347 have lured cyclists from Metro Phoenix to Maricopa, both for leisure riding and training.

“I like riding around the community. It’s flat, easy riding that allows me to ride 20 miles without feeling worn out,” says cyclist Lee Mann. Mann was drawn to Maricopa for the year-round cycling opportunities the city would like to emphasize as it looks 25 years in the future.

Safe bicycle routes in Maricopa are among the transportation goals of the city’s new 2040 Vision Strategic Plan. Cyclists have strong ideas about what already works in Maricopa and what the city needs to meet those goals.

“Cycling on interior streets is pretty good,” Richard Jackson says. “Many neighborhoods have designated bike lanes.”

The Maricopans with whom cyclists share the road can make or break the experience.

“Most drivers recognize the three-foot rule, especially on the farm roads south of the tracks,” says Janean Jump, a teacher at Saddleback Elementary School.

Local residents and cycle enthusiasts Tom and Jenny Radigan have suggested Maricopa host a monthly or quarterly bike event, in which a main road is closed to motor traffic and the community is invited to ride bikes to and from a business or activity. These types of rides have succeeded in other areas of the country.

2040 VISION TRANSPORTATION GOAL 4Create safe and functional pedestrian ways and bicycle routes throughout the City of Maricopa.

• Develop bike lanes on all possible arterial roadways and reasonable connections reaching all shopping and population centers within the city.

• Establish and maintain a citywide trails and pedestrian plan.

• Increase handicapped accessibility.

• Develop pedestrian trails and bikeways connecting all parks, greenways and commercial areas within the city.

Such gatherings promote idea-sharing among cyclists. Some of those ideas have been part of the 2040 Vision.

“I envision streets that include bike lanes to allow safe travel from one end of the city to the other,” says Jackson, a Maricopa Fire Department captain. “The bike lanes and shoulders should have rumble strips or other barriers and markers to alert drivers who may drift into these lanes.”

With a grade-separation at SR 347 at the railroad tracks on the horizon, Jump says cyclists should not be forgotten in the design of the overpass.

Maricopa needs bike lanes on all major streets, including SR 347 and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, Brian Gould says.

Jenny Radigan would like to see not only safe bike lanes between “downtown Maricopa” and Copper Sky Regional Park but also “signs in town reminding our drivers to share the road.”

Mountain bike racer Amy Chayefsky agrees. She says Maricopa should “add ‘Share the Road’ signs and education campaign for both cyclists and motorists.”

Motorists are required to share the road with cyclists. Arizona Revised Statute 28-812 states, “A person riding a bicycle on a roadway or on shoulder adjoining a roadway is granted all of the rights of a vehicle.” The law (ARS 28-735) also requires drivers leave a safe distance between their motor vehicle and bicycles of “not less than three feet” when passing.

Chayefsky also says the future Maricopa should have “bike paths that are safe for our children to ride on, including crosswalks.”

Pete Masiel is an avid bike racer and competes nationally. He has a particular vision of how important cycling paths can be in the city’s connectivity plans.

“Widen the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and add bike lanes or a bike path. This would open up access to businesses in both cities,” he says. “Let’s dream big and envision bike paths from Casa Grande, through Maricopa, Ahwatukee and on to the Capitol.”

When it comes to a big vision a quarter-century down the road, Gould calls up the example of the I-5 Colonnade in Seattle, which has a bike-skills park to practice safe cycling. The Colonnade has diverse trails, jumps and berms, he says.

The collective hope of the Maricopa Cycling Club is “by 2040, cycling will be a viable and safe mode of transportation in Maricopa.”

Check out “Maricopa, AZ Cyclists” on Facebook.

Local enthusiasts envision future of cycling in MaricopaBy Janet Buckwalter

Two cycling clubs in Maricopa merged in June and carry a lot of opinions on how cyclists should be accommodated on the city’s roadways.


FAM

ILY Married Life

Maricopa has thousands of married couples. Some of them are gay.With the approach of the first anniversary of legal same-sex marriage in

Arizona, Brad and Tom King had their own anniversary celebration. They were married in Hawaii last year, just months before it was legalized in Arizona.

“I knew it would happen,” says Tom King, 27. “I saw how people’s view on gay marriage was changing.”

Like many of their neighbors, they came to Maricopa for the housing and a chance to get out of the city. They knew they would get more for less in buying a home in Maricopa.

What was not certain was the reception they would get from the other Maricopa residents.“We’ve notice things changing in Arizona in the last three years, but especially here the past

year,” Brad King says. “When we’re out in public at the grocery store or whatever, we don’t get as many stares.”

“People are realizing it’s not a choice,” Tom says. Maricopa, for the most part, has been much more welcoming than other communities, Brad

says. They have lived here a year and a half.

First year of marriage in Maricopa ‘great’ for same-sex coupleBy Raquel Hendrickson

“This city is very accepting. It’s comfortable. It’s our home,” he says.

They faced far more judgmental reactions when walking around Tempe Marketplace, for instance, or places in Chandler.

“They would stare at us the whole time,” Brad says. “It just doesn’t happen here. We get little stares here and there, but that’s it.”

Brad, 25, who “came out of the closet” when he was 20, admits to being sensitive to the reactions of others, but Tom says he never notices.

“They don’t know me, don’t know us,” Tom says. “We deserve to be looked at like we’re equal.”

In moving to Maricopa, they were looking for a good, calm neighborhood that felt relaxed. They settled on a home in Rancho El Dorado, where Tom says he does both the yard work and interior design.

“I’ve always loved Maricopa because people here are so friendly and laid back,” Brad says.

There are a few locations in Maricopa that are less hospitable than others, he says, mainly places frequented by older adults. Through their relationships with their grandparents, that is

Married a year ago and now living in Rancho El Dorado, Brad and Tom King say Maricopans have been very accepting.

The Kings had a uniting ceremony in Gilbert last year before being legally married in Hawaii. Since then, same-sex marriage has been legalized in Arizona.

Raquel HendricksonSubmitted

Submitted


Married Life

something they are prepared for.Brad’s grandparents were “pretty accepting,”

and Tom’s are “just starting to come around.”“We also foster children, so we’re walking

around with kids, and that gets attention,” Brad says.

Tom, has known he was gay since he was a teen and says he has always wanted children. It was something they talked about early in their relationship.

They could have gone the surrogate route but were moved by the fact there are 17,000 kids in the foster system without homes. They went through training and background checks and licensing, and eventually fostered up to three children at a time.

“It’s manageable, but it’s intense,” Tom says. In a house that is also home to two dogs, three cats, some chickens and a fish, they are back to one child, who just graduated from preschool. The other two children were returned to their homes.

Tom is a graphics designer for videos, movies and comic books, and Brad is a loan counselor. They met on an online dating site more than three years ago. Brad said he was looking for commitment. Tom said Brad stood him up on their first date in order to go look at a car.

After that, they connected pretty quickly.They had a ceremony in May 2014 in Gilbert

before 100 guests, with bridesmaids and the jitters and a crowning ceremony, and other normal wedding accoutrements. Then they “did all the legal stuff ” in Hawaii, Tom says.

The U.S. District Court ruled Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional on Oct. 17, 2014.

“Amazing,” Brad says of the ruling. “It made it more real, to be honest. I didn’t need a document or a validation to know that I love him and I’m committed to him for the rest of my life, but it’s more real.”

“It’s accepted; it’s not a pushed-to-the-side

subject,” Tom says.When the ruling came down, Brad says

Maricopans offered their congratulations. “It’s been great out here,” he says.

The first year of marriage has been typical of newlyweds as they learn to pick their battles, Brad says, “especially being dads to kids that are from the system like that.”

He says it’s rare for gay couples to make a commitment, “because of the views of the world, it’s a big hook-up scene.”

So they know they are setting a precedent for some people. They have seen a few other gay couples in town, but not within their circle of friends.

Brad says coming out in the first place was one of the scariest things he’s ever done, “because people do change their attitude toward you. I lost a lot of my male friends.”

But attitudes change the other way, too. He said his grandparents, in their 70s, were “all weird about it” when he first told them. Now they invite Tom and him over every week and talk to their friends about their grandson and his husband.

With one year of marriage behind them, Tom and Brad are looking forward to a 10-day cruise on their 10-year anniversary.

I didn’t need a document or a validation to know that I love him and I’m committed to him for the rest of my life, but it’s more real.” – Brad King


BUSI

NES

S

A former U.S. Marine married to a former U.S. Navy electronics tech, John Turcott is a small-business owner with a special perspective

of serving the public.The Turcotts own Lizard Heights Glass,

which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August.

“Back in the ‘80s I was working construction,” Turcott recalls. “I was framing houses. I was 20-something making $20 an hour, living off the hog, partying like a rock star, not putting anything away. And the bottom dropped out of it, just like it did now.”

He ended up getting work in a Mesa glass shop at $6 an hour to get by. The personal

economic change was “brutal,” but he grew his talents installing glass. Over the years, he worked at various shops before landing at Harmon Autoglass.

He worked his way up through the ranks to become a district manager over three states. The auto glass division of the company was sold, and Turcott’s job disappeared. Carrying around a non-compete clause, he ended up working with a friend in Casa Grande at a glass-tempering plant.

“Then we started building insulated units you put in a house window,” he says. “So it was pretty cool. I got to see the whole aspect of that part actually done.”

Again, new management came in, and

Turcott quit. In August 2005, Turcott and his wife Julie

struck out on their own, opening Lizard Heights Glass in Maricopa.

“I love it out here,” he says. “When I worked for another glass company, I drove out to Thunderbird Farms to install glass for a customer. I sat in my van and loved how quiet it was. It was dead silent. It reminded me of living in the sticks in Michigan. I thought, ‘OK, I’m moving here.’”

In 10 years, Lizard Heights has never had a negative month, Turcott says. Julie works customer relations, talking with customers on the phone, and Turcott is meticulous in his work — “I can’t do anything halfway; it drives

Turcotts’ Lizard Heights Glass going strong after 10 yearsStory and photos by Raquel Hendrickson

Profile

caption

PERSONAL

Age: 47

Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan

Residence: Thunderbird Farms

Education: High school

Family: Wife, daughter and son

Pets: Dogs, goats and chickens

Pet peeves: Gun-free zones

Hobbies: Competitive shooting

Currently reading: “5000 Year Leap”

I wish I was … a better singer

BUSINESS

First job: New home construction

Favorite job: U.S. Marine

Why this business: Good at it

Greatest challenge: Getting enough sleep

Greatest opportunity: Starting

our own business

Best business advice you ever

received: Start my own company

FAVORITES

Food: All

Musician: Brad Paisley

TV show: “Deadliest Catch”

Athlete: Walter Payton

Sport: NASCAR

Sports team: Stewart Haas Racing

Charity: Wounded Warrior Foundation, USO

Travel destination: North to the mountains

Book: “Inside the Red Circle”

by Brandon Webb

Quote: “When government fears the

people, there is liberty. When the

people fear the government, there

is tyranny.” — Thomas Jefferson

JOHN TURCOTT OwnerLizard Heights Glass


me nuts,” he says. “I’ll keep working on it until I get it right.”Julie Turcott was the maintenance manager for a glass-tempering

facility in California when they met. She also had a background in electronics in the Navy. She had no experience in customer relations.

Turcott told her how they trained at other companies he worked. “She just got the down-and-dirty, and off she went and figured it out,” he says. “Just talk to people like you’ve known them forever.”

Lizard Heights Glass is a mobile service, and Turcott has everything on his van.

“We do everything from fixing a broken window to replacing a window,” he says. There are usually less expensive options than buying a new window, he says, “but companies that just sell you windows won’t tell you that.”

Broken windows, cracked windshields, “failed insulated units” (double-panes in which the adhesive has broken down) and custom showers are among the most common calls. He gives free estimates.

When they started Lizard Heights Glass, there were 60 glass companies listed in the Phoenix metro area, so the Turcotts were prepared for competition. But the work has always been steady.

Turcott said they expected a drop-off with the housing slump, but they discovered people were remodeling what they had because they could not sell. And they needed a glass expert.

“Our customers are super loyal, and we go out of our way to make it right,” he says. “People have been coming back to us since the day we opened.”

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BUSI

NES

S Motocross

Motocross is back —almost.Mike Fay will open Maricopa Motorsports Park on 46 acres near the junction

of state routes 347 and 84.He purchased the Hidden Valley property last July and put in some light

construction to shape up a track. His family and friends have given it a good tryout as Fay works through the Pinal County to open it to the public as a business.

He plans to open during the cooler days of autumn.“We’ll have three tracks at different levels,” Fay says. “What’s unique is we’ll be offering a track

for side-by-sides too.”

Submitted

Rider prepping land for motocross complexBy Raquel Hendrickson

He expects to charge $25 per day. Competitions are not part of the plan yet.

“It will just be open practice,” Fay says. He would like to host clinics with a retired

professional racer. Fay says motocross is “something for the

thrill-seekers,” but is also a family-friendly activity.

Though its origins are in 1920s England, motocross has had a resurgent popularity in the 21st century. It is still classified as a dangerous, extreme sport.

In a monitored park setting, “it’s safe and controlled,” Fay says. “It’s much safer to have a controlled environment instead of going out in the desert on your own.”

Pinal County also sees it as a welcome addition to entertainment businesses.

“For those that like that kind of entertainment, there’s going to be a great opportunity,” Pinal County Supervisor Tony

MOTOCROSS TERMSBar Hop: Both feet over the

handlebars above the bike

Can-Can: On foot over the

opposite side of the bike

Coffin: Lying backward with both

feet over the handlebars

Freestyle: Performing tricks over jumps

High Side: Tipping toward

the outside of a turn

Mini: 80cc dirt bike

Modified: Bike with after-market parts

Nose: Landing front-wheel first

Peewee: 50cc dirt bike

Pinned: Bike at its max rpm

Stork: Both legs straight back above the seat

Friends and family have been testing the tracks at Mike Fay’s new facility south of Maricopa.

Mike Fay plans to open Maricopa Motorsports Park this fall.


Smith says. “It’s a course that is professionally designed with a lot of good options for those who like to participate or be a spectator in those types of sports.”

Riding since he was 4 and racing since he was 10, Fay has worked in motorcycle shops most of his adult life. “So I guess you could say I’ve got over 35 years of riding experience because I’m just over 40 now,” he says.

He raced all over the country but mostly where he grew up in New England, where motocross is not quite as wildcat as it is in Arizona, “more structured and more professional, so I have a little different background than a lot of track owners.”

He says he brings a little different “flavor” to the style of racing than others in the area.

“We moved to Arizona for the year-round weather,” Fay says. It was a perfect fit until the former Firebird motocross facility shut down as the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park changed names and upgraded.

Maricopa Motorsports Park, he says, will again fill the void for passionate local riders. “And there are a lot of them around here.”

MaricopaMotorsports.com coming soon

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AIR CONDITIONINGAlternative Air Heating & Cooling P.O. Box 1095520-483-0364AlternativeAirHVAC.com

ANIMALS & PETS Pinal County Animal Control 764 S. Eleven Mile Corner Road Casa Grande520-509-3555

APPLIANCE REPAIR/SALESMaricopa Appliance Repair 520-424-8435

ARCADEPlay ‘n Win UltraStar Multi-tainment Center1600 N. Maricopa Road 520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

BANKS/CREDIT UNIONSPinal County Federal Credit Union 44600 W. Smith Enke RoadSuite 105520-381-3100

BARSLuxe LoungeUltraStar Multi-tainment Center1600 N. Maricopa Road520-233-2440UltraStarAkChin.com

Native Grill & Wings21164 N. John Wayne Parkway 520-568-6077NativeGrillAndWings.com

BEAUTY SALONSHair by Sunny44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 111520-858-6086SunnySayarath.com

K’Bella Salon and Day Spa20800 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 116 520-233-8576KBellaSalonAndDaySpa.com

‘Mo’ Hair Wig and Extensions Bar19395 N. John Wayne Parkway #13(951) 712-1097mohair_indianhair.com

BOWLINGTen Pins DownUltraStar Multi-tainment Center16000 Maricopa Road520-233-2425UltraStarAkChin.com

CABLE TVOrbitel Communications21116 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B-9520-568-8890OrbitelCom.com

CHURCHESCalvary Chapel44301 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy., Suite 105520-568-5400CalvaryMaricopa.org

Hybrid Christian Ministrieswww.hybridcm.orgInvesting In People, Not In Buildings. Connecting individuals and small groups for discipleship training and fellowship.

COMPUTERSData Doctors21116 N. John Wayne ParkwaSuite B1, Maricopa AZ 85139(520) [email protected]

DANCE Desert Sun Performing Arts19756 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 107520-483-8915DesertSunPerformingArts.com

DENTISTS / ORTHODONTISTSCobblestone Dental Center44600 W. Smith-Enke RoadSuite 103520-494-7333CobblestoneDental.com

Maricopa Fiesta Dental21116 N. John Wayne Parkway520-568-1551TrueGrin.com

Premier Orthodontics21083 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite C-105520-568-5600

San Tan Oral Surgery21300 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite 112(480) 659-9820santanoralsurgery.com

Treasured Smiles Children’s Dentistry21300 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 117520-316-6111TreasuredSmilesChildrensDentistry.com

EMERGENCY SERVICESMaricopa Fire Department 520-568-3333

Maricopa Police Department 520-316-6800

Poison Control800-222-1222

ENTERTAINMENTUltraStar Multi-tainment Center 16000 Maricopa Road520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

EQUIPMENT RENTALTiller’s Equipment and Tool Rental12501 N. Murphy Rd. Suite B(520) 568-2009 TillersToolRentals.com

EYE CAREMaricopa Eye Care 21300 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite 119520-568-7538MaricopaEyeCare.com

GARAGESee page 36

GLASSLizard Heights (520) [email protected]

GOLFAk-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club48456 W. Highway 238520-568-2000GolfSouthernDunes.com

GOVERNMENTAk-Chin Indian Community42507 W. Peters & Nall Road520-568-1000

City of Maricopa39700 W. Civic Center Plaza520-568-9098

Gila River Indian Community 525 W. Gu U Ki, Sacaton520-562-6055

Pinal County 31 N. Pinal St., Florence520-866-6000

United States Post Office 44920 W. Hathaway Road520-568-2641

HANDYMANGGCS, LLC505-507-3909

SPR Contractor520-350-2929SPRContractor.com

HARDWAREAce Hardware 21542 N. John Wayne Parkway520-494-7805MaricopaAce.com

HEALTH AND FITNESSLongevity Athletics44480 W. Honeycutt Rd. Suite #108(520) 261-4661longevityathletics.com

HOME CAREComfort Keepers19428 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite F520-233-2848ComfortKeepers.com

HOME WATCH SERVICESSee page 36

HOSPITALS Banner Casa Grande Medical Center1800 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande520-381-6300BannerHealth.com

Chandler Regional Medical Center1955 W. Frye Road, Chandler480-728-3000DignityHealth.org/ChandlerRegional

HOTELS & RESORTSHarrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Hotel15406 N. Maricopa Road480-802-5000HarrahsAkChin.com

INSURANCEState Farm InsuranceLance Lane20800 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 110520-568-8400 LanceLaneInsurance.com

INTERNETOrbitel Communications21116 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B-9520-568-8890OrbitelCom.com

LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCEAnyone Home?602-574-7006AnyoneHomeAZ.com

MD’s Landscaping and MaintenanceMaricopa resident, owner operated [email protected]

Druwest Landscape623-330-0010DruwestLandscape.com

LANDSCAPING INSTALLATIONAZ-RYS Landscaping and Yard Maintenance602-359-6203azrysyard.com

LASER TAGUrban Arena Laser TagUltraStar Multi-tainment Center1600 N. Maricopa Road520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

MORTGAGE See page 36

MOVIESUltraStar Cinemas 1600 N. Maricopa Road520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONSFamily, Friend & Neighbor COAP402 E. 10th St., Casa Grande520-836-0736UnitedWayofPC.org

The Friends of the Maricopa Public Library 520-568-8094

Maricopa Little League602-885-5031MaricopaLittleLeague.com

Maricopa Veterans Center 44240 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway520-404-6672

Veterans of Foreign WarsTracy P. MacPherson Post 12043 44240 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway602-920-3933

PAINT SUPPLIESAce Hardware 21542 N. John Wayne Parkway520-494-7805MaricopaAce.com

PAINTERSACP Contracting20987 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite B-104 #320520-568-0026ArizonaContractPainting.com

BUSINESS Directory


PEST CONTROLMaricopa Bug Busters 520-423-9542

PHYSICAL THERAPYSpooner Physical Therapy16611 S. 40th St., Suite 130, Phoenix480-706-1199SpoonerPhysicalTherapy.com

PHYSICIANS Banner Health Center17900 N. Porter Road520-233-2500BannerHealth.com/HealthCenterMaricopa

Cancer Treatment Services Arizona1876 E. Sabin Drive, Casa Grande520-836-9800CancerTreatmentServices.com

Casa Grande Surgery Specialists1281 E. Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande520-876-0416 Maricopa Foot & Ankle21300 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite126520-494-1090MFAAC.com

Internal and Family MedicineHD Liposuction- Dr. Sierra De Aragon3303 E. Baseline Rd. Suite 203480-300-5388internalandfamilymedicine.com

Sun Life Family Health Center 44765 W. Hathaway Road520-568-2245SunLifeFamilyHealth.org

POOL CONSTRUCTION, SERVICE, SUPPLYSee page 36

PRINT AND COPYThe UPS Store20987 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B104520-568-5712TheUPSStoreLocal.com/5140

PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTSOutside the Box Marketing, Inc.P.O. Box 1018520-568-0040Market247365.com

REALTORSSee page 36

RESTAURANTSSee page 38

SCHOOLSButterfield Elementary School43800 W. Honeycutt Road520-568-6100BES.MaricopaUSD.org Camino Montessori44301 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway480-295-2806CaminoMontessori.org

Central Arizona College 17945 N. Regent Drive520-494-6400CentralAZ.org

Desert Wind Middle School35565 W. Honeycutt Road520-568-7110DWMS.MaricopaUSD.org Graysmark Academy 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 105520-568-5750

Maricopa Elementary School18150 N. Alterra Parkway520-568-5160MES.MaricopaUSD.org Maricopa High School45012 W. Honeycutt Ave.520-568-8102MHS.MaricopaUSD.org Maricopa Unified School District #20 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway520-568-5100MaricopaUSD.org Maricopa Wells Middle School45725 W. Honeycutt Ave.520-568-7100MWMS.MaricopaUSD.org Pima Butte Elementary School42202 W. Rancho El Dorado Parkway520-568-7150PBES.MaricopaUSD.org Saddleback Elementary School18600 N. Porter Road520-568-6110SES.MaricopaUSD.org

Santa Cruz Elementary School19845 N. Costa Del Sol520-568-5170SCES.MaricopaUSD.org

Santa Rosa Elementary School21400 N. Santa Rosa Drive520-568-6150SRES.MaricopaUSD.org

SHIPPING AND PACKAGINGThe UPS Store20987 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B104520-568-5712TheUPSStoreLocal.com/5140

SOLARStreamline [email protected]

SPAK’Bella Salon and Day Spa20800 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 116 520-233-8576KBellaSalonandDaySpa.com

TAX SERVICESJames A. Chaston CPA, PLC18955 N. Falcon Lane520-568-3303ChastonCPA.com

JDP Financial ServicesJack [email protected]

Path Financial Strategies480-558-6499mcstax.com

TELEPHONEOrbitel Communications21116 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B-9520-568-8890OrbitelCom.com

TRANSPORTATIONDiscount Cab2225 W. Main St., Mesa602-200-2000

TRAVEL AGENCIESSuz’s Cruises520-233-1850

UTILITIES Electrical District No. 3 19756 N. John Wayne Parkway520-424-9021ED3Online.org

Global Water Resources 22590 N. Powers Parkway520-568-4452

Orbitel Communications21116 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite B-9520-568-8890OrbitelCom.com

Maricopa Domestic Water Improvement District 19756 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite 109520-568-2239

Southwest Gas Corporation 800-428-7324

WEDDINGSAk-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club48456 W. Highway 238520-568-2000GolfSouthernDunes.com

WINDOW COVERINGSSelections Shutters & Blinds20046 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 103520-568-6677SelectionsMaricopa.com

Budget Blinds602-243-1983BudgetBlinds.com

Want to have your business featured in the next edition? Contact InMaricopa at [email protected] or 520-568-0040

To find landscaping, painting, pest control, window coverings and other services, see page 36 and InMaricopa.com.

8

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Learn more about these and other local jobs at InMaricopa.com/Classifieds.

Join our growing team. We’re currently interviewing for Sales Professionals (part time and full time).


GO

VER

NM

ENT How They Voted

Pinal County Board of SupervisorsJune 3, 2015

BACKGROUND: Facing $4.6 million in cuts from the state, the board approved a tentative fiscal year 2015-16 budget of $421.5 million, which included a primary tax rate increase of 20 cents. The new rate of $3.999 per $100 of net assessed value is the second highest in the state behind Pima County. The increase is expected to bring in $4 million.MOTION: Approve the Pinal County tentative budget for fiscal year 2015-16 in the amount of $421,507,779. VOTE: 3-2

AYES: Cheryl Chase, Pete Rios, Todd HouseNAYS: Anthony Smith, Stephen Miller

RATIONALE OF AYE VOTES: Chase said the staff is down to the bare minimum. “Our staff is exceptional, and even though things are not maybe the way we want them to be, I don’t know what more we could ask of them,” she said. Rios said the state is “hiding” or “sitting on” money and forcing the county to raise taxes.RATIONALE OF NAY VOTES: Smith and Miller said the county budget could have been managed without raising the tax rate.GET ENGAGED: Pinal County Board of Supervisors meets at 9:30 a.m. on select Wednesdays in Florence. Meetings are broadcast live on the county website.

PinalCountyAZ.gov

Keeping tabs on Maricopa’s elected officials’ decisions, this section highlights some recent votes and provides tips on how to get engaged with the political process.

Central Arizona College Board of GovernorsMay 19 and June 9, 2015

BACKGROUND: Since 2006, CAC has experienced a reduction of 80 percent in state funding and received no capital funding since 2008. The board voted May 19 to raise its primary tax rate from $1.91 to $2.76 per $100 of net assessed value before approving a 4 percent raise for employees. After a public outcry, they approved an adopted budget that set the primary tax rate at $2.30.ORIGINAL MOTION: Accept the proposed property tax levy fiscal year 2015-16 (sets rate at $2.76)ORIGINAL VOTE: 4-1

AYES: Rita Nader, Rick Gibson, Gladys Christensen, Jack YarringtonNAYS: Debra Banks

FOLLOW-UP MOTION: Accept the proposed property tax levy fiscal year 2015-16 (sets rate at $2.30)FOLLOW-UP VOTE: 3-0

AYES: Rita Nader, Gladys Christensen, Jack YarringtonABSTAIN: Debra BanksABSENT: Rick Gibson

RATIONALE OF AYE VOTES: The board has consistently said it needs more money for operating expenses at its five campuses, saying it faces at least $43 million in deferred maintenance for facilities.RATIONALE OF NAY VOTES: Banks said she was worried about the impact a tax hike would have on county businesses.GET ENGAGED: The Central Arizona College Board of Governors meets the third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. on the Signal Peak Campus in Coolidge.

CentralAz.edu

Maricopa City Council May 5, 2015

BACKGROUND: To balance its budget after losing $2 million to cuts, the city of Maricopa suspended its nonprofit funding program, which would have cost more than $280,000, but decided to go ahead with funding two scholarships to be matched by the Friends of the Maricopa Library and the Maricopa Rotary Club.MOTION: Approve the allocation of up to $5,000 in available matching funds to the applicants of the Maricopa Academic Scholarship Match Program from the General Fund.VOTE: 6-1

AYES: Christian Price, Marvin Brown, Peggy Chapados, Bridger Kimball, Vincent Manfredi, Nancy SmithNAYS: Henry Wade

RATIONALE OF AYE VOTES: Manfredi said he did not think $5,000 was enough and wished the city could give more. He said it was important to invest in youth going on to college. Price said it was left in the budget after talks and no one seemed to “balk at it.”RATIONALE OF NAY VOTES: Wade said it struck him the wrong way that the scholarship program was fully funded while the other programs like the nonprofit funding were cut.GET ENGAGED: Maricopa City Council typically meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Its meets can be viewed at the city website.

Maricopa-AZ.gov

Councilman Henry Wade Supervisor Anthony Smith


Then and Now

t’s been more than seven years since Debra Fink became Maricopa’s first municipal employee to retire. Her retirement to Sonoita with husband John has been everything she wanted it to be, “and more,”

she says.Three years ago, she and her sisters Vicki

Mabery, who lives in Maricopa, and Gayle Maloney of Sonoita went into business together converting cowboy boots into bags, purses, totes and other items.

“If they don’t want to get rid of their boots, we can make something out of them that is like another heirloom,” she says. “We hand-make every one of our items.”

That started when their father passed

away and the sisters wanted to do something to preserve his boots. They had seen a small article in a magazine featuring a conversion and thought they could do something similar.

They did, and the craft has become StageCoachBags.com.

The family venture and her retirement exploits are a far cry from her three years as the customer service manager for the city of Maricopa. That was during the boom years from 2004 to 2007.

“My gosh, we were so busy, but it was quite entertaining at the same time,” Fink says. “It was so new. There were just a few of us. We did everything. Everybody got along. And then it started to grow. It was fun to watch that

Retirement is in the bag for Debra Fink By Raquel Hendrickson

Where are they now?

Submitted

Debra Fink was once the first face most Maricopans saw when visiting City Hall. Now she is retired and making one-of-a-kind bags with her sisters.

happen, actually.”A planner by trade, she came to Maricopa

specifically to help with the incorporation after more than 30 years at Tempe City Hall. Her work included processes for permits and economic development in general.

“I was one of the handful that needed to put the pieces together,” she says.

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KAZI HAGUEG

OV

ERN

MEN

T Profile

Kazi Haque: 10 years planningMaricopa

Born in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), Haque attended a private high school alongside many classmates who immigrated to the United States after graduation. With the encouragement of his father, Haque packed his belongings and moved to Missouri in 1981.

“My father was a civil engineer,” Haque says. “He wanted me to study engineering.”

However, Haque earned a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and a master’s degree in Resource Planning at Missouri State University.

In 2000, Haque was ready to escape the harsh Midwest winters. With friends in New Mexico, Haque chose Arizona as his new residence. He got his start as a planner in Queen Creek.

There, Haque observed rapid growth and now contributes that experience to his impact on Maricopa. Haque says working closely with John Kross, who was then the Community Development director and is now Queen Creek’s town manager, provided him with invaluable knowledge.

“He became my mentor,” Haque says.In 2005, Haque learned of an opening for a

senior planner in Maricopa, then in its infancy. “I thought, ‘Let’s see if I can contribute to

the community in Maricopa,’” he says.Haque speaks three languages: Urdu

(the native language of Pakistan), Hindi and English. He can also read Arabic. No matter the language, Haque’s ardor becomes obvious when he speaks about the city he’s helped take shape.

Rodolfo Lopez, senior planner for the city of Maricopa, says Haque “stepped in greatly as a leader by keeping the department functioning” when they experienced team shifts and staff changes.

There were fewer than 20 government employees when he arrived. “In the early 2000s, Maricopa did not have an official police or fire department,” he adds.

Growth was so fast, Haque says, U-Haul trucks were used to transport drawings for new homes to Maricopa for construction.

“We were approving 600 to 700 permits a month for new homes,” he says. “That’s how fast Maricopa was growing.”

The city experienced nearly a 4,000 percent population growth rate during the mid-2000s.

Enter the housing bubble, which meant home foreclosures and bankruptcy across the country. Maricopa was hit particularly hard, according to Haque.

Still, Maricopa was well-positioned thanks to elected leaders and how they handled finances, Haque says. “We were growing so fast,

William Lange

Planning Manager Kazi Haque has spent a decade at Maricopa City Hall.

The city of Maricopa has witnessed numerous changes since its incorporation in 2003. New homes bloomed, businesses formed and the population swelled.

Kazi Haque, zoning administrator for the city, grants a rare perspective to the city’s history as one of its first employees. He is marking his 10th year in the city’s Planning Department.

“He is a nice, happy, intelligent man with a passion for community development,” says interim Development Services Director Dana Burkhardt, Haque’s on-and-off boss for three years.

Haque has played an integral part in Maricopa’s General Plan and 2040 Vision, leading by consensus on the many zoning issues that set precedent in the young municipality.

By Katie Self


LYLE RIGGS Elected Official Q&A

Raquel Hendrickson

and there was money coming in, but we didn’t have time to spend it.”

Burkhardt says one of Haque’s strengths is his caution. As fast as things moved in the early days, he thoughtfully considered compatibility of proposals and the impact on the neighbors.

His style of leadership is to seek out the ideas of others in the department and consult with other members of the city staff, Burkhardt says.

City Clerk Vanessa Bueras has worked with Haque since he joined the city 10 years ago. Bueras says Haque implemented policies within the planning department, including multiple annexations, ordinances and, most recently, rewriting the zoning code.

Now he’s working on the General Plan update. The General Plan acts as a blueprint for city development and serves as a layout for zoning codes and ordinances.

“It is very important because it’s the only document in any city or town that is approved by voters,” Haque says. “It goes through a ballot, which makes the plan a very rigid, stoic and powerful document. You can’t just change it overnight.”

Haque is also involved in coordinating Maricopa’s 2040 Vision and Strategic Plan.

The 2040 Vision is intensive and heavily reliant on public participation. “People from all walks of life have contributed to complete the vision of what Maricopa will become,” Haque says.

The plan, he adds, provides Maricopa with a strong view of what the city can become.

Haque has a strong view of that as well. Burkhardt says Haque’s own motivation and drive has made him a leader in air-quality initiatives. He seeks out information on environmental issues to gauge the impact on the future of Maricopa.

While it may seem even Haque’s outside interests are tied up in issues related to his work, Haque does have a home life. Married since 2007, he has a 10-year-old daughter attending school in Maricopa.

As a peer, Haque looks out for the best interest of others before himself, Lopez adds. “His work ethic is strong [and] built around team work. His strength is his passion for Maricopa’s quality of life.”

Haque’s devotion lies in Maricopa. He likens his work to that of a gardener: “If you’re a gardener and you see your plants grow, you want to nurture the plant to keep it growing.”

Restoring JP court’s reputation a work in progress for Riggs

AGE: 48

FAMILY: Married, four children

EDUCATION: J.D., Drake

University, 1995; B.S. in

Agriculture, University

of Arizona, 1991

HOBBIES: Movies,

reading, sports

MARICOPAN SINCE: 2014

Justice of the PeaceLyle Riggs

The Maricopa/Stanfield Justice Court has been cleaning up a muddle of cases for more than a year and a half after the previous justice of the peace was banned and disbarred for mishandling thousands of dollars and creating a “hostile work environment.” A pro tem judge and lawyer, Lyle Riggs was elected in November. For the past six months, he has worked to restore trust and accountability in the JP court.

Why did you want to be Maricopa’s Justice of the Peace? I enjoy serving the community. More people have contact with limited jurisdiction courts (justice of the peace and municipal courts) than any other courts in Arizona. I enjoy helping people understand the judicial process and resolving disputes.

How has your background benefitted you on the bench? Prior to being elected justice of the peace, I worked as a part-time judge for four years. I was privileged to work in eight different courts during that time. I saw how different courts process cases and learned from different judges. That experience, combined with over 19 years of experience as a lawyer, hasbeen very beneficial to being able to fulfill my responsibilities as a justice of the peace.

How have you balanced the efforts to clean up files that were part of the previous troubles at the court with your day-to-day tasks in the court? The old adage of the first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging applies. I have tried to make sure that all of the new cases

are being processed properly so that we are not adding to the backlog of cases. The staff has responded well and is working very hard to catch up. We have also received significant help from other justice courts in Pinal County who have sent staff to help. It has been and continues to be a team effort to manage day-to-day tasks while cleaning up the backlog of cases.

Have you had unexpected challenges since taking office? No. I knew that restoring the court to proper function would be a lengthy process and would be a team effort. We are still in that process.

What are your favorite things about the JP court? I enjoy the interaction with the parties and others who come to court. Most parties are not represented by attorneys and are not familiar with court rules and processes. I enjoy explaining both.

What are the court’s greatest lingering issues? Restoring the court’s credibility. Parties are understandably concerned that their matter was not and is not being handled properly. It will take time, but with consistent efforts to treat people with respect and to process cases correctly, the court’s reputation will improve.

Who were your biggest influences in how you approach the law? Historical figures and contemporary mentors shaped my approach to the law. People that I agree with and disagree with philosophically have also shaped it. This list is lengthy.

S

34 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue4 4

HO

ME Solar

Solar installation permits in Maricopa exploded by 273 percent in the first four months of the year compared to the same time frame in 2014.

The reasons for the growth are myriad, but there are nearly as many reasons residents have shied away from utilizing the sun. So the pace of the new installations is as much a tribute to the selling power of solar consultants as it is a push-back against utility companies.

Interim Development Services Director Dana Burkhardt said electricity costs and recent rebate programs played a factor.

“ED3 has the highest electricity rates in the state,” said Advanced Energy Systems (AES) consultant Paul Melnik.

That drives people to solar, but Melnik said utility companies like Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project have been “propagandizing” solar power and scaring people away with solar surcharges.

“Sales for the whole East Valley shrank,” he said.

A solar tax by SRP “that doubled the amount of the minimum charge” and a continuing impression that solar is too expensive to install blunted the influence solar energy might have had in Arizona’s metro areas, Melnik said.

The issues in the East Valley sent solar companies to other communities to educate

residents in places like Maricopa that bask in the sun most of the year.

From January through April 2014, Maricopa saw 73 solar permits. During the same period this year, the number was 272. There were 100 permits in March alone.

“It’s a movement; it’s not just buying energy,” said Drew Manusharow, senior energy consultant with SolarCity. “I love what I do,” Manusaharow says. “We’re doing something amazing.”

Solar customers are taking advantage of an Energy Star solar tax credit while they can. The credit is 30 percent of the cost, up to $500 per 0.5 KW of power capacity. Federal and state credits could pay for $7,000 of a $20,000 system, Melnik says. But the credit goes away Dec. 31, 2016.

An even earlier development may also change the solar trend in Maricopa. ED3 announced it was altering its solar policy beginning July 1. Its fixed cost recover charge will rise from 70 cents to $3 per month for all new solar customers. ED3 General Manager Bill Stacy said it would apply only to future customers.

A customer who applies for “distributed generation” by July 1 must be interconnected by Sept. 1, according to ED3, or will be subject to the new charges.

Shining light on the solar boom in Maricopa

By Raquel Hendrickson

ED3 will also limit the number of new solar installations to 30 per month. Those kinds of decisions from utilities are frustrating for solar consultants, who have to explain the policies to potential customers already cautious about the switch.

“Arizona should be among the leaders in the world for solar, as we are in the top three locations in the world for solar production,” Melnik said.

Maricopa has been a transient community, with people moving an average of every two years, whether to a new city or just across town, HomeSmart Success Real Estate owner Ted Anderson said. Making a long-term investment in a solar energy system for a temporary situation has not seemed logical. Even if residents decided on solar they did not even know the questions to ask.

“Nobody had a really good understanding of it,” Anderson said. “They are more likely to buy a house with panels once they understand it.”

Anderson and his fiancée Kelly Roberts bought their Maricopa home almost two years ago in Homestead. Anderson said they decided on solar to save on electricity and also to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Eventually you start going through life and paying attention to where the money is going and the impact of what you are participating in,” Anderson said.

They were studious about choosing a company and a plan.

They hired SolarCity for the installation. Once complete, Roberts said they saw an instant change. She said their combined bill for the system and for ED3 service went from $270 to $190. By itself, the electricity cost was around $32.

That kind of word of mouth amid frustration with bills and distrust of the Arizona Corporation Commission helped reputable solar companies get a stronger foothold in Maricopa. Once ED3 allowed leasing programs for solar installations, new avenues opened up.

“That has taken off like crazy,” Manusharow said.

Ted Anderson and Kelly Roberts, with SolarCity consultant Drew Marusharow, installed solar panels on their Homestead home. A boom in solar installations prompted new rules from the local utility, worrying customers and consultants.

Raquel Hendrickson


Solar

Leases work for some but not for others. SolarCity leases systems, including lease transfers, but AES does not. Manusharow said it is important for potential solar customers to do their research and sit down face to face with consultants who know the process, especially with changing utility policies.

“There are also lease transfers to new owners, or the owner can take it with them,” Manusharow said.

Stiff competition among solar companies that shifted their focus to Maricopa has also separated the wheat from chaff. Word of mouth has worked both ways among residents and real estate brokers.

Companies have also had to adapt to a changing industry, changing rules and changing perceptions. The perception in Maricopa has taken a positive swing.

“Being on a budget and knowing how much you’re going to pay is amazing,” Manusharow said.

“What’s cool about solar is that it’s cheaper in the long run — you can overproduce in the mild months and you get to use that during the summer. It levels off the big spikes in energy use you usually see,” Melnik said.

That, too, is getting an overhaul at ED3, which is drawing up a new rider explaining its buyback option. In a letter sent to customers June 3, the company said “net excess generation will no longer be carried forward.”

Educating residents on how solar systems work, what kind of service to expect from a quality company, and available financing and rebates helped boost solar companies’ Maricopa

sales in dramatic fashion. So has a conviction that investing in solar now could pay off in the real estate market of tomorrow.

And there is always the energy savings.“People are getting more educated that we

live in the desert,” Melnik said. “When enough people notice that their neighbors have solar, they ask them about it. And they’ll show them a $35 bill.”

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HO

ME

Sold price: $435,000Square feet: 4,066Price per s.f.: $106.98Days on market: 41Builder: HaciendaBuilt: 2005Bedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 2.5

Community: Rancho El DoradoFeatures: Includes private swimming pool, three-car garage, patio, built-in barbecue and loads of upgrades.Seller’s agent: Susan Breunig, The Maricopa Real Estate Co.Buyer’s agent: Christopher Davis, HomeSmart

Sold price: $40,000Square feet: 850Price per s.f.: $47.05Days on Market: 8Model: La CasaBuilt: 1982Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Community: Heritage District

Features: Covered patio, full bath in master bedroom, washer/dryer hookupSeller’s agents: Tara Meier and Robin Stone, The Maricopa Real Estate Co.Buyer’s agent: Tara Meier, The Maricopa Real Estate Co.

CLEANING-CARPET/FLOORSOxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning520-329-4027

GARAGEA To Z Garage Door Repair Company623-337-1209

HOME WATCH SERVICESAnyone Home? 602-574-7006 AnyoneHomeAZ.com

Sentinel520-252-5238www.azsentinel.com

MORTGAGEAnnieMac Home Mortgage211 N. Florence St., Casa Grande520-836-7776RudyLoans.com

POOL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTIONKeywize Pool Professionals602-368-7256KeywizePools.com

Maricopa Pools20924 N. John Wayne Parkway480-658-5544MaricopaPools.com

POOL SERVICEHidden Valley Pool ServiceP.O. Box 1348 520-233-7528

POOL SUPPLIESAce Hardware 21542 N. John Wayne Parkway520-494-7805 MaricopaAce.com

REALTORSAhwatukee Realty & Property Management21300 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite 120520-568-3572AhwatukeeRealty.com

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Terry Sperry 1045 W. Queen Creek Road, Suite 1, Chandler509-869-8161 AZMoves.com/Terry.Sperry

HomeSmart SuccessDayv Morgan 19756 N. John Wayne Parkway Suite 100480-251-4231MaricopaHomeSmart.com

Want to have your business featured in the next edition? Contact InMaricopa at [email protected] or 520-568-0040 ext. 2

REAL ESTATE & HOME SERVICES

Directory

8

22362 N. O’SULLIVAN DRIVE

19250 N. TAFT AVE.

MOST EXPENSIVE HOME SOLD LEAST EXPENSIVE HOME SOLD

20046 N. John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa

(520) 568-6677 • www.SelectionsMaricopa.comFast, Friendly & Honest Service!

• Shutters • Blinds • Honeycomb & Woven Wood Shades • Silhouette, Luminette, Duette • Roller Shades

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Real Estate

The most expensive home sold in Maricopa in the last three months was a 4,066-square-foot single-family home in Rancho El Dorado. The four-bedroom home was originally listed at $475,000 and was on the market a little more than a month.

The least expensive home sold in Maricopa in the last three months was an 850-square foot manufactured home on a 30,000-square-foot lot in the Heritage District. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and sits across from Maricopa High School. It sold for $40,000 and was described as “needs work.”

Adam Wolfe


E

Gardening

Bee sanctuary buzzing in

Alterra yardBy Adam Wolfe

Ed Steidler built a wildflower sanctuary in his yard to provide a feeding ground for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.Steidler has seen the local honey bee population decline heavily over the last five years. He theorized the increased use of pesticides may have an effect on the population, but mites in the hive and other causes could be to blame as well, he said.

In an attempt to help the declining numbers of bees, he wanted to provide an area where they could drop in and feed.

“The reason I started this project was to help the honey bees out,” Steidler said. “They’re in a big decline right now and nobody seems to know the complete reason why. They’re down about 50 percent, so the bee associations are promoting that people try to start planting flowers and stuff just to help them out for something to feed on.”

The “flowers and stuff ” occupy a strip of land in the Stiedler front yard. Ed and his wife Cindy are also putting in a similar sanctuary in the back yard. Stiedler looks for blooms that naturally attract bees through pollen and nectar.

Across America, more than two of every five bee hives died in 2014. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of bee colonies dropped 42 percent. That is second only to the 45 percent loss in 2012. In Arizona, the colonies declined by 43 percent.

The study showed more colonies died in the summer than in the winter, a new trend that may indicate there are multiple causes to blame for the mass amounts of bee deaths.

The continuing decline has bee associations and concerned citizens like Steidler looking for ways to help. The Steidlers put in their front-yard sanctuary this spring. Now, it’s not only bees finding attractions in the Steidler sanctuary.

“I’ve got all kinds of honeybees, hummingbirds and butterflies coming each day,” Steidler said. “I ordered wildflower seeds. It’s real simple, and they took off like crazy. It’s really worked out well.”

According to Steidler, he has received positive feedback from his neighbors, and members of the community have shown interest in building similar wildflower sanctuaries in their own yards.

BUILD A BEE SANCTUARY

1Choose native plants to

attract native bees. Talk

to a local Master Gardener

(Mac-Pinal-MasterGardener.

org/) about the best plants for

bees in Maricopa’s climate.

2Choose colorful flowers.

Bees buzz to yellow,

blue, purple and white.

3Choose plants high in

nectar or pollen. Not all

blooms that are “showy” are

good sources of pollen.

4Plant flowers close

together and in the sun.

5Sequence plants

throughout the year

to have various species

always in bloom.

6Maintain a container

of water with stones

or sticks above water

level for bees to land

on while drinking.

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Ed and Cindy Steidler have constructed a “bee sanctuary” in their yard, which has also attracted butterflies and hummingbirds.

Submitted

AFFORDABLE OFFICE SPACE!

1-5 offices available in desirable locations at Maricopa Business Center and by the Post Office.

(480) 980-6800

FOO

D


EXCELLENT [No violations found.]

• Aliberto’s Mexican Food• Arby’s • Barro’s Pizza• Bashas’• Bashas’ – Bakery• Bashas’ – Deli• Bashas’ – Starbucks • Brooklyn Boys Italian Restaurant

& Pizza• Carl’s Jr.• Central Arizona College café• Children’s Learning Adventure

Childcare Center• Cilantro’s Mexican Cocina• Crate Enterprises• Fry’s Marketplace• Fry’s Marketplace – Deli • Fry’s Marketplace – Starbucks• Fry’s Marketplace – Sushi • Good Donuts• Helen’s Kitchen• Honeycutt Coffee• Jersey Mike’s Subs• KFC• Maricopa High School• Maricopa Head Start• McDonald’s (20700 N. John

Wayne Parkway)• McDonald’s (41710 W. Maricopa-

Casa Grande Highway)• O’Shays• Panda Express• Papa Murphy’s Pizza• Papago Cantina

• Pima Butte Elementary School• Pizza Hut• Plaza Bonita• Province Community

Association Clubhouse• Rob’s Convenience• Santa Rosa Elementary School• Shamrock Farms• Shell – Dairy Queen• Shell – Food Mart• Sonic Drive-In• Starbucks – Maricopa Station • Subway• Taco Bell• Walmart• Walmart – Deli

SATISFACTORY [Violations corrected during inspection.]• None

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT [Critical item noted during inspection cannot be corrected immediately, requiring follow-up inspection.]• None

UNACCEPTABLE [Gross, unsanitary conditions necessitating the discontinuation of operations.]• NoneSource: Pinal County Department of

Health Services, March 10 – June 15

h

347 GrillUltraStar Multi-tainment Center16000 Maricopa Road520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

Agave’s Restaurant Harrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road480-802-5000HarrahsAkChin.com

Arroyo GrilleAk-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club 48456 W. Highway 238520-568-2000GolfSouthernDunes.com

Luxe Lounge UltraStar Multi-tainment Center16000 Maricopa Road520-568-3456UltraStarAkChin.com

Barro’s Pizza44600 W. Smith-Enke Rd, Suite 101 520-494-7777barrospizza.com

Native Grill & Wings21164 N. John Wayne Parkway 520-568-6077NativeGrillAndWings.com The Range SteakhouseHarrah’s Ak-Chin 15406 N. Maricopa Road480-802-5000HarrahsAkChin.com

Pizza Hut/ Wing Street Maricopa21101 N. John Wayne Parkway (520) 316-6116pizzahut.com/locations/arizona/maricopa/022093

Yogurt Jungle21101 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite E-105480-677-8222YogurtJungle.com

Want to have your business featured in the next edition? Contact InMaricopa at [email protected] or 520-568-0040 ext 2.

Featured Restaurants

8

HEALTH INSPECTION RESULTS


Poll

Best Omelet in TownIn an online poll at InMaricopa.com, readers indicated their favorite omelet was dished up at 347 Grill’s brunch buffet. But other restaurants had their devotees, as well.

“Our omelet is simply the best because we use fresh ingredients consisting of fresh spinach, homemade sausage, fresh peppers and onions, fresh diced tomatoes, fresh cooked bacon and other fine ingredients with fresh cracked eggs. Our chefs make our omelets with pride and love.” – Executive Chef Frank Abeyta, 347 Grill

Hot dogs by the numbers

July is National Hot Dog Month. Here are some fun facts about an American staple.

1Baseball fans consume more than 21 million hot dogs a year

at Major League Baseball parks, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council.

2Los Angeles consumes more

hot dogs than any other American city. (More than 39 million annually.)

3On the Fourth of July, Americans eat approximately

150 million hot dogs.

4Americans spent about $2.5 billion on hot dogs in 2014.

5Hot dogs are made from meat trimmings, fat, salt and

preservatives like sodium nitrite.

6Chicago-style dogs come with mustard, onions, sweet pickle

relish, peppers, tomato slices and a dill pickle spear.

7Last year the Arizona Diamon-dbacks introduced the D-Bat,

an 18-inch, $25 corndog stuffed with cheese, bacon and jalapenos.

8After Pizza Hut introduced a pizza crust stuffed with

hot dogs to its British market in April, Carl’s Jr. introduced its Most American Thickburger (with hamburger, hot dog and chips on a bun) to its American clientele in May.

WINNERD

347 GRILL

BY THE NUMBERS

347 Grill (UltraStar) brunch buffet

157

11389

27

2717

16 30

Sunrise Café

Headquarters

Agave’s at Harrah’s Ak-Chin

Arroyo Grille at Southern Dunes

Silver Spur Grill at The Duke

The Buffet at Harrah’s Ak-Chin

Other

Total votes: 446

Submitted


A to Z Garage Doors ................................. 10

Alternative Air .......................................... 37

Arroyo Grille..............................................38

AZ Rys ........................................................35

Banner Health Center ..................................1

Banner Casa Grande Medical Center . 13

Camino Montessori ...................................... 6

Cancer Treatment Services ..................... 16

Central Arizona College .......................25

City of Maricopa ........................................IFC

Cobblestone Dental ............................. 3, 29

Comfort Keepers .......................................IBC

Druwest Landscaping ............................31

Electrical District No. 3 ................................ 4

HomeSmart —Dayv Morgan ...................37

InMaricopa App ..........................................BC

K’Bella Salon and Day Spa .......................17

Lizard Heights Glass .............................. 27

Longevity Athletics ....................................6

Maricopa Eye Care .....................................23

Maricopa Foot & Ankle ............................... 4

Mo Hair ....................................................... 27

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning ...................... 10

Pest R Us .................................................... 27

Pinal County Federal Credit Union ....... 31

San Tan Oral Surgery ............................25

Selections Shutters and Blinds ..............36

Spooner Physical Therapy ...................... 13

Step Into the Music ..................................10

Streamline Solar .........................................4

Sun Life Family Health Center .......... 5, 29

Total Transit ................................................... 10

UltraStar Multi-tainment Center ..........11

UPS Store ...................................................10

ADVERTISER INDEXFO

OD Recipe

Shepherd’s salad a cool treat in summerOne of the greatest aspects of farm-to-table food is even the simplest dish, when using the freshest ingredients combined with the right accompaniments, can become a most delicious, satisfying experience. This recipe for Shepherd’s salad, a Turkish take on bruschetta, uses veggies grown in Maricopa’s community garden along with a few quality store bought ingredients. It is found on dining tables throughout the Mediterranean as part of the Mezze, a selection of little plates served before the main course. Bursting with flavor and packed with a wonderful contrast of temperatures and textures, this healthy, light summer dish begs to be shared with friends.

Ingredients

1 large cucumber, peeled (small dice)

4 vine ripe tomatoes or equivalent (small dice)

1/4 cup red onion (small dice)

1/4 cup parsley (chopped)

Juice of half a lemon (watch those seeds)

1/2 cup your favorite hummus (homemade or store bought)

1 oz. quality extra virgin olive oil

Fresh pita or beautiful, crusty bread

2 finger pinch plus a little extra kosher or sea salt

Fresh-ground pepper Directions

1. Preheat your grill (charcoal or Foreman) or broiler

2. Combine the cucs, tomatoes, onion and parsley in a large bowl and toss

gently. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste (2-3 turns of the pepper grinder

should do it) and add lemon juice. Gently mix well and let chill in the fridge.

3. Lightly brush pita (or sliced bread) with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Quickly grill/broil until LIGHTLY charred on edges but still wonderfully soft.

4. Cut pita into triangles (like a pizza), smear with hummus and top with a

generous dollop of Shepherd’s salad.

5. Enjoy this dish with a variety of additions such as olives, feta cheese and

roasted or pickled peppers.

Raquel Hendrickson

ABOUT THE CHEF

Mark GentilellaFamily: Awesome wife, two great kids, one cranky catOccupation: My daughter calls me a cooker!Origins: New JerseyWhy this recipe: I love variety in a meal, and this is versatile, fresh and oooooh so yummyFavorite chef: All the grandmas in my life


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