Spring 2014 - InMaricopa
Transcription
Spring 2014 - InMaricopa
THE MAGAZINE Vol. 9 Issue 1 CRAZY PETS Zany antics from animal friends JACKPOT Casino changes Ak-Chin’s future ROCK STAR NEXT DOOR Maricopa musician tours the world THE WILD ONE STALLION THEY CAN’T CORRAL THANK YOU! Thanks to our readers and advertisers, InMaricopa.com is celebrating 10 years of service to Maricopa. InMaricopa.com was conceived by Scott Bartle in 2003 and officially launched March 15, 2004 as 85239.com. Joyce Hollis doubled the size of the staff a few months later and was instrumental in connecting the company with the community, and community members with each other. Photo by Jake Johnson How can we best serve you? 520-568-0040 www.InMaricopa.com/Contact www.InMaricopa.com/Advertising Advertising [email protected]. 4 News/Editorial [email protected]. 6 Classifieds [email protected]. 5 Event calendar [email protected]. 5 Clients [email protected]. 1 Billing [email protected]. 2 Other [email protected]. 2 /InMaricopa @InMaricopa Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 1 Fun in Real Estate Since 1974 Contents VOL. 9 ISSUE 1 Serving Maricopa and Pinal Counties • New Homes • Resales • Short Sales • Foreclosures • Investment Properties • Commercial Property • Rentals • Property Management 21300 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 120 Maricopa, AZ 85139 (520) 568-3572 AhwatukeeRealty.com 18 8 Kyle Daly 32 DEPARTMENTS 4 8 10 Craig Cummins Community gallery FEATURES Pet personalities 23 24 36 38 Business Garage Door Service CAC student leader Duke vs. Dunes Heavy Metal Talented teen 23 Better Parts, Better Warranty, Better Price! • Will beat ANY prices PERIOD! • Same day service 520-342-5235 GarageAZ.com 2 ★★★★★ InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Submitted 16 20 24 Real estate Education Sports 36 Craig Cummins ON THE COVER: Horny Henry is a wild horse that has made the domesticated horses at Koli Equestrian Center on the other side of a fence his herd. Story on page 26. Photo by Jake Johnson (JakeJohnsonPictures.com) THE MAGAZINE Publisher SCOTT BARTLE Editor CHRISTIA GIBBONS Affordable Family Care! Writers CRAIG CUMMINS KYLE DALY BETH LUCAS KATIE MAYER KATHLEEN STINSON Photographers CRAIG CUMMINS KYLE DALY JAKE JOHNSON KATHLEEN STINSON Designer CARL BEZUIDENHOUT Operations KATHY DEBEVEC ANGELINA HAVERMAHL Sales SCOTT BARTLE JASON SALMANS Volume 9, Issue 1 InMaricopa The Magazine P.O. Box 1018 Maricopa, AZ 85139 520-568-0040 Tel 520-568-0050 Fax [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 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 2014. Save Money with the Cobblestone Dental Plan For one low annual fee, you receive many of the benefits of dental insurance… • Two cleanings • A comprehensive exam • Full-mouth X-rays • 20% - 50% off other dental services • Options for individuals, families & companies …Without the hassles of dental insurance • No pre-existing condition denials • No deductibles to meet • No waiting periods! 44600 W. Smith-Enke Rd., Suite 103 Maricopa, AZ 85139 Ask about our flexible in-house Financing Plans! Vol. 9 Issue 1 www.CobblestoneDental.com | InMaricopa.com 3 520.413.0480 Community Gallery 2 1 3 4 6 1. MHS DECA winners heading to Atlanta International Career Development Conference in May from left Gretchen Lauterbach, Nicole Troyer, Amber Isbrandt, Sydnee Akers, Christian Palafox, Aliyah Turner, Daniel Hersey, Alex Seddon. Submitted 2. Marilyn Leffler pins the badge on her son new Fire Chief Brady Leffler. Kyle Daly 3. Tortosa covenants coordinator Diane Zavala sees to it that resident Rick Luna gets a Valentine’s Day gift bag. Ellen Buddington 4. MHS freshman midfielder Katherine Siebert in action. Craig Cummins 5. Province resident Shirley Puffer views posters detailing the history of the community during its 10th anniversary celebration in March. Kyle Daly 6. Xavier and Sarah Martinez walk down the red carpet during UltraStar’s Oscars viewing party. Kyle Day 4 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 5 5 PREMIUM PRESCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL & SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS Priced Competitively - Surprisingly Affordable! MARICOPA (NWC John Wayne Pkwy. & Edison) (520) 413-9751 6am-6:30pm www.ChildrensLearningAdventure.com HENDWRAP0105 Community Gallery 1 1. MUSD held its first sixth-grade intramural basketball tournament in March under the direction of district volunteer Jim Irving and district athletic director Cory Nenaber. Craig Cummins 2. Rams win Krystin Diehl Softball Tournament in March. Tena Dugan 3. Melanie Antone, museum technician at the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum, points to a photograph of members of the Ak-Chin Community taken in the 1950s. Kathleen Stinson 4. The Mudhens joined 27 other teams showing off their pride before 6 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 2 hitting the field in February as Little League season got underway. Craig Cummins 5. Sixth-grader Aleina Estrada, far left and one of five basketballplaying sisters, helped lead her Sequoia Pathways junior high team to victory. Craig Cummins 6. Sydney McDill, left, and Kacie Swaffield, both 11, collected nearly 1,000 signatures to name a baseball field after Tommy Fitzgerald, , who died of a staph infection in August. Kyle Daly 4 3 5 6 (520) 568-2245 MOST MAJOR INSURANCES Medicare / AHCCCS Uninsured? We can help! 44765 W. Hathaway, Maricopa Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Family Health Care Provider • Welcoming patients of all ages • Prescription pick-up available • Immunizations for children & adults • Sports & employment physicals Excellence in health care! www.SunLifeFamilyHealth.org Pets Personalities Maricopa PET PROFILE NAMES: Madison, Molly OWNERS: Karen and Gary Myers Pekingese/Yorkshire Terrier (Madison), Yorkshire Terrier (Molly) AGES: 4 (Madison), 9 (Molly) NEIGHBORHOOD: Province BREEDS: WHERE THEY MET THEIR OWNERS: Minneapolis, Minn. (Madison); Surprise, Ariz. (Molly) PERSONALITIES: Molly is braver and more outgoing but dislikes strangers; Madison is reserved, gets nervous, the stroller is her safe place FAVORITE SLEEPING SPOT: Wherever Karen Myers is. INTERESTING FACT: Karen Myers makes clothing for small dogs. The dogs have at least 30 outfits. “They have more clothes than I have clothes,” Myers said. Kyle Daly Facebook Question: What’s the craziest thing your pet has ever done? (Answers have been edited for grammar and clarity) 8 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Zulema Avis: Our dog Max, who is a pug, used to love the pacifier. He sucked on it like a baby would! Mike N Robin: Our mixed dog peed while he was sleeping when he was a puppy! Danielle N Spence: In the middle of the night, our dog’s tummy started bothering her and instead of just going No. 2 on the floor like a normal dog, she jumped into the bathtub and did her business there! She is a 1-year-old Golden Retriever. Ann Rosati: Our cat Petey climbed up and sat in our artificial Christmas tree. Ceej Carla Byers: Our Miss Molly (Yorkie) takes all the laundry – clean or dirty – out of the laundry basket. Why? Because she thinks it’s her personal bed! Kristie Miller: My daughter feeds our horse as part of her chores. When I go out to check on things, May, the horse, comes up behind me and puts her nose on my neck and nuzzles me every time. Horsey kisses make having a horse amazing. Marty McDonald: My dog ate about 30 square feet of carpet in our apartment, a pair of sandals and the corner of a mattress – all in the same day. Kings Court: Our cat likes to turn lights on and off. Our little Chihuahua once got picked up by a dust devil and carried over our back wall. She was injured. Our pit loves to give hugs standing and placing her paws on your shoulders, and our pit-mix actually smiles. Jennifer Kirk: I have a cat that loves carbs – steals loaves of bread, bagels and rolls from the pantry and grocery bags, eats them and hides the remainder in my closet. Morgan Bullard Vanderwall: We do not believe it to be crazy, but everyone else does. Our dogs ring a bell when they need to go outside. FOLLOW US: /INMARICOPA The Doctor is in Evenings and Saturdays. Monday - Thursday 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Same and next day appointments available. On-site labs and X-ray services. 17900 N. Porter Road • Southwest corner of Alan Stephens Pkwy & Porter Road • (520) 233-2500 Schedule an appointment for: Family Medicine • Internal Medicine • Pediatrics • Obstetrics and Gynecology • Pediatrics Located in Maricopa www.BannerHealth.com/HealthCenterMaricopa • We accept most major insurance. /BannerHealth Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 9 Business Gaming Kyle Daly The gamble that paid off 20 years ago Ak-Chin Indian Community opened a casino and changed everything By Katie Mayer T he land was remote, dry and fewer than 22,000 acres in size, but for decades it sustained life for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. Despite a nearly 20-year struggle to gain reliable access to water, the community endured. Members transformed their designated parcel of land into stretches of growing gardens and productive fields. Families shared their harvests, and together they survived. While life was never easy, it was simple — and for a while, it was enough. 10 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 But in the late 1980s, life began to change. The falling prices of farm commodities and the community’s remote location in the Santa Cruz Valley created barriers to prosperity, driving people into increasing poverty. “At first the funds were just not available, and we were doing the farming and it wasn’t enough to support some of the programs we were running at the time,” says Leona Kakar, who has served as tribal council chairman and in other leadership roles since 1980. Submitted Needing to raise money for their people when the tribe’s farming operation was struggling, the Ak-Chin Tribal Council decided to transform 20 acres of hay fields into a casino and chose Harrah’s to manage its new venture. So with an urgent need to raise money for their people, the Ak-Chin Tribal Council took a gamble. They transformed 20 acres of hay fields into a casino, and after a nationwide search, selected Harrah’s to manage the new venture. “We didn’t know anything about the casino business,” Kakar says. “We knew it made money here and there, and we thought it would be a way out, and it sure turned out right.” Hoopla 20 years ago as the Ak-Chin Indian Community built and opened its casino paving the way for improved government, housing and social services. A CRITICAL TURNING POINT On Dec. 27, 1994 after nine months of construction, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino opened its doors for business. A grand opening celebration drew crowds from near and far looking for fun entertainment and a chance to win big. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the casino, which has now proven to be a critical financial turning point for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and a vital contributor to the local and regional economy. With a fast and steady infusion of cash, the Ak-Chin Indian Community expanded critical government infrastructure, ramped up the development of homes for community members and funded much needed social services, Kakar says. The casino also implemented a leadership development program, which prepares community members for high-level jobs in the casino and on the reservation. The casino’s economic impact also extended outside the community, accounting for more than 1,094 jobs and generating more than $205.3 million in economic activity in 2010, according to a 2011 study commissioned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and prepared by ESI Corporation. The casino is one of the leading employers in western Pinal County and has brought external dollars into the region that have circulated back through the greater Maricopa economy, says Maricopa Economic Development Director Micah Miranda. “People go to Harrah’s, spend money and the money then goes to employees and many of them reside and shop in BY THE NUMBERS Submitted 20 1,089 205.3M $ table games slot machines 750 6 employees poker tables dollars in economic activity generated in 2010 50,000 square feet in casino Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 11 Maricopa,” Miranda says. “Those dollars directly come in and contribute to the quality of life in Maricopa.” Tribal Councilman Terry Enos says he and his community value the role the casino has played in his community and the region. “The choice that was made to be in the gaming world is a successful one … and has made an impact in contributions statewide and also our own selfsufficiency,” Enos says. CELEBRATING CASINO-STYLE While the casino’s actual anniversary is still months away, management has kicked off a year-long celebration featuring what many players want most — more chances to win. “We’ve got a monthly customer promotion … to remind everyone that it has been 20 years,” says Robert Livingston, casino vice president and general manager. On Tuesdays in April, Harrah’s is holding a hot seat promotion, in which players are randomly selected to win hundreds of dollars in free slot play and the casino is organizing a direct mail promotion offering free play on Wednesdays. The casino also is preparing to display a traditional old coin-operated slot machine and other memorabilia. A larger celebration will be held closer to the anniversary, but Livingston says details have not yet been finalized. Submitted The courtyard swimming pool area features a Jacuzzi, swim-up bar that serves lunch items and margarita Sundays during the summer. LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION Serving Maricopa For Over 8 Years! Design packages to suit any budget! Desert Starter Package Desert Oasis Package Lawn Starter Package Backyard Oasis Package 1 - 15 Gallon Tree 8 - 5 Gallon Plants 10 Tons of 1/2” Gravel (1,200 sq ft,) $1,095 plus tax 4 - 15 Gallon Trees 15 - 5 Gallon Plants 10 Tons of 1/2” Gravel (1,200 sq ft) $1,495 plus tax 400 sq. ft. of Grass w/ Curbing 2 - 15 Gallon Trees 10 - 5 Gallon Plants 10 Tons of 1/2” Gravel (1,200 sq ft) 600 sq. ft. of Grass w/ Curbing 4 - 15 Gallon Trees 15 - 5 Gallon Plants 10 Tons of 1/2” Gravel (1,200 sq ft) $2,495 plus tax $1,795 plus tax *All packages include irrigation run to all plants then tied into your existing timer. 520-709-1847 [email protected] ER! PAVER SAV $ ft y 5 per sq| Vol. 12 OnlInMaricopa.com s r detail 9 Issue 1 Call fo • Artificial Turf • Flagstone • BBQs • Fireplaces • Fire Pits • Pavers • Concrete • Lights The casino resort features four restaurants including Pinal County’s only Dunkin’ Donuts and The Buffet. Submitted The casino offers slot machines, video poker, video Keno, statewide progressives, live-action poker and black jack and also has the only bingo hall in the Caesars organization. Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., which manages the business, operates casinos on four continents primarily under the brand names Harrah’s, Caesars and Horseshoe. “We are the only nationally branded casino entertainment in Arizona,” Livingston says. This means customers can use a rewards program linked to all of the company’s casinos in Las Vegas and across the country. Every five years, the Ak-Chin Indian Community re-evaluates its agreement to maintain Harrah’s as the casino’s manager. This year, the contract is once again up for renewal. Louis J. Manuel, Jr., chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community, would not say if the contract would be renewed, but he says tribal gaming is competitive and acknowledged the strong partnership his community has with Harrah’s. In addition to gaming, Harrah’s AkChin Casino also attracts customers through 300 hotel rooms, expanded and remodeled in 2011, an entertainment lounge and a variety of restaurants. A PLACE OF MEMORIES Maricopa resident Jackie Plumley remembers fondly the first time she and her husband Gordon visited Harrah’s AkChin Casino in 2005. The couple lived in Maryland at the time and had stopped for a visit on the way to see their children in San Diego. “We had such a wonderful time that we came back two years in a row,” Plumley says. During their second visit to the casino, Where MAGIC happens daily Salon and Day Spa SALON • Hair Desing • Hair Color • Perms • Highlights • Hair Extensions • Brazilian Blowout SPA • Permanent Makeup • Corrective Facials • Botox Fillers • Chemical Peels • Skin Tag Removal • Makeup Application • Spray Tanning • Professional Waxing • Threading • More! 20800 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 116 Before Karen Benedek Owner/Operator After Salon: 520-494-2147 Spa: 520-233-8576 Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 13 the couple noticed new homes under development in Maricopa and made the decision to purchase one. “Harrah’s was our determining factor in buying our home in Maricopa, and seven years later, we still go there,” Plumley says. She adds, “When we got back to Maryland and told our family and friends … we were moving in October, they told us we were nuts.” Plumley says she and her family have always felt “at home” at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and the staff has always treated Promotional Products them “like family.” Sadly, Plumley’s husband Gordon died in August, but like family, one of Harrah’s slot hosts attended his memorial service. While Plumley holds the casino especially close to her heart, other InMaricopa readers shared their own memories on Facebook. Reader Vincent Manfredi says he likes spending date nights at the casino with his wife, because it is close to home. “I just wish the buffet line was shorter on weekends,” he wrote. Apparel Printing Signage Market your business/school/ church/nonprofit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Outside the Box Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 1018 Maricopa, AZ 85139 (520) 568-0040 [email protected] www.Market247365.com 14 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Another reader, Maryann Spaulding, says she remembers attending the casino’s grand opening as a child and taking a ride on a tethered hot air balloon. “I would love to go in the summer for the margaritas,” adds reader Kimmy Baker-Phillips HOPE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS As the casino celebrates 20 years of past success, the Ak-Chin Indian Community also looks forward to the future. Councilman Enos says he and the Ak-Chin Indian Community continue to “count our blessings.” Chairman Manuel says he is also grateful for the revenue stream the casino provides and the economic opportunities, which have helped his community “progress when other funding opportunities, such as grants, do not.” In the future, Manuel says, “We look to enhance our medical services (and) educational and cultural resources.” While the Ak-Chin Indian Community continues to generate revenue from its casino, on a national level many Indian communities are seeking similar success, but with mixed results, experts say. Half of the Indians on or near reservations now belong to tribes that have opened Las Vegas-style casinos, according to research from The National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit economic research organization. Positive results attributed to casinos include tribal population increases, adult employment increases, a decline in poverty and increased economic activity. However, some national studies also attribute a slight increase in local crime to the presence of casinos. According to a 2008 study conducted by Stephen Cornell, director of the University of Arizona’s Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, “gaming has dramatically increased the revenues flowing into Indian Country. However, these revenues are very unevenly distributed with the largest sums going to nations located close to major markets.” The social and economic impact of these increased revenues also is largely positive, but vary according to the investment choices Indian communities make, the study states. With two decades of success behind them, owners and management of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino hope the business continues to thrive for years to come. However, an increased number of Indian casinos competing in Arizona and the slow economic recovery have created challenges. “The pie is only so big … especially the last few years with the economy,” Livingston says. “I’m no economist, but Arizona has had its struggles.” Still, Livingston says Harrah’s Ak-Chin casino is uniquely positioned to compete in the marketplace, largely because of its national Total Rewards program. “I’d love to have the economy of 2007 again, but I’m glad that we’re able to have this relationship with the Ak-Chin Community,” Livingston says. “It’s an ever-growing, ever-changing business that’s been very successful for 20 years.” He adds, “And hopefully it will be success for 20 more.” Maricopa’s newest free school choice N OW ENROLLIN G FOR THE 201415 SCHOOL YEAR! • Planning expansion to include full Preschool through 4th grade • Preschool is tuition-based • Half-day Kindergarten & Elementary are tuition free (Charter) Our mission Empowers every child to realize their fullest potential through active, refl ective and creative education Fosters a love for learning through active partnership involving students, s parents, teachers, staff and commun Embraces our div ity ersity and unique talents in a safe, challenging, respe ctful and supportiv e environment Recognizes that pe rsonal growth inv olves responsibilit ourselves, others an y towards d the earth, thus be coming self-determi self-motivated and ned, contributing memb ers of society. 44301 W. Maricopa/CG Hwy., Maricopa, AZ 85138 (520) 868-6145 | www.caminomontessori.org Maricopa’s Full-Service GLASS Company 520.868.6180 Home • Dual Panes (Insulated Glass) • Fogged Windows • Single Pane Windows • Window Repairs/Replacements • Window Retrofits • Custom Shower Doors/ Enclosures Let us SHOW YOU what service SHOULD be! • Multi-Slide Patio Doors • Enclosed Patios • Table Tops • Shelves • Mirrors Auto Business • Window Replacement • Windshield Repair • RVs • Luxury Vehicles • Heavy Equipment • Insurance Accepted • Mobile Service • Mirrors • Transaction Windows • Desk Tops • Display Cabinets • Entrance Doors • Mail Slots • Store Fronts Service At A Higher Level Over 25 years experience www.LizardHG.com ROC 222193 K-65 * Licensed * Bonded * Insured * Master Auto Glass Techs Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 15 Real Estate Commercial Eat here More restaurants opening in Maricopa as commercial real estate market rebounds By Kathleen Stinson M ore restaurants are on their way as the market for retail development in Maricopa is improving. Chris Gerow, senior vice president of NAI Horizon Commercial Real Estate Services, a Phoenix-based company, says the commercial real estate market in Maricopa is doing well. “I think Maricopa has rebounded as far as its residential housing (market), and I think its commercial development is following,” Gerow says. “I think Maricopa is definitely on a resurge,” he adds. A Freddy’s Frozen Custard and a Chipolte Mexican Grill have plans to open on the northeast corner of SmithEnke Road and John Wayne Parkway in the first or second quarter of 2015, says Brad Douglass, associate vice president of Cassidy Turley, a real estate services company based in Phoenix. A Plaza Bonita Mexican food restaurant is coming to Fry’s Marketplace in three to four months, says Gabe Ortega, vice president, NAI Horizon Commercial Real Estate Services. Maricopa Economic Development Director Micah Miranda says the future for Maricopa’s retail development looks “bright — we are chronically underserved in a number of retail categories. As we share information with potential retailers, the interest grows in the city as a destination.” 16 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Kathleen Stinson Fry’s Marketplace is one of several areas in the city showing signs of new commercial development. A number of commercial sites are planning to move forward, Miranda says. “We are talking with about a half dozen restaurants about locating here.” Gerow says Vintage Partners is trying to secure an anchor tenant for its 15-acre parcel south of Fry’s Plaza. Holiday Inn & Suites has plans to locate on John Wayne Parkway south of Edison Road. “We are talking with about a half dozen restaurants about locating here.” — Chris Gerow, senior vice president of NAI Horizon Commercial Real Estate Services Although Maricopa’s commercial development prospects continue to grow, developers say the city has some challenges to overcome. Dignity Health has purchased 18.56 acres at the intersection of John Wayne Parkway (State Route 347) and SmithEnke Road on which it plans to build a free-standing emergency hospital, according to a company press release. Initial plans call for a 34,800-square-foot, two-story hospital. But, Miranda says Dignity’s plans are “tentative” and the health-care provider has not submitted any formal plans to the city. William French, vice president of Cassidy Turley, says before more commercial development happens in Maricopa, “housing has got to continue to get better,” referring to homeconstruction expansion. “(Commercial development) has definitely improved,” French says, but “there is still a lot of room to improve.” He says the city has some challenges to commercial development. Constucting a road across the railroad tracks to open north and south access would be very expensive. “There’s only a handful of access points from north to south,” he points out. Also, widening John Wayne Parkway, although necessary for the city to develop, would be expensive and “who is going to pay for that?” he asks. Primary co-owner and designated broker for The Maricopa Real Estate Company Steve Murray says one challenge the city faces with its commercial development is that the state owns State Route 347 and to acquire easements on and off the highway is difficult. The city’s floodplain issues also affect commercial development, Murray says. “The bottom line is we don’t see anything getting done,” he says, adding it may be that the city is not talking about projects. Miranda says the city is aware of a “couple of project (that) are coming out of the ground –projects in the works I can’t detail. As a point of policy, the city doesn’t comment on businesses locations until we’ve been given the green light from the businesses or the developer.” French says Maricopa lost some time working on commercial development as it focused on its fast-growing residential development, he says. “I don’t think anyone anticipated Maricopa would have taken off as quickly as it did.” “In general, commercial activity is on an up trend in Maricopa.” TRAP • SKEET • FIVE STAND Try your hand at a “NEW” sport. • ATA & PITA Registered Events • SCTP Youth Programs • Practice and leagues • Gun rentals & merchandise • Corporate outings • Special events • RV Sites Clay target shooting, (known as Trap shooting), Skeet shooting (two houses throwing targets across each other), Five Stand (a hunting scenario); is for all abilities. Men, women and youth are welcome. This is a family sport, which can also be competitive. A great outside sport that gives you plenty of Vitamin D, fresh air and muscle building, along with activity & discipline for the mind. Check out our web page for information and map to the facility. 520-836-9926 | CasaGrandeTrapandSkeet.com 8015 S. Isom Road, Casa Grande, AZ 85193 – William French, vice president of Cassidy Turley “In general, commercial activity is on an up trend in Maricopa,” Miranda points out. “We’ve had quite a bit more interest (lately) from commercial developers and retail.” He says Maricopa’s commercial development would have grown more rapidly but for the timing of the recession. “Maricopa was the last (metro) city to take off in growth spurt,” he says. By the time the city had a big enough population to attract commercial development, the recession unfolded. Also, impacting Maricopa’s development was that metro cities had developed an overabundance of retail before the recession, affecting the demand for more local commercial development. And, the city is “not large enough for a regional mall,” Miranda says. “The soft goods – clothing apparel will be the next retailers, not the big box stores.” Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 17 Ian Steenkamp did not have a background in photography before starting Maricopa Real Estate Photography. Real Estate Photography Picture-perfect business idea Kyle Daly Local entrepreneur offers professional photography services for real estate By Kyle Daly T he idea came to Maricopa resident Ian Steenkamp when his in-laws were looking for a place to move. His wife’s parents wanted to sell their home in South Dakota and relocate to Virginia. His wife, however, convinced them Arizona was the place to be. The 29-year-old and his spouse began searching for houses online — hitting websites such as Zillow, hotpads, realtor. com and Trulia. As with any real estate portals, photos of homes popped up. “Just looking at ‘em, I seemed to notice some of the pictures (were) horrendous, and this was all between $175,000 and $200,000 homes,” he says. That’s when the thought hit Steenkamp: “Maybe that’s something I could pursue.” In the real estate business, professionals say online photos people view when searching for a home to buy really do make a difference. 18 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 “It’s very important,” says Suzie Rotter of Maricopa-based Clear Skies Realty. “It tells the story about the house.” A report released in 2010 from Redfin, a Seattle-based online real estate brokerage, showed that in an analysis of more than 100,000 home listings, houses shown online using professional photographs received 61 percent more page views and had a 47 percent higher asking price per square foot. Maricopa resident Pat Lairson, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, says as the prices of the home increases, a professional photographer is likely to be hired to take the photo. But normally, that doesn’t happen. “Most realtors I know would tell you take their own photos,” she says. The reason for this is the real estate agent can save money. Rotter of Clear Skies Realty is of the same mindset. “I would use a photographer if I was listing a half million dollar house or more,” she says. Rotter explains the charge for a professional photographer can eat into an agent’s paycheck, along with other costs such as signage, lockboxes and advertising. “As the list gets bigger and bigger, it’s taking from the agent’s commission,” she says. Larry Lohrman is an Oregon resident and real-estate photography expert who runs the blog photographyforrealestate. net, which he says receives 30,000 visitors a month. He’s been involved in the real estate photography business since the 1980s and has two ebooks on the profession. “If you don’t have good marketing photography, it’s just damn hard to sell a house,” Lohrman says. If you’re good at taking photos, the money can be good also, he adds. Lohrman says he knows five or six real estate photographers who are making six figures. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a professional photographer to get into the business. “You can be a real estate photographer without being a real top-notch photographer,” he says. Steenkamp did not have a background in photography before starting his business, Maricopa Real Estate Photography, in January. Within the first month, Steenkamp says he took photos of about 14 houses for different real estate businesses. Some he did for half price. Two he did for free. It was a way for him to get in the game. Steenkamp works a full-time job in Casa Grande in addition to running his one-man business. To help build his small company, Steenkamp is working with the Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship, a local start-up incubator. The Maricopa resident got into the world of real estate photography by reading up on the profession. He spent Steenkamp uses a Canon digital SLR camera he bought for his wife who wanted to try photography as a hobby. Kyle Daly experience with the camera. “I would say most people do have some background,” he says In his opinion, jobs such as shooting photos at weddings or taking portrait photos aren’t as consistent for photographers as getting work in real estate. Steenkamp uses a Canon digital SLR camera he originally bought for his wife who wanted to pursue photography as a hobby. But his wife ended up not having the time. three to four months doing research — experimenting with the camera and watching YouTube videos — before going out into the field. “You can practice all you want, but unless you take that first step, you’re always going to (say), ‘You’re not ready,’” he says. “A picture doesn’t necessarily have to be a million bucks. It just has to be good enough.” Although you don’t have to be a topnotch photographer, Lohrman says many who get involved in the business have His first attempt at getting a realtor interested in his work initially appeared to be a letdown. He says he spoke with a guy at a local real estate business who told him he wasn’t interested. Three hours later, the agent contacted Steenkamp. “He says, ‘Hey, I have a shoot for you, can you do it tomorrow?’” Steenkamp spoke to Realtors at open houses and sent emails to people with samples of his work. He also created a Facebook page for his business. Steenkamp anticipated getting three or four shoots at most during the first month. He ended up completing three jobs the first week — even before his website was complete. “I was like, ‘Wow, this got real real fast,’” he says. Steenkamp’s prices are listed on his website, maricoparealestatephotography. com. Prices range from $99 to $119. plus tax depending on the home size. Special photo requests such as taking photos of a house at twilight cost extra. InQuicker is intended for individuals with non-life and non-limb threatening medical conditions. Read this magazine at home, instead of in the waiting room. Online ER Waiting Service ™ No one likes waiting, especially in the ER. That’s why, at Dignity Health, you can get an estimated treatment time online through our partnership with InQuicker™. You can even wait at home. Because when you’re not feeling well, being at home is always the kinder option. To begin, visit DignityHealthArizona.org Chandler Regional Medical Center | Mercy Gilbert Medical Center | St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 19 Education Language Quick studies No matter what language they speak, English Language Learners adapt rapidly By Beth Lucas Kyle Daly I nez Ramirez knows what it’s like to be the new kid in school. And, for that school to be filled with peers and teachers speaking a language foreign to her small ears; for that school to follow customs far more liberal than her upbringing. Today as a teacher of English Language Learners at Butterfield Elementary School, she understands what her students are experiencing. Ramirez was an English-asa-second-language student, before English immersion became the law of the state. “I understand what students are going through. The fears of the culture shock when they come to our country,” she explains. “Their lack of understanding of this country, the regulations and the system of what’s expected of them. “I lived it when I became a citizen.” But she says she knows something that has proved helpful as the number of languages spoken changes every single year, as families move in and out from all over the world: No matter what the language of origin, children adapt fast to English. The Maricopa Unified School District currently has 24 different spoken languages; a number that at times rises into the 40s, as one family can add an entirely different language as they move 20 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Butterfield Elementary School teacher Inez Ramirez listens to second-grade student Bryan Armenta, 8, read in class. in. While the number of languages is lower than its peak, the district is still experiencing new languages, with a growth in Asian languages. Spanish is the most significantly spoken language, explains Gretchen Brown, who oversees the district’s English immersion programs. The second most common is Vietnamese, which has 16 student speakers. District schools regularly celebrate all of the cultures in a variety of ways. Teachers can receive a benefit from the parents who may struggle more than their immersed students: gifts of food from around the globe. Other languages in the district are Afrikaans, Cambodian, Creole, Dutch, Pilipino, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Navajo, Papago, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Swahili, Tagalong, Thai and Marshallese. Every student who enters the school system with another prominent language spoken at home is tested for language proficiency. Some students may speak English well but need assistance with grammar or reading, which puts them into the largest category of Maricopa English immersion students, listed as “intermediate.” Students who speak and understand little English are placed into more intense classes “below proficient” programming, which is usually for a limited time as they learn. The two schools with the highest population of English immersion students, Butterfield and Maricopa elementary schools, may often offer classes of all English immersion learners, if there are 20 or more English immersion students in a class. If there are fewer than 20 such students, each student receives individual plans the teacher uses to ensure they understand a lesson and embrace the English language, through student pairing, repetition and other techniques Ramirez says are valuable to proficient English speakers as well. Student plans could direct, for instance, how many times a word or lesson or action should be repeated, as the student picks it up. Spanish-speakers are the most common, with 522 students of the district’s total 5,838, who speak fluent Spanish. Brown says while Latin families have support among each other as a larger group, families from other parts of the world often come with a stronger immediate family support system, which moved to the states in advance. Many students already are proficient bilingual speakers, with 219 currently tested as ELL students, 124 of whom are considered “intermediate” in needing support to become proficient speakers, but able to communicate above “below proficient.” “They pick it up super fast, especially among their peers,” Brown says. “They are all English speaking when they go out to play on the playground. We can only provide English instruction and that is by state law.” Because students are immersed in English in school, oftentimes the parents have more needs when it comes to adjusting to U.S. culture, where students and parents have more rights and are encouraged to be more involved. Parents from other cultures may often feel uncomfortable being involved in their school, so it is encouraged. Schools regularly hold parent nights led by the students themselves in a way to encourage parental involvement and level of comfort, Brown says. Translation services are available for parents. “We have a lot of cultures here in Maricopa,” she adds. “In November, we focused on cultural diversity in our schools. We brought in guest speakers, have family nights about diversity, and showcased all of the different languages or countries. It does make us unique.” Bianca Lopez is mother of four children who have immigrated with her to Maricopa, where she says the school system opens a much brighter future for her children. “There’s a huge difference in the educational system between Mexico and the U.S.,” she said, through a translator. “We moved here for a better future. A better future for our children.” But, she added, it’s one that doesn’t have to leave behind her ethnic culture. “Our culture, our desires, are just like in any country,” Lopez said. “When we come here, we bring our history, our culture, our food, and teach our children never to forget where we came from, to be open, heard and to become part of this country’s future.” Ramirez uses her personal experiences to reach students, in her class which includes English Language Learners. As they learn a new word or subject, she wants them to touch or see examples. “Coming from a culture where the customs are definitely different, the food is different. Coming from Mexico, the education system is so drastically different — going to school up to a certain level is not mandatory,” Ramirez says. “And then it’s more of a privilege to get education, it’s so expensive. The culture, the traditions — they tell me that the United States is a little bit more liberal than other countries. Even our students who come from Vietnam — they’re just shocked how liberal it is. “Our freedom of speech that other countries don’t have. Our freedom to dress — they get a little bit shocked, and Learn and Grow a Greener Way Free Public K-6 Charter School Enroll Now! 520-568-8620 Free all day Kindergarten! After School Programs Student Gardens Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com www.HolsteinerSchools.com • 44400 W Honeycutt Rd. • Maricopa, AZ 21 withdrawn … what can I say or not say, or speak up? They are shocked that they get to participate in computer lab, physical education, choir, music and band.” With support, the quickly embrace the school, she adds, and the language. “By December, they will be talking their ears off,” she said. “And now I have to give warnings. It’s beautiful to see that with the kiddos, an amazing blessing to be able to be part of that with the students.” Teri Ponticello oversees Native American education programs, which bring to light another challenge for some youth beyond language: cultural adaptation. Many Native American families teach their children to learn in a manner very different from the educational system. “Because culturally and traditionally, they’re used to the whole picture, where everything is important,” Ponticello explains. “So we have a real challenge bullet-pointing and summarizing — it goes back several generations, with storytelling, and the way they are used to telling stories very verbally.” Abstract math concepts for Native American populations can be a challenge, after being raised to count tangible objects, and Ponticello uses federal grant money to help students transition. “Our focus this year is primarily on math, and how doing simple addition without having our hands on something to manipulate,” she says. “It’s a challenge, taking that abstract concept — how do you make it real?” “It’s a whole child approach,” she adds. “Looking at all of their needs, and being very sensitive to their cultural upbringing and heritage.” Angelia Ebner teaches English Language Learners at Maricopa Elementary, and as a single language speaker herself, she says she appreciates the value students gain from retaining bilingual speech. But she also cautions the labels as being entirely about language — as language proficiency test questions can at time confuse a student from a very different cultural background. “Maybe if they just got here, they used symbols and not letters,” she says. “It’s a completely different system. Some test Your house could be here ROC #280884 ❊ Shutters ❊ Blinds Cobblestone Farms 22456 N. Sunset Drive ❊ Cellular Shades ❊ Sunscreens 80%, 90%, 95% Anthony Schumacher ❊ Romans and Roller Shades ❊ Security Doors Maricopa Resident FREE In-home Estimates! Great pricing on sunscreens and roll down patio shades. 22 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 questions are based on cultural background, questions like ‘what ingredient is missing from applesauce,’ or questions about owls that to Native Americans have serious religious connotations.” Ramirez says students themselves bring a new level of education to their peers, as they learn on so many levels in their new home. “As a parent myself, these students just enrich our lives,” she says. “They expose our children to culture, to their traditions. They’re able to share with them what other countries are going through — political, religious and in education, to show pictures, videos and their history is amazing.” Maricopa Elementary School principal Jennifer Robinson agrees that while the diverse cultures provide a challenge to ensure every student’s individual needs are met — “we feel very fortunate to have diverse cultures, diverse abilities. It makes us more well-rounded. “We know that each child is unique and different and each brings something special to our school.” Locally Owned and Operated 480-688-8852 www.AdobeBlinds.com (480) 612-2715 [email protected] THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY MaricopaPro.com CAC Maricopa campus student leader Socorro Carrillo Education Student leader Student leader emerges on new CAC campus Kathleen Stinson By Kathleen Stinson S ocorro Carrillo is in the thick of things as an emerging student leader at Central Arizona College’s year-old Maricopa campus. Once so dissatisfied with high school she transferred to online learning, today Socorro finds herself starting CAC’s Anime Club, writing for the college newspaper The Cactus, working parttime in the campus library, contributing as an unpaid intern in the college’s public relations office and heading the campus’ first Student Leadership Organization as president. In March, the 18-year-old was named Student of the Month because of her contributions in getting the leadership organization started and for recently representing the campus at the annual Student Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. Socorro began her student leadership experience at Sequoia Pathway Academy. When she finished her sophomore year at Maricopa High School, Socorro says she was dissatisfied with her experience and enrolled in Sequoia Choice for its online instruction program. “I studied at home (online) for my junior year but got tired of being home all the time and not being around people,” Socorro says, adding she went to classes at Sequoia Pathway her senior year. “When I first went to Sequoia, I wasn’t on track to graduate,” she says, adding she got involved in student leadership because she was advised it would be “a way to stand out.” Carrillo ran for student government at Sequoia and was elected vice president. She then decided to take early enrollment classes at CAC along with her high school curriculum. She graduated in May with 12 college credits. Megan Brown, student government college adviser at CAC, says Sorocco “has strong leadership skills, and with more time and opportunity these skills will become stronger.” Socorro has the maturity to relate well to faculty and staff and also to her peers, Brown says. She is “driven” and articulate. The young leader says CAC Maricopa campus students got the word out they wanted to form clubs and she found out which ones interested them. “Student clubs are an attempt to bring people together to foster communication and make friendships,” Socorro says. “(It’s a way) to build a sense of community at the college.” Several students were interested in forming an Anime club, where they watch Japanese animation and then discuss each movie and the culture behind it. “A lot of our clubs are under construction,” she says, adding the students plan to form an Honor Society, a DECA business club, a culinary club and a communications club by the end of the semester. Socorro is working toward an associate in arts degree in liberal arts, which she plans to complete in December. She says she wants to attend a four-year, out-ofstate university to earn a bachelor’s degree. “I have always been interested in journalism,” she says. “I would like to earn a double major in new media and public administration.” She says she hopes to go on to a career in political writing and do something like “anchor at CNN or write for the New Yorker magazine.” “A number of people in the millennial generation don’t appreciate all the Republican-Democratic” banter in the news, she says. “I would like to see more independent voices in the media.” Her experience helping to develop student organizations at CAC has been challenging since the age range on campus is so diverse, she says. It has been difficult at times getting students together to plan events. It has improved this semester. “Student clubs may not have such an impact on any individual student but they impact the quality of student life on campus,” she says. Sports Golf AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB The tale of two courses and their golfers Submitted By Kathleen Stinson M aricopa’s two golf courses — The Duke at Rancho El Dorado and the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club — complement each other, experts say. “We couldn’t be more different — Southern Dunes is more of a championship course and The Duke is more player-friendly and easier to play,” said Jon Bacon, head golf professional at The Duke. “For six months out of the year, there is plenty of play for both courses,” Bacon says. “March is one of our busiest months — June, July and August are slow.” The course does most its business in January, February, March and April, he says. 24 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 8 Issue 2 Both 18-hole courses are open to the public. The Duke offers annual memberships. The Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is located on State Route 237, 2.5 miles west of John Wayne Parkway. It is a 7,307-yard course from the back tees, and is rated No. 6 in Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona by Golfweek and No. 87 in the Top 100 Courses You Can Play by Golf Magazine, according to the club’s website. The Duke, located within the Rancho El Dorado community, was built in 2002 and covers 7,011 yards from the back tees. Southern Dunes was also established in 2002, first as a private club, and later becoming a public course, says Brady Wilson, general manager. The Ak-Chin Indian Community purchased the golf club in 2010. “Southern Dunes is considered one of the premier championship venues in Arizona,” Wilson says. “It attracts the highest caliber event.” Southern Dunes has hosted the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School. Golfers must do well at the Q-School to quality for the PGA Tour. Great golfers from around the world play at Southern Dunes, Wilson says. Steve Jones, winner of the 1996 U.S. Open Championship, shot a hole-in-one in February on the par 4, 14th hole. “We are a little more expensive than The Duke because of our championship caliber,” Wilson says. THE DUKE AT RANCHO EL DORADO Submitted The club advertises nationally in Golfweek, he says. Ninety percent of the course’s players come from Phoenix, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Denver or Chicago. Bacon describes The Duke at Rancho El Dorado as a resort-style course in the sense that the fairways are wide, the greens are big and “you don’t have to be experienced to play here and still have a good time.” “I think almost everyone in the community probably plays at both courses,” he says. “The city of Maricopa — for the size of the community — is very lucky to have two golf courses of such high quality.” He said most golfers at The Duke come from the community. As with other sectors, golf has suffered economically in the past several years. The golf industry has seen minimal increase in revenues over the past three years, Wilson says. The years 2007 to 2009 were “hard” on the industry, but 2011, 2012, and 2013 were “better minimally.” “I don’t feel we are back to where we were in 2006,” he adds. He said the Southern Dunes has benefitted over the years from the AkChin Indian Community’s support. The community provides the club with “all the tools and resources, equipment and capital improvements necessary to continue to grow the brand of Southern Dunes and Ak-Chin,” Wilson says. Rob Pederson, visiting from Wisconsin, plays at Southern Dunes and describes the course as “manicured.” Maricopa resident Jim Henke, who also plays there, calls the greens and fairways “pristine.” “When you putt a putt here, it goes where it is supposed to go.” Brenda Heibein, of Saskatchewan, says she prefers to play The Duke because she has made friends there. For Marilee Bell, of Wyoming, the 109 sand traps at Southern Dunes sway her to prefer golfing at The Duke, she says. “Playability” for the average golfer matters to Ans Kiewin, from British Columbia, who golfs at The Duke. THE DUKE AT RANCHO EL DORADO Par 72 - 7,011 yards from back tees 42660 Rancho El Dorado Parkway Maricopa, AZ 85138 480-844-1100 www.TheDukeGolf.com AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB Par 72 - 7,307 yards from back tees 48456 State Route 238 Maricopa, AZ 85139 480-367-8949 www.GolfSouthernDunes.com The Wild One WHITE STALLION WON’T BE TAMED, BUT LIKES HANGING OUT BY THE CORRAL By Kyle Daly 26 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Photos by Jake Johnson It was actually Henry’s love for the ladies that attracted the stallion to the center in the first place, and eventually landed him his name. Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 27 Roger Pablo, shown, and his brother Chuck run the Koli Equestrian Center where the domesticated horses have attacted the attention of a wild stallion. LIFTON “CHUCK” PABLO, OWNER OF THE family-run Koli Equestrian Center on the Gila River Indian Community, has heard the comment before. “Hey, one of your horses got out,” he says, repeating the phrase people utter when they see the white stallion on the center’s land. But as Pablo explains, the horse hanging around the center’s corrals every day is not one of his. Henry — as he’s called — is wild. “He hangs out here all the time,” Pablo says. One Monday afternoon, Henry, who’s estimated to be in his early 20s, stood between two of the center’s corrals with his head leaning inside some of the metal fencing — giving an odd picture of a free horse taking a peek at the domestics caged within. The 12-year-old center — located west of the Interstate 10 and State Route 347 intersection near the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa — has about 30 horses used for trail riding. Horses are kept in three large corrals. Henry, one of more than 1,000 wild horses estimated to live on the Gila River lands, has been coming around nearly since the beginning. With a dirty white coat and a blond mane that has patches of red, Henry’s wildness is apparent. And the horse has the scars to prove it. Pablo pointed out one scar near the horse’s rear end — a bite 28 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 wound he received in a scuffle with another wild horse. “We tried to catch him to like doctor him, but we couldn’t catch him,” he says. Camie Heleski, an instructor in the department of animal sciences at Michigan State University, says horses are herd animals, meaning they live in groups. At first glance, Henry seems like a unique case — a wild horse without a social group. But that’s not how Chuck Pablo and his brother Roger view Henry. “To him, this is his herd,” Chuck Pablo says, referring to the domesticated horses inside the center’s fencing. More than that, the domesticated horses are Henry’s family — literally. Spirit, a young female horse around 7 months old, whose coat is beginning to transform from gray to white, is Henry’s child. She’s domesticated, and lives in a corral. When the female horses — or mares — “go into season,” they simply back up into the fence in an attempt to mate with Henry, the brothers said. A mare is generally ready for sexual activity during the longest days of the year — in spring and summer. Although Henry was successful in mating with one of the center’s horses, allowing the wild stallion to breed with the domesticated horses is not something the center’s operators’ desire. “We try to avoid that,” Chuck Pablo explains. He says having a pregnant horse essentially puts that horse out of commission for a while, which isn’t ideal for a trail-riding business. It was actually Henry’s love for the ladies that attracted the stallion to the center in the first place, and eventually landed him his name. Pablo says Henry originally was part of a herd of about 18 to 20 horses. Two big draft mares at the center apparently caught Henry’s eye. “He started hanging around because of those mares,” he says. A woman who works the front desk at the nearby Sheraton started calling the wild stallion “horny Henry,” Pablo says. “So Henry’s just kind of stuck,” he says. At least one attempt has been made to chase Henry off. The stallion was pulling up and munching on the fresh sod that had been laid down near the center’s main buildings and also leaving hoof prints on the wet grass. Center workers trapped Henry between two corrals and then stuck him into a fenced-in area. “He freaked out at first, then after a while, people started coming up and they were looking at him, and he realized that ‘They’re not going to bother me,’” Pablo says. “So that’s kind of got him more used to us being around.” The horse was later taken out into the desert and dropped off. “And he just made his way back,” Pablo says. The Pablos says Henry doesn’t like other wild horses coming around the center and has gotten into scuffles. Roger Pablo says there were actually two wild horses that hung around the center at one point — Henry and a horse they call Dusty. Dusty was chased off by other wild horses, Roger Pablo says. Henry, on the other hand, has managed to stay and fight. Center workers do not feed Henry or give him water. The stallion munches on the center’s grass and hay that’s been left lying around. “As soon as we leave, he’s the clean-up crew,” Roger Pablo says. He gets water from a manmade water hole just north of the center made for the wild horses in the area. Heleski, the instructor from Michigan State University, speculated the resources available to Henry is what keeps him there — the food, water, and of course, the ladies. “He sees that he’s got a pretty good gig going on,” Heleski says. Chuck Pablo has a similar theory. He owns a female horse that at one time ended up running off with the wild horses. Four years later, the horse came back. Pablo put a saddle on her and it didn’t take long for the horse’s memory to kick in. But Pablo says he wasn’t sure if the female horse was happy. “I took her out to the wild horses one day, and I let her go,” he says. “She went with the wild horses. I said ‘Yep, there’s your answer.’” But the next day, the horse came back and he put her in a corral. “They know where home is,” Pablo says. “If they get home, if they get somewhere happy or whatever, they’ll just come back.” Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 29 Maricopa equestrian garners national award in distance trail-riding Trail-rider Jill Worley uses her backyard complete with barrels and poles as a training ground. Long haul Story and photos by Craig Cummins LOCAL WOMAN AND HER steadfast stallion were given a national award for their outstanding season-long performance in competitive long-distance trail riding. An Arizona native and resident of Maricopa for 11 years, Jill Worley makes her living as a software designer working out of her home in Thunderbird Farms. For nearly a decade, Worley has been an active competitor in different formats of horse racing competitions. She uses her backyard as an amateur training ground to prepare her horses Rio and Zeus for competitions. 30 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Her gated stable is lined with barrels and poles to train her horses. “We started doing poles and barrel racing last year. I’m trying to make them as versatile as possible. I take them out to chase the cows and have taken them to play horse soccer, which if you haven’t seen you should really check it out,” Worley says. When Worley started riding nine years ago, she started in short-distance, obstacle-based competitions. Now, Worley participates in some of the longest trail riding competitions in the country within the North American Trail Ride Conference. The conference is an organization that runs national trail-riding horse competitions in a format that offers long distance, timed races that judge rider and horse on their performance. For novice riders, a single event consists of a 30 to 40 mile course over a two-day period. Events last an entire weekend with scoring and evaluations beginning when riders first arrive on Friday. Veterinarians and judges do a scored pre-evaluation on the riders set up and the physical condition of the horse. Riders head out on Saturday morning to start the actual riding portion of the competition. Rider and horse are judged on safety, performance, fitness and ability to stay within the time limits. Rides offer a grueling test of endurance for both the rider and horse, Worley says. “During competitions, on Saturday you basically check out at 7 a.m. You have maybe a 40-minute break for lunch where you’re actually off of your horse. Then you ride into camp around 6 p.m. So you’re out there all day,” Worley explains. “You have speed expectations so you trot, which for many riders is harder than walking or running because when you’re trotting you do what’s called a post where you’re in front of the saddle, and it’s basically like doing squats all day.” When riders finish their rides on Sunday, a final scored post evaluation is conducted to determine the condition of the horse. After the evaluations are done both the rider and the horses will receive scores. “One of our top riders at Bumblebee this year got first place as a rider, but her horse got third place. There’re separate awards between the two, as well as an award for combined scores,” Worley says. In Arizona, which is part of the conference’s Region 2, there are three main rides — Bumble Bee Ranch, San Tan Mountain Regional Park and McDowell Mountain Park. Together these three events make up the Arizona Triple Crown. Casa Grande Regional Medical Center Back surgery has kept Jill Worley off the trail this year, but she is the 2013 winner with her horse Rio (white stripe) of the Region 2 Lighweight Novice Division of North American Trail Ride Conference’s National Novice Division Region Team Award. After the 2013 season, Worley and her 12-year-old stock horse Rio won the Region 2 Lightweight Novice Division of North American Trail Ride Conference’s National Novice Division Region Team Award, which is given to the team that accumulates the most total points throughout the season. Award winners are honored at the organization’s national convention. “They had the national banquet in Oklahoma, but I wasn’t able to make it. But they held an informal banquet for me before the Bumble Bee Ranch ride where they gave me my awards,” Worley says. Still recovering from back surgery in August, Worley was unable to compete in races this year but attended the Bumble Bee Ranch event to receive the award. While recovering Worley still attends events as a volunteer point rider who goes out on the trails before competitors to make sure they are ready and properly marked. “When you’re training to ride a 30-mile course, you have to get out there and push yourself to ride further and further on your own,” she says. “I’m riding again, but not up for pushing it 30 miles. We don’t have our next event until October, so we’ll see if I’m ready to take that ride. 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Advanced Technology ♦ All Private Rooms ♦ Low Infection Rate Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 31 1 COPPER SKY RECREATION COMPLEX Swimming 4 32 Skateboarding Cardio 3 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Fishing Basketball FISHY FACTS Rainbow trout • 250 currently stocked, 1-lb. each • Distinguished by long reddish line on its side • Subspecies of salmon • Flavorful nutty meat 1. Anthony and Carly Hall stand inside a second-floor fitness studio looking out over the Copper Sky Recreation Complex. Photo by Kyle Daly 2. Resident Daniel Gutierrez fished with his 7-year-old daughter at the 5-acre lake located at the Copper Sky Recreation Complex. Photo by Kyle Daly 3. Aquatics centers includes a leisure pool, a competition pool, a rockclimbing wall for swimmers and a splash-pad area. Photo by Craig Cummins 4. Steel Lewis, 12, in orange shirt and Hunter Scott, also 12, get in some playground time at Copper Sky. The park includes eight multi-purpose sports fields, seven ramadas, a dog park, a skate plaza with stairs, benches and curved walls, four baseball fields, tennis and volleyball courts and an amphitheater. Photo by Craig Cummins Fishing tip: Use Power Bait or something similar. Get different colors and if the fish aren’t biting one color after letting your line sit for 45 minutes, change the color of bait and recast. Channel catfish • Most fished species of catfish • Average between 2 and 4 lbs. • In the wild can grow to be over 40 lbs. • Catfish smaller than 16” are said to be the best to eat Fishing tip: Use your sinkers; channel catfish are bottom feeders so it is important you get your bait as close to the lake floor as possible. Bluegill fish • Type of sunfish • Range from 12 to 16” • Manage crustacean and insect levels low in lakes • White flakey meat Fishing tip: Bluegill have great eyesight so use 4-lb. test line to hook them in. White Amur • Variety of carp • Body is dark olive with a white belly • Average length is 24 to 39” • Used to regulate undesirable vegetation in water and keep stock lake clean Fishing tip: Use kernels of corn as bait, it’s a secret of the pros. 2 Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 33 What are your thoughts on Maricopa’s new Copper Sky Recreation Complex? Ramiro Mejia 5 “I think it’s a great piece to the Maricopa family. As you can see there’s a lot of families here that bring their kids – a lot of activities that they do here. This is my third time (here), and I think it’s a great thing.” Valerie Reinecke 5. Skateboarder Danny Barrera rides his board in the new skate plaza at the Copper Sky Recreation Complex. Photo by Kyle Daly 6 6. Inside Copper Sky visitors can find a gymnasium with basketball courts, a catering kitchen, two multi-purpose rooms that can be rented, a movie screen, an upstairs walking track, a fitness area and two studio rooms for fitness classes. Photo by Craig Cummins 7 34 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 7. Individuals and families can buy memberships to Copper Sky Recreation Complex. Photo by Craig Cummins “I think this is the best thing that could have happened to Maricopa. I just moved here in January from Alaska and that’s the biggest thing I missed was my local YMCA. … It’s wonderful. I mean, every part of it. I can’t wait for the lap pool to open because I’m a lap swimmer.” Chad Molyneaux “I was really impressed by everything especially the cardio equipment and just the general size of this place. I think it’s going to be really good for the community. So I’m impressed.” Don Ubarski “To me it’s one of the nicest facilities that I’ve seen in Arizona. Whoever designed this, they did a heck of a job.” Sergio Monzon “I take my nieces over to the park over here. I think that’s pretty cool. But the skate park is my thing. I come here every morning. I really like this skate park better than the one that’s across the street (in the Ak-Chin community).” Go Wireless! Premier Orthodontics Dr. Dustin Coles • Dr. Tyler J. Coles Maricopa’s only Elite Invisalign provider! Amanda Mcvay (with her son Alexander, 1) “It’s a really nice facility. It’s really nice to have so much green space and have a skate park for the kids, have the playground for younger kids. And I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a membership so that we can use the facilities – especially over the summer with the splashpad and pool and stuff.” Maricopa 21083 N. John Wayne Pkwy, Ste C105 Maricopa, AZ 85139 (520) 568-5600 Casa Grande 1968 N. Peart Rd., Ste 24 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 (520) 421-0880 www.PremierOrthoAz.com SUMMER ENERGY SAVING TIPS 1. Do not set your A/C thermostat to a colder than normal setting when you first turn it on. It will not cool your home any faster. 2. Energy Star® qualified A/C units are about 14% more energy efficient than standard models. 3. Remember to turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room. Fans cool people not rooms. 4. Ensure that furniture and other objects are not blocking air flow in your home. George Rock “We’re excited. We like the size of the lake, the playgrounds for the kids. My boy did the ceremonies for the tee ball this year, so that was pretty awesome. I’m glad to see the growth. … I’ve been out here 28 years so getting to see something like this come into our neighborhood is real nice.” Source: www.energy.gov (520) 424-9021 www.ed3online.org Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 35 HEAVY METAL HEAVYWEIGHT Maricopa musician rocks his way around the world By Craig Cummins HE GUY DOWN THE STREET might just be a rock star. Maricopa resident Antony Hämäläinen is a well-known vocalist in the heavy-metal music scene who made a name for himself as a singer and performer touring around the world. Now, the 33-year-old is using his Maricopa home as headquarters for his new band, which is trying to bring something new to the world of metal music. Soon after he was born in Finland in 1980, Hämäläinen’s family moved to Ohio where he first showed his passion for music. “My mom says I was 4 when I started banging around pots and pans trying to do John Mellencamp songs,” Hämäläinen says. “When I was about 11, I picked up my first guitar and that’s when I really started to learn.” Hämäläinen’s life in Greater Phoenix started in 2002 when his father took a job as a professor in Arizona State University’s aerospace program. After spending some time studying at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, Hämäläinen left the program to start his own European clothing outlet in Tempe. After successfully running the business for 36 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 8 Issue 4 a few years, he sold the shop and used the money to buy his Maricopa home. Through the years Hämäläinen continued pursuing his passion for music, learning to play a variety of instruments and playing with many bands, but he realized singing is his true talent. “I can play the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard, but I suck at everything other Submitted Finnish-born musician Antony Hämäläinen has traveled the world playing heavymetal, but makes Maricopa his home. Antony Hämäläinen shown with Swedish death metal band Nightrage. He recently started the band Meridian Dawn. Submitted than singing,” he says. “But it’s good to know instruments as a songwriter and be able to speak someone else’s language. If you don’t know anything about the bass, it’s hard to sit with your bass player and come up with the idea.” In 2007, after years of honing his craft, Hämäläinen joined the already established Swedish death metal band Nightrage as lead vocalist. For five years, he recorded and toured the world with the group performing shows in venues big and small, in countries and cities that cover the spectrum of economic development. The band even had offers to play in locations many would say are unreachable. “South Korea was cool. The promoter told us that he could get us a show in North Korea. He said there is a part of the border that he knew a guy that had a little bar, with a little drum set up and a practice amp and was like, ‘If you guys want to go and create some history and get the hell out of there.’ But we didn’t do it,” Hämäläinen says. Submitted “We were trying to step out of the box, but still stick to our European metal roots. It’s a futuristic and precise record with a lot of heart.” – Guitarist CJ Cussell “In some of countries we played shows. They didn’t speak English, but they sang the lyrics to our songs perfectly, which is funny. It was weird seeing someone who lives 100,000 miles away or whatever it was, singing our songs.” Even though Hämäläinen made Maricopa his home and the rest of Nightrage’s members were scattered across Europe, they still managed tour across Europe, Asia and North America. “When we were in Nightrage, it was a bit of a challenge to get everyone together because everyone lived in different places. We used the budget we had and merchandise sales to get where we needed to go. It was challenging, but we made it work,” says Anders Hammer, bassist for Nightrage. In 2012, Hämäläinen and drummer Johan Nunez left the band to start Meridian Dawn. The brain child of Hämäläinen, Nunez and Arizona guitarist Brandon Johnson, Meridian Dawn aims to create new and innovative styles of music that aren’t solely inspired by metal but many musical genres. To help the trio on their rhythmic crusade, they recruited Florida musicians CJ Cussell, a guitarist who toured with Nightrage in 2012, and Nick Ziros, former bassist of Remembering Never. In March 2013, Cussell and Ziros loaded up their gear and started their 2,000-mile drive from Florida to Arizona to record the album. After reaching Maricopa in 33 hours, the band started setting up their studio in Hämäläinen’s house and got right to work. “When we came in to record the album we brought all of our gear; instruments, recording equipment, video screens, Pro Tools and basically turned the kitchen into a professional recording studio,” Johnson says. Drummer Nunez couldn’t make it to Maricopa so he recorded his drum sets in Luxemburg. “We basically locked ourselves in the house with beer and equipment and went Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 37 to work. It was great to be able to write the music together and hang,” Cussell says. After two weeks of nonstop collaboration and recording they finished Meridian Dawn’s first album Fever Syndrome. “We were trying to step out of the box, but still stick to our European metal roots,” Cussell says. “It’s a futuristic and precise record with a lot of heart.” But even after finishing the album and creating music they loved, they still had some questions to answer. What were they going to do with the album? And where does Meridian Dawn go from here? Hämäläinen says, “We’ve been talking to a few labels and we’re fortunate to have a really great management company with us right now. We actually have a couple options. We have a label in Japan where we would release it strictly with them. Then we have a couple of labels in Europe and one in the U.S. that want to put it out to the rest of the world.” While releasing the album under a label was important, Hämäläinen and the band saw another option that fulfilled the group’s goals for the future. “We have another option,” Hämäläinen says. “The management and myself have talked about maybe just doing a fivesong EP. So we worked with four different people on four different song selections and picked the best ones from those mixers and producers to put out. No one else is doing this in metal right now.” After considering the options the band decided to release their first five-track EP March 25, with a release of Fever Syndrome later this year. TEEN of MANY TALENTS Eighth-grader plays six musical instruments and has a penchant for poetry By Craig Cummins 38 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Allene Dugan plays at least six instruments, draws, and participates in a local poetry slam. Shown here at Tortosa’s St. Patrick’s Day event. T 13, ALLENE DUGAN MIGHT BE considered a Renaissance girl. She plays numerous instruments, is an accomplished artist and writes poetry. Growing up on a small farm in the Hidden Valley area, the eighth-grade Sequoia Pathway Academy student is like many other teenage girls: She likes spending time with her friends, riding horses and playing with her pets. However, Allene also gets out in the community and performs whether as a musician at the Tortosa St. Patrick’s Day festivities or Thursday nights at a local poetry slam. “When I was little I really wanted to play piano,” Allene says. She started taking lessons when she was 5 and eventually met Maricopan Trevor Jones, who has become her musical mentor. “We met Trevor one day, and he really took an interest in her,” Allene’s mother Maureen Local Service Directory To advertise with us, call 520-568-0040. AIR CONDITIONING AIR CONDITIONING CARPET CLEANING CHURCHES QUALITY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. 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He’s a great man.” Jones taught Allene how to play the guitar, which has since become her instrument of choice. “I can play them all, some better than others, but I can play at least one song on the guitar, mandolin, banjo, pennywhistle, piano and ukulele,” Allene says. “ But I’m best at guitar.” Allene’s talents don’t end with music. “She’s a very talented visual artist,” says Lauren Miller, Allene’s advanced art teacher at Sequoia Pathway. Miller says she was able to sneak the young artist into her high school level class because of the skill and sophistication she shows in her creations, especially in her ink and watercolors. “I forget all the time that she’s only in the eighth-grade,” Miller says. “I joke all of the time that she is a 35-year-old stuck in a 13-year-old’s body.” Allene says she steers away from the trends that envelop her peers, and that it is just easier for her to relate to older generations. “She’s always been a caring person. She’s never really tried to fit in. She’s her own person, and she flaunts it,” her mother says. “My adult friends always tell me I should bring her around. She’s just able to relate to adults.” Millers adds: “You can always spot her because she’s the one in the amazing outfit that is awesome, and she doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. ... She doesn’t care about the status quo or conformity.” With a voice that seems ready-made for the Indy rock scene and smooth delivery on the acoustic guitar — whether it’s country, rock or folk — she makes each song she covers her own. “I love all of it, hearing her practice and sing is amazing to me,” her mother says. “I love when she can express herself in her music.” While she primarily plays cover songs during performances, she is no stranger to writing. She is a regular at the Honeycutt Coffee poetry slams Thursday nights. Miller caller her “an incredible poet. 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BC Sun Life Family Health Center...........7 UltraStar Multi-tainment Center........1 UPS Store..........................................14 40 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 WE ARE COMFORT KEEPERS ® Our Family Is Here To Give Comfort To Your Family Comfort Keepers® provides the kind of trusted, in-home care that helps people maintain full and independent lives, right in the comfort of their own home. Our Comfort Keepers® are carefully screened, trained, bonded, and insured. Your Maricopa resource for senior and home care Maricopa and Surrounding Areas SERVICES 520-233-2848 • Medication Reminders • Respite • Bathing • Grooming and Dressing • Meal Preparation • Housekeeping • Laundry • Incidental Transportation • Errands and Shopping • Companionship W W W. C O M F O R T K E E P E R S . C O M Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 41 P.O. Box 1018 Maricopa, AZ 85139 42 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 ECRWSS Postal Customer Local PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377