On September 30th, Pinal County brought together elected officials from Pinal cities, towns, Native American communities, as well as members of our county’s state and Congressional delegations for an Economic Development Summit. In an effort to make sure that these officials had the latest information on the “how’s” and “why’s” of economic development, speakers from across the state were assembled to present a comprehensive picture of what economic development is, how it works, what we’re doing now, and how to take our efforts to bring jobs to Pinal County to the next level.

The sessions were recorded and copies of the DVD will be provided to our local governments to help brief newly elected officials as they take office. Drill down sessions on specific issues (i.e. transportation systems, utilities, workforce development, etc.) will take place later – but they, too, will be taped and distributed to the same entities.

Late last month, the State of Arizona and Pinal County received notice from the Environmental Protection Agency that they were promulgating their Non-Attainment Area Map for PM10 (particulate matter or dust in our air). As you may remember, it was about a year ago that we first learned that the EPA was looking at Pinal County’s air quality and measurements of dust particles therein.

Representatives from the county, production agriculture, dairy, cattle feeding and building construction industries joined folks from the sand, rock and gravel industry as well as local governments to offer our plan for mitigation to the EPA. A reasonable area was proposed in April. However, the proposed map released by the EPA labels most of the western half of Pinal County (excluding Native American lands) as being designated Non-Attainment for PM10.

The EPA’s “official” notice for this designation gets published in the Federal Register, starting a 60 day public comment period. Once that deadline passed, EPA will analyze those comments and then post their final notice in the Federal Register. That means that come March, 2011, much of Pinal County will officially be in Non-Attainment. After that, there’s an 18-month process for identifying appropriate mitigation strategies and adopting an enforceable plan for mitigation.

Before I move to a review of the October calendar, I’d like to share some other news. As everyone knows, County Manager Terry Doolittle will be retiring in mid-October. The Board of Supervisors mounted a nationwide recruitment and recently interviewed four very well qualified candidates for the post. After performing all due diligence, the Board unanimously offered the post to Mr. Fritz Behring. Mr. Behring has an impressive resume of governmental service and comes to us from Clay County, Florida which is located close to the Jacksonville metroplex and between Jacksonville and Orlando. I am impressed with Mr. Behring and believe he has the skills and experiential background to bring us through this time of economic turmoil and to the next level as we begin to build the Sun Corridor.

Now onward to the calendar. Everyone’s invited to two days of fun and festivities in Maricopa, October 8 and 9: it’s Stagecoach Days and there’s a Barn Dance on Friday night and loads of family-oriented things to do in Pacana Park on Saturday the 9th. For more information, go to http://www.maricopachamberofcommerce.com. Next up on your social calendar should be the fourth annual Grape Escapes on October 22nd. It’s a fund-raiser for F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank with a twist. The prizes are delicious and the hors d’ouerves will be awesome. For more information, click on http://formaricopa.org/wine.

If you’ve driven down Jimmie Kerr Boulevard this year, you may have wondered about the really tall building being constructed next to the Fertizona plant on Peart Road, south of the UPRR tracks. On Saturday, October 23rd you’ll have a chance to tour the newly dedicated Cargill plant. Cargill is an international company that produces and markets food and agricultural products – Pinal is very fortunate and pleased to have them as a corporate neighbor.

Finally, it’s that time again! Against Abuse, Inc. will be putting on the 24th Annual Tasted of Casa Grande on October 24th – this year in the Robson Ranch Clubhouse in Eloy. Tickets are $40 apiece and the feasting, fun, and prizes begin at 1 p.m. lasting until 4 that afternoon. If you’re ready to sample the wares of 32 local restaurants, tickets can be purchased from an Against Abuse Board member or by calling 520.836.1239.

David Snider, Supervisor
Pinal County District 3

FLORENCE – The Pinal County Public Health Services District will begin providing flu shots to the public on Friday, October 1, 2010 by appointment only.  For your convenience, and to ensure short wait times, we will begin scheduling appointments starting Tuesday, September 7, 2010 and continuing through the end of October.  In order to schedule appointments for adults, please call toll free 1-888-431-1311, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Flu shots through the Pinal County Public Health Services District are just $15, a bargain compared to the cost of cold and flu medicines or trips to the doctor’s office and missed work.  If you are unable to schedule an appointment, the opportunity to receive a flu shot as a “walk-in” will be available on the following days after October 23, 2010:

Kearny – Wednesdays 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Oracle – 2nd Friday of the month 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Eloy – Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mammoth – Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Superior – 3rd Thursday of the month 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Apache Junction – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Coolidge – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Casa Grande – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays 8:00 am- 6:00 pm
Stanfield – The 2nd Wednesday of the month 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Maricopa – Wednesdays 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Please be advised, all Pinal County Public Health Services District clinics will be closed Monday, October 11, Tuesday, November 2, Thursday, November 11, and Thursday, November 25.

The Pinal County Public Health Services District has not received any flu vaccines for children yet.  Once the youth dosages are received, children can receive a flu shot without an appointment at their local Pinal County Public Health clinic.  Updated information will be posted on the Pinal County Information Hotline toll free at 1-866-763-7252 as it becomes available.

In order to reduce that chance of catching the flu this season, the Public Health Department recommends frequent hand washing using soap and warm water for 30 seconds.  If you do become ill, it is important to stay home to help prevent spreading the illness to others.  For more information on influenza and vaccinations, please call the Health District hotline at 1-866-763-7252.

The number to call for appointments is 1-888-431-1311.

Pinal County’s website features a host of information pertaining to county services, emergency management, tourism, public health and much more.  Explorewww.pinalcountyaz.gov and discover Pinal County’s wide open opportunity.

Can it really be true?  Is it really August already?  Yes, Virginia – it’s once again time to report to the classroom for another scholastic year of academic achievement and excellence.  For some the month of August is also the last gasp of summer vacations as at least one more trek into Arizona’s mountains or long weekend trip to San Diego is undertaken.  However, the one thread that’s common to all of us is the need to once again practice vigilance when we drive through school zones and crossings: slow down to 15 mph, don’t pass one another, and keep an eye out for children who don’t always wait for the crosswalk and a crossing guard.

Thousands of veterans in Pinal County recently dodged another bullet: this one coming from the State of Arizona.  The Department of Veterans Service lost its full-time Veterans Benefits Counselor for the Pinal County/Casa Grande office – and the rumor was that the office was to be shut down due to budgetary constraints.  A number of elected officials, including me, joined the swelling chorus of veteran voices urging the full restoration of staff and hours of service.  I, for one, had several conversations with senior staff in the Department who assured me that the office and vacant position would be restored as soon as the state’s bureaucracy released the recruitment and hiring authority.

Shortly after that first call, another call confirmed that the (full-time) position was being advertised and the office would remain open.  Our veterans deserve the best and having access to benefits counseling here in Pinal County is the least Arizona can do to say “thank you for your service to our country.”  And speaking of remembering our county’s veterans, a small but determined band of residents led by Cecil Ahliel, Joanne Galindo, and former Pinal County Sheriff Frank Reyes are seeking to construct a permanent memorial wall for our county’s fallen soldiers.  Their work is in the formative stages but expectations run high as they organize.  For more information, contact the Veterans Memorial Foundation at pinalcvmf@gmail.com or 520.466.0280.

Some of you Gentle Readers may know that the National Parks Service has been working with various local interests to enlarge the footprint of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument so it incorporates more of the known Hohokam town sites in the Coolidge-Florence area.   The bill to expand the Ruins passed out of the full Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives in mid-July.  The bill can now be calendared for a floor vote of the full House or packaged with a number of natural resource bills (omnibus bill) and brought to the floor.  This is a measure that Rep. Kirkpatrick has been working on – it has the full support of local governments, land owners, and the Native American communities.

Returning for a moment to our hot and sweaty August environment – I’d like to remind everyone about the dangers in having standing bodies of water around your yard or patio.  This summer has seen the return of mosquitoes in a really big way.  Several locations in western Pinal County have been swarmed with these flying, biting critters but fortunately most of them are not carrying West Nile Virus.  County residents have been very helpful in the fight against West Nile virus.  Our Environmental Health staff relies on your help to spot potential mosquito breeding sites – especially green or abandoned swimming pools.

Unmaintained pools are an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes of all kinds.  If left unattended, each one of these green pools has the potential to become a “mosquito factory” producing literally millions of mosquitoes in a short time.  By reporting green and abandoned swimming pools via the Mosquito Hotline (520.866.6200 or 866.287.0209 extension 6200) you can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in your neighborhood.  Please keep in mind that it would be helpful when reporting a green swimming pool, if you include the street address of the house with the green pool and your name and phone number in the event that additional information is needed.

In the meantime, hang in there everyone: there’s only 60 (or so) days left before fall and cooler (I hope, I hope, I hope!) weather.

David Snider, Supervisor

Pinal County District 3

http://azgovernor.gov/documents/BorderSecurity/SB1070MythsandFacts.pdf
and more information from the governor’s website
http://azgovernor.gov/AZBorderSecurity.asp

http://www.azpost.state.az.us/SB1070infocenter.htm

To bring attention with amazing outdoor adventures that can be found throughout the state, AOT has developed the new Arizona Parks and Monuments Web site resource listing all of the national parks and monuments, federal recreational areas, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites, state parks, Tribal Lands, cultural and historical locations, and city parks. In fact, Arizona boasts more than 250 locations where visitors can experience the state’s exhilarating outdoor activities. The webpage can be found on www.Arizonaguide.com under the Places to Visit tab and by clicking on Arizona Parks and Monuments.  For more information on what to see and do in Arizona visit www.Arizonaguide.com.

April 14, 2010.  Desert Sun Performing Arts Competition team, the DSPA Gems, traveled with 34 dancers to perform at Disney.  They performed their award winning dances on Carnation Stage next to the Disney Castle.  Dances included “Fast As You Can” “Ironic” “Trickle Trickle” “Follow the Leader” “Breathe” and “You Should Be Dancing.”   While there they attended multiple workshops with professional Disney choreographers.  To achieve this trip, the dancers had to fundraise thousands of dollars.  They worked diligently selling cookbooks, cookie dough, hosting car washes, and working at Firebird Raceway.

Being able to perform at Disney was an incredible experience for everyone.  “I have been to Disney many times but my favorite part was having my dance family there to share it with,”  said Denise Baker.

The dancers learned a lot from their trip that can be applied both on stage and off  “Natasha’s favorite part was dancing.  We talked about why it is important for them to perform at places like Disney, and she first said because people like to watch them dance…because it helps her be comfortable in front of an audience.  She agrees that it has helped when she’s had to make presentations at school, “  Christine Nechvatal said.

The DSPA Gems then competed in the Kids Artistic Revue held in Mesa on March 19 and 20th.  They won seven First Place trophies and six Top First Place trophies.  Additional awards included:

3rd runner up 8 and under age division Miss Petite Dance
4th high score overall solo 12-14 age division
4th high score overall small group 15-17 age division
4th high score overall large group 9-11 age division
Judges awards “Way to Work It Award”, ” Touching Tribute Award”, “Fabulous Faces Award”

DSPA Gems also competed at I Love Dance Competition held in Phoenix on April 3rd.  They won:

3- 2nd place awards
8- first place trophies
Overall costume winner
3rd high score overall solo ages 8-10
1st place high score overall beginner group age 8-10

Desert Sun Performing Arts is Maricopa’s premiere dance and performing arts school.  We believe in a positive atmosphere for our students and their parents. Our school takes the responsibility of educating and guiding children very seriously. The lessons learned at dancing school go beyond the technique and steps they master. We believe they gain an understanding of discipline, commitment, teamwork, and the value of hard work. We offer them a way to express themselves and a better understanding of themselves.  DSPA features Rising Stars program for ages 2-5, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Jazz Funk, and Inspire, a unique program for dance lovers with special needs.

Desert Sun Performing Arts
www.desertsunperformingarts.com
19756 John Wayne Pkwy
Maricopa, AZ  85239
520.483.8915
dance@desertsunperformingarts.com

The new website features a Do-it-yourself video archive, news, sales & promotions, seasonal tips, and a Google Map™ store locations page. The new site is built on the cutting edge software Expression Engine—which also powers many large government and retail sites around the world. Factor 1 Studios worked with local Ace Hardware Phoenix staff to develop this beautiful, easy to navigate website. Visit the new Ace Hardware Phoenix website at http://www.acehardwarephoenix.com and see more work from Factor 1 Studios at http://www.factor1studios.com.

The Core design was planned around the focus of our unique location. Phoenix Ace Hardware stores have a different season of marketing than other states. They sell grass seed while other stores in the US sell snow salt. We had to make sure that the visitor knew they were local to Arizona. So We have a cycle of quarterly images to rotate into the background of the site, all with very clear Arizona landscapes.

The home is very short and to the point. We know the audience is not here to shop online, but to find a store, or watch video DIY tips and messages.

The locations page was built using Google Maps API for a dynamic store browsing experience. A user can pan and zoom to a location near them, or select a store from the list to see it pinpointed on the map.

Videos were a must. Ace Hardware Phoenix has several media relationships that keep the content rolling in on a routine basis. We built a system where Ace can simple add a new video, add the YouTube code, notes and any associated files, and our tools would sort them, newest up top, and rolling archives below. This makes management of the videos a breeze.

News operates similar to the videos page. Simply add a new news article title, description and content.

CONTACT:   THERESE STARKEY, President, Maricopa Seniors, Inc.

Phone: (520) 568-8945

Email: theresestarkey1@msn.com

MARICOPA SENIORS PRESENT SENIORS’ “SENIOR” PROM

Maricopa Seniors, Inc., in cooperation with the Maricopa Unified School District and Maricopa High School, proudly presents the Seniors’ “Senior Prom” on Friday, April 30, 2010. Reservations are limited to 70 people, so RSVP today!

The evening is themed “Down Memory Lane” and festivities kick-off at 6:30pm with a reception and light hors d’oeuvres followed by a buffet-style dinner at 7:00pm. Members of the Maricopa High School Culinary Arts group, under the direction of Rex Sherry, are preparing the menu, which includes mixed greens salad, lemon herb marinated chicken with an orange Dijon mustard sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, choice of vegetable, rolls, coffee, iced tea or lemonade and pumpkin spice bars for dessert. Vegetarians may also request Pasta Primavera as their main entrée.

This is a fundraising event and all net proceeds benefit programs offered by Maricopa Seniors, including Pendant for Life and Infinity Card.

There will be a DJ, plenty of music for dancing and a few surprises. Dress is “after 5” – cocktail attire. Tickets are $25 each / $50 per couple. So get out your party dresses, put on your suits and ties and dust off your dancing shoes! This is sure to be a fun-filled evening for all!

For tickets, contact Board Vice-President Helen Brown at (520) 868-6111 or President Therese Starkey at (520) 568-8945. Tickets are also available on our web site at www.MaricopaSeniors.org.

Business After 5

Maricopa Veterans Center

Thank you to the Maricopa Veterans Center for hosting us last night!  They did a fantastic job with the remodeling and sprucing up of the old Library Building.  The Center also serves as a museum of sorts with VFW & American Legion member donated memorabilia.  Center Coordinator Jack McClain proudly gives you a tour and explains the history of various items on display.  They even have the original bell from the Enlisted Men’s Club in DaNang, Vietnam!

Service groups, self help groups  and other community organizations can rent meeting space at very low cost.  The funds earned from these fees are placed directly back into the facility for this like continued maintenance, utilities and insurance.

Thanks to the donation of  raffle items from Maricopa Chamber Member’s, Coyote Trails Bed & Breakfast, Ride Arizona, Benchmark Home Loans and Balance Personal Training,  we were able to donate back over $200!

Special Guest on hand was our May 19, 2010 Keynote Speaker, Micheal Crain to give us a sneak peak of the upcoming event.  Anyone interested in more information can contact the Chamber or follow this link…