I recently met with a freelance reporter for the New York Times. She was here doing research for an article on the current state of the housing market within the City of Maricopa.

I have yet to see the actual article from the Reporter, but I’m hoping she took my facts into consideration when writing about the housing market here in Maricopa. Next time you hear that homes aren’t selling in the City of Maricopa, please feel free to pass that call, email or post to me. I have the data to show they are!

A Note about Spam….

Filed Under Uncategorized

Last modified: January 29, 2008

Submitted by Matt Adams
Factor 1 Studios

Many of you may be experiencing an increase in the amount of spam emails over the past few weeks and it seems to be getting worse as the days go on. Spam is pretty nasty and obscene at times.

Here is what we know. Yes spam is bad. Its getting worse. On a recent report I read, spam is now estimated to be 90% of all email traffic. I don’t know anyone who buys anything from a random junk email, but it must be working otherwise it wold go away. We know its not just our servers, but even big companies like google, yahoo, etc. are also having issues.

For now, you should continue to use the built in junk mail filters on your mail applications. I’d also suggest logging onto the server control panel & doing some “Spam Assassin Training”. Teaching the spam assassin will make it better.

For more information Matt can be reached at mattadams@factor1studios.com

Kiosks a chance to support entire community

Filed Under Uncategorized

Last modified: November 2, 2007

As seen in the Maricopa Tribune
November 2, 2007
Submitted by:
Tony Smith
For comments to can reach Tony at smithtos@yahoo.com

Very soon the City Council will be considering implementing a sign kiosk program. The original intent of the program, started more than a year ago, was solely developer focused. The basic idea was that a single sign would contain directional arrows, pointing potential customers to the location of the homebuilder sales office. The idea of the kiosk was to “clean up” the clutter of home-builder signs along the road ways. Great; however time often moves quicker than government and now there is a compelling reason, I believe, to expand the kiosk program to include local businesses and non-profits.

With the downturn in the economy, local businesses have struggled and some very notable ones have closed. An opportunity exists to come to their aid in a very positive way. Local business owners have pleaded with the city and council to let them merely place a portable sign near main crossroads to help potential customers find their location. To date, due to enforcement of the sign ordinance, this plea has been unanswered. My belief is that anything the city can do to promote local businesses either by patronizing, promoting and, in this practical case, allowing additional signage, would be very beneficial. This is an opportunity for Maricopa city government to demonstrate they are truly a “business-friendly” city.

Regarding non-profit signage (for the most part these are startup churches), strict enforcement of the sign ordinance has caused all of their portable signs to be removed, with the exception of one sign that may be placed in front of the building on the day they use the building for worship. Since several of these startup churches only meet one day a week, often in a rented school facility, it is very hard for them to communicate their location on a consistent basis. All nonprofits (worship centers, VFW, Optimist and Rotary, to name a few) have and continue to provide a very important asset in building this community. In addition to involvement in city-sponsored events, nonprofits have hosted a whole variety of children’s activities and helped the less fortunate. They provide an important ingredient to the fabric that makes Maricopa special.

Going forward, if the sign kiosk program is targeted solely to the development community, it sends a message that Maricopa desires to be no more than a “bedroom community” concerned merely with having more rooftops.

At the last Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, of which I am chair, the commission took the position to recommend that the City Council considers two options:
1. Add local businesses and nonprofits to the sign kiosk program.
2. Suspend immediately the enforcement of the sign ordinance to businesses and nonprofits until a similar solution can be formulated for them.

Of course, if code enforcement is suspended for businesses and nonprofits, they will need to exercise reasonable restraint to not re-create a cluttered roadway.

For the record, as a member of Maricopa’s Planning and Zoning Commission, I helped create the original sign ordinance. As stated earlier, the ordinance was originally targeted to significantly reduce the multitude of signs being placed along the roadway by the development community. Now, time and situations have changed and government needs to be flexible to fix a problem by applying reasonable solutions.

This is in the hands of City Council for its Nov. 6 meeting. I trust they will recognize this as an opportunity to help promote local businesses and aid our important nonprofits.

From a local Maricopan’s Perspective “Locals” usually miss out

Filed Under Uncategorized

Last modified: October 15, 2007

Submitted by: Don Reitz
Dan Swartz Realty

Frankly, I’m tired of hearing so many of the ‘locals” say, “I could’a, should’a, would’a” bought when land was so much cheaper ‘Back When” 15 years ago, 10 years ago, even 5 years ago, but now I’m afraid IT’S TOO LATE!

Too late for what? It depends on why you want to buy land and what you want to accomplish with ownership of it in the future. Do you want to have your “dream Spread” for your family someday? Do you want to have your money and equity grow in leaps and bounds as “newcomers” keep coming to this area? I started selling land 18 years ago. No one even hears of the town of Maricopa. This seemed like Mobile Home land with cheap land and hauled water. WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN AROUND US TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. MARICOPA IS BECOMING THE JEWEL OF PINAL COUNTY. We have both the urban subdivisions as well as the vast rural areas of Hidden Valley. Although the city of Maricopa is gong through a period of growing pains, as any new born city, we have a great future.

Several years ago I started buying lots and acreage in Maricopa and I haven’t stopped…and guess what? I expect to pay more for it now than I have in the past. SO what! This has been my philosophy: It doesn’t matter what it costs today as long as I buy “right” and demand is there tomorrow. I never paid $300 and acre like some people before me did, somehow I got past the “could’a, would’a, should’a” and made my wealth buying land here in present times. This is now where my kids are raising my grandkids. I KNOW MARICOPA INTIMATELY (The whole greater Maricopa area). I love this area, and I believe owning land here will continue to increasing my wealth and I believe it can work for you too!

Yes, Maricopa has changed. There are more people and more places to shop and eat out. Yes, our population continues to grow. Most newcomers pulling into town wanting acreage and elbow room area really buying outside of Maricopa city limits. (WHY BUY ACREAGE? GREAT DEMAND AND LIMITED SUPPLY). Demand has merged all the outlying areas of cities together so that you can’t tell when you leave one city and enter the next. Maricopa will always retain its rural area with our beautiful mountain views and clean air. It’s no wonder that this is the fastest growing area in the state. Who would’a thought!?

It’s all in high demand. Why? Because everybody wants acreage where they can afford to now or someday build there dream property on 11/4 to 3 or 5 acres. And yes, “Buy land now. They aren’t making any more of it.”

Don can be reached for comment at donazland@qwest.net

The United States Failing Healthcare System

Filed Under Uncategorized

Last modified: September 27, 2007

Submitted by: Dr. Tim McFarland DC
Ultimate Healthcare & Fitness System

The U.S. spends more than double than any other country in the world yet ranks 37th in its quality of care. A few years ago the U.S spent $1.2 Trillion Dollars on healthcare, in 2004 that number grew to $1.8 Trillion Dollars and is expected to be $3.6 Trillion Dollars in the year 2014. If this continues it may bankrupt the U.S. Yet look at the current status of healthcare. Heart Disease 60 million, Hypertension 65 million, Obesity 60 million, Diabetes 20 million, Indigestion/GI dysfunction 70 million, Headaches 50 million, low back pain 70 million, and Arthritis 70 million. Clearly and unfortunately the current system is not working and only temporarily masking the symptoms.

Why do so many submit to possibly harmful treatments. Adverse Drug Reactions kill over 100,000 people per year.
Let us take a look at one of the most common reason for hospitalization of about 70 million people per year and more than 100 million self medicate for, Indigestion and GI dysfunction. The current system is to reduce stomach acid, many of us do not make enough acid as it is. Yet how many of us use Antacids like Prevacid, Prilosec, Pepsid AC, Zantac and Tums. Are there negative effects of decreasing stomach acid? Yes, by decreasing stomach acid you decrease protein breakdown and the ability to produce mucous to protect you stomach. This leads to poor digestion. This will also cause other organs to not participate in digestion such as the pancreas. The reduction of acid also promotes the growth of bad bacteria over our good bacteria. Leaky gut is another negative outcome of poor digestion. All of these negative effects may lead to SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION. SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION is linked to most disease processes such as Heart Disease, Hypertension, Obesity, Headaches, Low Back Pain, Diabetes, and Arthritis.

The solution is quite simple, safe, and effective. Reduce inflammation, give the stomach proper nutrients, restore proper bacteria and increase hydrochloric acid. Most people will be heartburn free in a couple of weeks to 90 days.

Our next article will focus on Arthritis and how current treatment may speed up the process of Arthritis, and raise your risk of Heart Disease.

For more info on increasing you Quality of Life contact Dr. Tim McFarland DC, at 520 568 7667 or visit our website at www.uhcfs.com.

Home-Based Businesses Need Insurance

Filed Under Uncategorized

Last modified: September 18, 2007

By: Courtny Tyler, Chamber Board President
State Farm Insurance

The dream of owning a business is becoming a reality for thousands of people each year. For many of these would-be captains of industry, that means starting the operation at home. However, your enterprise may be in jeopardy if you don’t have business insurance.

You need business insurance because most homeowners policies place limits on business related exposures. For instance, a copier or fax machine used for business and damaged in a fire may not be fully covered because it is considered business property.

Also, the homeowners policy does not cover business liability, loss of income, exterior signs and many other important items. If a client were injured at your home while conducting business, your homeowners policy would not apply. Anyone who opeates a home-based enterprise and does not have proper insurance coverage is putting his or her business and personal assets at risk.

Business insurance may provide many or all of the coverages listed below:

* Accidental direct physical loss coverage for business personal property

* Broader off-premises property coverage. Loss of income coverage

* Extra expense coverage

* Contractural liability coverage

* Lilability of employees while acting within the scope of their employment

Many entrepreneurs start their businesses on shoestring budgets and try to cut corners by keeping expenses at a minimum. But when you consider what you get, business insurance becomes a tool you can’t afford to work without.

Courtney Tyler can be reached for comment or questions at: courtny.tyler.qswj@statefarm.com