THE MAGAZINE Vol. 9 Issue 1

CRAZY PETS Zany antics from animal friends

JACKPOT Casino changes Ak-Chin’s future

ROCK STAR THE NEXT DOOR Maricopa musician WILD ONE tours the world STALLION THEY CAN’T CORRAL THANK YOU! Thanks to our readers and advertisers, InMaricopa.com is celebrating 10 years of service to Maricopa.

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/InMaricopa @InMaricopa Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 1 VOL. 9 ISSUE 1 Fun in Real Estate Contents Since 1974

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2 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 THE MAGAZINE

Publisher SCOTT BARTLE

Editor Affordable Family Care! CHRISTIA GIBBONS

Writers CRAIG CUMMINS KYLE DALY BETH LUCAS KATIE MAYER KATHLEEN STINSON

Photographers CRAIG CUMMINS KYLE DALY JAKE JOHNSON KATHLEEN STINSON

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Operations KATHY DEBEVEC ANGELINA HAVERMAHL

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Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 3 www.CobblestoneDental.com 520.413.0480 Community Gallery

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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 5 5

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1. MUSD held its first sixth-grade intramural basketball tournament hitting the field in February as Little League season got underway. in March under the direction of district volunteer Jim Irving and Craig Cummins district athletic director Cory Nenaber. Craig Cummins 5. Sixth-grader Aleina Estrada, far left and one of five basketball- 2. Rams win Krystin Diehl Softball Tournament in March. Tena Dugan playing sisters, helped lead her Sequoia Pathways junior high team 3. Melanie Antone, museum technician at the Ak-Chin Him-Dak to victory. Craig Cummins Eco-Museum, points to a photograph of members of the Ak-Chin 6. Sydney McDill, left, and Kacie Swaffield, both 11, collected nearly Community taken in the 1950s. Kathleen Stinson 1,000 signatures to name a baseball field after Tommy Fitzgerald, , 4. The Mudhens joined 27 other teams showing off their pride before who died of a staph infection in August. Kyle Daly

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NAMES: Madison, Molly OWNERS: Karen and Gary Myers BREEDS: Pekingese/Yorkshire Terrier (Madison), Yorkshire Terrier (Molly) AGES: 4 (Madison), 9 (Molly) NEIGHBORHOOD: Province 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: Zulema Avis: Our dog Max, who is a pug, Marty McDonald: My dog ate about 30 used to love the pacifier. He sucked on it square feet of carpet in our apartment, a What’s the like a baby would! pair of sandals and the corner of a mattress Mike N Robin: Our mixed dog peed – all in the same day. craziest thing while he was sleeping when he was a Kings Court: Our cat likes to turn lights puppy! on and off. Our little Chihuahua once got your pet has Danielle N Spence: In the middle of the picked up by a dust devil and carried over night, our dog’s tummy started bothering our back wall. She was injured. Our pit ever done? her and instead of just going No. 2 on the loves to give hugs standing and placing her (Answers have been edited floor like a normal dog, she jumped into the paws on your shoulders, and our pit-mix for grammar and clarity) bathtub and did her business there! She is a actually smiles. 1-year-old Golden Retriever. Jennifer Kirk: I have a cat that loves carbs Ann Rosati: Our cat Petey climbed up and – steals loaves of bread, bagels and rolls sat in our artificial Christmas tree. from the pantry and grocery bags, eats them Ceej Carla Byers: Our Miss Molly and hides the remainder in my closet. (Yorkie) takes all the laundry – clean or dirty Morgan Bullard Vanderwall: We do – out of the laundry basket. Why? Because not believe it to be crazy, but everyone else she thinks it’s her personal bed! does. Our dogs ring a bell when they need Kristie Miller: My daughter feeds our to go outside. 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 FOLLOW US: kisses make having a horse amazing. /INMARICOPA

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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

Submitted he land was remote, dry and But in the late 1980s, life began to Needing to raise money for their people fewer than 22,000 acres in size, change. when the tribe’s farming operation was but for decades it sustained The falling prices of farm commodities struggling, the Ak-Chin Tribal Council Tlife for the Ak-Chin Indian and the community’s remote location in decided to transform 20 acres of hay fields Community. the Santa Cruz Valley created barriers to into a casino and chose Harrah’s to manage Despite a nearly 20-year struggle to gain prosperity, driving people into increasing its new venture. reliable access to water, the community poverty. endured. Members transformed their “At first the funds were just not designated parcel of land into stretches available, and we were doing the farming of growing gardens and productive and it wasn’t enough to support some of fields. Families shared their harvests, and the programs we were running at the together they survived. time,” says Leona Kakar, who has served While life was never easy, it was simple as tribal council chairman and in other — and for a while, it was enough. leadership roles since 1980.

10 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 So with an urgent need to raise money Hoopla 20 years ago for their people, the Ak-Chin Tribal as the Ak-Chin Indian Council took a gamble. Community built and They transformed 20 acres of hay opened its casino paving fields into a casino, and after a nationwide the way for improved search, selected Harrah’s to manage the government, housing and social services. 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.”

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 BY THE needed social services, Kakar says. The casino also implemented a leadership NUMBERS development program, which prepares community members for high-level jobs Submitted 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 20 1,089 205.3M table games slot machines dollars in economic activity Corporation. The casino is one of the leading generated in 2010 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 750 6 50,000 employees poker tables square feet in casino and many of them reside and shop in

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 self- sufficiency,” 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. Submitted “We’ve got a monthly customer and the casino is organizing a direct The courtyard swimming pool area features promotion … to remind everyone that it mail promotion offering free play on a Jacuzzi, swim-up bar that serves lunch has been 20 years,” says Robert Livingston, Wednesdays. The casino also is preparing items and margarita Sundays during the casino vice president and general manager. to display a traditional old coin-operated summer. On Tuesdays in April, Harrah’s is slot machine and other memorabilia. A holding a hot seat promotion, in which larger celebration will be held closer to the players are randomly selected to win anniversary, but Livingston says details hundreds of dollars in free slot play have not yet been finalized.

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PAVER SAVER! $ 5 per sq ft 12 OnlyInMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Call for details • Artifi cial 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 across the country. remodeled in 2011, an entertainment poker, video Keno, statewide progressives, Every five years, the Ak-Chin Indian lounge and a variety of restaurants. live-action poker and black jack and also Community re-evaluates its agreement to has the only bingo hall in the Caesars maintain Harrah’s as the casino’s manager. A PLACE OF MEMORIES organization. This year, the contract is once again up for Maricopa resident Jackie Plumley Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., which renewal. remembers fondly the first time she and manages the business, operates casinos on Louis J. Manuel, Jr., chairman of the her husband Gordon visited Harrah’s Ak- four continents primarily under the brand Ak-Chin Indian Community, would not Chin Casino in 2005. names Harrah’s, Caesars and Horseshoe. say if the contract would be renewed, but The couple lived in Maryland at the “We are the only nationally branded he says tribal gaming is competitive and time and had stopped for a visit on the way casino entertainment in Arizona,” acknowledged the strong partnership his to see their children in San Diego. Livingston says. community has with Harrah’s. “We had such a wonderful time that This means customers can use a In addition to gaming, Harrah’s Ak- we came back two years in a row,” Plumley rewards program linked to all of the Chin Casino also attracts customers says. company’s casinos in Las Vegas and through 300 hotel rooms, expanded and During their second visit to the casino,

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20800 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 116 Salon: 520-494-2147 Spa: 520-233-8576 Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 13 the couple noticed new homes under them “like family.” Another reader, Maryann Spaulding, development in Maricopa and made the Sadly, Plumley’s husband Gordon died says she remembers attending the casino’s decision to purchase one. in August, but like family, one of Harrah’s grand opening as a child and taking a ride “Harrah’s was our determining factor in slot hosts attended his memorial service. on a tethered hot air balloon. buying our home in Maricopa, and seven While Plumley holds the casino “I would love to go in the summer years later, we still go there,” Plumley says. especially close to her heart, other for the margaritas,” adds reader Kimmy She adds, “When we got back to InMaricopa readers shared their own Baker-Phillips Maryland and told our family and friends memories on Facebook. … we were moving in October, they told Reader Vincent Manfredi says he likes HOPE FOR THE us we were nuts.” spending date nights at the casino with his NEXT 20 YEARS Plumley says she and her family have wife, because it is close to home. As the casino celebrates 20 years of past always felt “at home” at Harrah’s Ak-Chin “I just wish the buffet line was shorter success, the Ak-Chin Indian Community Casino and the staff has always treated on weekends,” he wrote. 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 grate- ful for the revenue stream the casino pro- vides and the economic opportunities, which have helped his community “prog- ress when other funding opportunities, such as grants, do not.” In the future, Manuel says, “We look to enhance our medical services (and) educa- tional and cultural resources.” While the Ak-Chin Indian Community continues to generate revenue from its

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14 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 casino, on a national level many Indian Maricopa’s newest free school choice communities are seeking similar success, but with mixed results, experts say. NOW ENROLLING Half of the Indians on or near FOR THE reservations now belong to tribes that have 201415 opened Las Vegas-style casinos, according SCHOOL YEAR! to research from The National Bureau of • Planning expansion to include Economic Research, a nonprofit economic full Preschool through 4th grade research organization. • Preschool is tuition-based Positive results attributed to casinos • Half-day Kindergarten & Elementary include tribal population increases, are tuition free (Charter) adult employment increases, a decline in poverty and increased economic activity. Our mission However, some national studies also attribute a slight increase in local crime to Empowers every child to realize their fullest potential through active, refl ective and creative education the presence of casinos. Fosters a love for learning through active partnerships According to a 2008 study conducted involving students, parents, teachers, staff and community by Stephen Cornell, director of the Embraces our diversity and unique talents in a safe, University of Arizona’s Udall Center challenging, respectful and supportive environment for Studies in Public Policy, “gaming Recognizes that personal growth involves responsibility towards has dramatically increased the revenues ourselves, others and the earth, thus becoming self-determined, flowing into Indian Country. However, self-motivated and contributing members of society. these revenues are very unevenly distributed with the largest sums going to nations located close to major markets.” 44301 W. Maricopa/CG Hwy., Maricopa, AZ 85138 The social and economic impact of (520) 868-6145 | www.caminomontessori.org these increased revenues also is largely positive, but vary according to the investment choices Indian communities Maricopa’s

Full-Service 520.868.6180 make, the study states. G L A S S With two decades of success behind Company them, owners and management of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino hope the business Home Auto Business continues to thrive for years to come. • Dual Panes (Insulated Glass) • Multi-Slide Patio Doors • Window Replacement • Mirrors • Fogged Windows • Enclosed Patios • Windshield Repair • Transaction However, an increased number of • Single Pane Windows • Table Tops • RVs Windows Indian casinos competing in Arizona • Window Repairs/Replacements • Shelves • Luxury Vehicles • Desk Tops and the slow economic recovery have • Window Retrofi ts • Mirrors • Heavy Equipment • Display Cabinets • Custom Shower Doors/ • Insurance Accepted • Entrance Doors created challenges. Enclosures • Mobile Service • Mail Slots “The pie is only so big … especially • Store Fronts 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. Let us Over “I’d love to have the economy of 2007 SHOW YOU Service At A again, but I’m glad that we’re able to 25 years what service Higher Level experience have this relationship with the Ak-Chin SHOULD be! Community,” Livingston says. “It’s an ever-growing, ever-changing business that’s been very successful for 20 years.” www.LizardHG.com He adds, “And hopefully it will be ROC 222193 K-65 Licensed Bonded Insured Master Auto Glass Techs success for 20 more.” * * * *

Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 15 Real Estate

Commercial

Eat here More restaurants opening in Maricopa as commercial real estate market rebounds Kathleen Stinson Fry’s Marketplace is one of several areas in the city showing signs of new commercial By Kathleen Stinson development.

ore restaurants are on their A number of commercial sites are according to a company press release. way as the market for retail planning to move forward, Miranda says. Initial plans call for a 34,800-square-foot, development in Maricopa “We are talking with about a half dozen two-story hospital. Mis improving. restaurants about locating here.” But, Miranda says Dignity’s plans are Chris Gerow, senior vice president of Gerow says Vintage Partners is trying “tentative” and the health-care provider NAI Horizon Commercial Real Estate to secure an anchor tenant for its 15-acre has not submitted any formal plans to the Services, a Phoenix-based company, says parcel south of Fry’s Plaza. Holiday Inn & city. the commercial real estate market in Suites has plans to locate on John Wayne William French, vice president Maricopa is doing well. Parkway south of Edison Road. of Cassidy Turley, says before more “I think Maricopa has rebounded as commercial development happens in far as its residential housing (market), Maricopa, “housing has got to continue and I think its commercial development to get better,” referring to home- is following,” Gerow says. “We are talking construction expansion. “I think Maricopa is definitely on a with about “(Commercial development) has resurge,” he adds. definitely improved,” French says, but A Freddy’s Frozen Custard and a a half dozen “there is still a lot of room to improve.” Chipolte Mexican Grill have plans to restaurants He says the city has some challenges to open on the northeast corner of Smith- about locating commercial development. Constucting a Enke Road and John Wayne Parkway in road across the railroad tracks to open the first or second quarter of 2015, says here.” — Chris Gerow, north and south access would be very Brad Douglass, associate vice president senior vice president of NAI expensive. of Cassidy Turley, a real estate services “There’s only a handful of access Horizon Commercial Real company based in Phoenix. points from north to south,” he points A Plaza Bonita Mexican food Estate Services out. restaurant is coming to Fry’s Marketplace Also, widening John Wayne Parkway, in three to four months, says Gabe although necessary for the city to develop, Ortega, vice president, NAI Horizon would be expensive and “who is going to Commercial Real Estate Services. Although Maricopa’s commercial pay for that?” he asks. Maricopa Economic Development development prospects continue to Primary co-owner and designated Director Micah Miranda says the future grow, developers say the city has some broker for The Maricopa Real Estate for Maricopa’s retail development looks challenges to overcome. Company Steve Murray says one challenge “bright — we are chronically underserved Dignity Health has purchased 18.56 the city faces with its commercial in a number of retail categories. As acres at the intersection of John Wayne development is that the state owns State we share information with potential Parkway (State Route 347) and Smith- Route 347 and to acquire easements on retailers, the interest grows in the city as Enke Road on which it plans to build and off the highway is difficult. a destination.” a free-standing emergency hospital, The city’s floodplain issues also affect

16 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 commercial development, Murray says. “The bottom line is we don’t see TRAP • SKEET • FIVE STAND anything getting done,” he says, adding it may be that the city is not talking about projects. Try your hand at a “NEW” sport. Miranda says the city is aware of a “couple of project (that) are coming out of • ATA & PITA Registered Events the ground –projects in the works I can’t • SCTP Youth Programs detail. As a point of policy, the city doesn’t • Practice and leagues comment on businesses locations until • Gun rentals & merchandise we’ve been given the green light from the • Corporate outings businesses or the developer.” • Special events French says Maricopa lost some time • RV Sites working on commercial development as it focused on its fast-growing residential Clay target shooting, (known as Trap shooting), Skeet shooting (two houses development, he says. throwing targets across each other), Five Stand (a hunting scenario); “I don’t think anyone anticipated is for all abilities. Men, women and youth are welcome. This is a family sport, Maricopa would have taken off as quickly which can also be competitive. as it did.” A great outside sport that gives you plenty of Vitamin D, fresh air and muscle building, along with activity & discipline for the mind.

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“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 develop- ment 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 Real Estate Ian Steenkamp did not have a background in photography before starting Maricopa Photography Real Estate Photography.

“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 Kyle Daly runs the blog photographyforrealestate. net, which he says receives 30,000 visitors a month. He’s been involved in the real estate Picture-perfect photography business since the 1980s and has two ebooks on the profession. “If you don’t have good marketing business idea photography, it’s just damn hard to sell a house,” Lohrman says. If you’re good at taking photos, Local entrepreneur offers professional photography the money can be good also, he adds. services for real estate Lohrman says he knows five or six real InQuicker is intended for individuals with non-life and non-limb threatening medical conditions. By Kyle Daly estate photographers who are making six figures. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a professional photographer to get into he idea came to Maricopa “It’s very important,” says Suzie Rotter the business. resident Ian Steenkamp when of Maricopa-based Clear Skies Realty. “It “You can be a real estate photographer his in-laws were looking for a tells the story about the house.” without being a real top-notch Read this magazine Tplace to move. A report released in 2010 from Redfin, a photographer,” he says. His wife’s parents wanted to sell their Seattle-based online real estate brokerage, Steenkamp did not have a background home in South Dakota and relocate to showed that in an analysis of more than in photography before starting his at home, instead of Virginia. His wife, however, convinced 100,000 home listings, houses shown business, Maricopa Real Estate them Arizona was the place to be. online using professional photographs Photography, in January. Within the first The 29-year-old and his spouse began received 61 percent more page views and month, Steenkamp says he took photos in the waiting room. searching for houses online — hitting had a 47 percent higher asking price per of about 14 houses for different real estate websites such as Zillow, hotpads, realtor. square foot. businesses. ™ com and Trulia. As with any real estate Maricopa resident Pat Lairson, a Some he did for half price. Two he did Online ER Waiting Service portals, photos of homes popped up. Realtor at Coldwell Banker Residential for free. It was a way for him to get in the No one likes waiting, especially in the ER. That’s why, at Dignity Health, you can get an estimated treatment time online through “Just looking at ‘em, I seemed to notice Brokerage, says as the prices of the home game. our partnership with InQuicker™. You can even wait at home. some of the pictures (were) horrendous, increases, a professional photographer is Steenkamp works a full-time job in Because when you’re not feeling well, being at home is always the and this was all between $175,000 and likely to be hired to take the photo. But Casa Grande in addition to running his kinder option. To begin, visit DignityHealthArizona.org $200,000 homes,” he says. normally, that doesn’t happen. one-man business. To help build his small That’s when the thought hit Steenkamp: “Most realtors I know would tell you company, Steenkamp is working with the “Maybe that’s something I could pursue.” take their own photos,” she says. Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship, a In the real estate business, professionals The reason for this is the real estate local start-up incubator. say online photos people view when agent can save money. The Maricopa resident got into the searching for a home to buy really do Rotter of Clear Skies Realty is of the world of real estate photography by Chandler Regional Medical Center | Mercy Gilbert Medical Center | St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center make a difference. same mindset. reading up on the profession. He spent

18 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Steenkamp uses a Canon digital SLR His first attempt at getting a realtor camera he bought interested in his work initially appeared to for his wife who be a letdown. wanted to try He says he spoke with a guy at a local photography as real estate business who told him he wasn’t a hobby. 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 Kyle Daly Facebook page for his business. three to four months doing research experience with the camera. Steenkamp anticipated getting three or — experimenting with the camera and “I would say most people do have some four shoots at most during the first month. watching YouTube videos — before going background,” he says He ended up completing three jobs the out into the field. In his opinion, jobs such as first week — even before his website was “You can practice all you want, but shooting photos at weddings or taking complete. unless you take that first step, you’re portrait photos aren’t as consistent for “I was like, ‘Wow, this got real real fast,’” always going to (say), ‘You’re not ready,’” photographers as getting work in real he says. he says. “A picture doesn’t necessarily have estate. Steenkamp’s prices are listed on his to be a million bucks. It just has to be good Steenkamp uses a Canon digital SLR website, maricoparealestatephotography. enough.” camera he originally bought for his wife com. Prices range from $99 to $119. plus Although you don’t have to be a top- who wanted to pursue photography as a tax depending on the home size. Special notch photographer, Lohrman says many hobby. But his wife ended up not having photo requests such as taking photos of a who get involved in the business have the time. 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 nez Ramirez knows what it’s like to be Butterfield Elementary School teacher Inez Ramirez listens to second-grade student Bryan the new kid in school. Armenta, 8, read in class. And, for that school to be filled Iwith peers and teachers speaking a in. While the number of languages is English immersion students, listed as language foreign to her small ears; for that lower than its peak, the district is still “intermediate.” school to follow customs far more liberal experiencing new languages, with a Students who speak and understand than her upbringing. growth in Asian languages. little English are placed into more intense Today as a teacher of English Language Spanish is the most significantly classes “below proficient” programming, Learners at Butterfield Elementary School, spoken language, explains Gretchen which is usually for a limited time as they she understands what her students are Brown, who oversees the district’s English learn. experiencing. Ramirez was an English-as- immersion programs. The second most The two schools with the highest a-second-language student, before English common is Vietnamese, which has 16 population of English immersion students, immersion became the law of the state. student speakers. Butterfield and Maricopa elementary “I understand what students are going District schools regularly celebrate schools, may often offer classes of all through. The fears of the culture shock all of the cultures in a variety of ways. English immersion learners, if there are when they come to our country,” she Teachers can receive a benefit from the 20 or more English immersion students explains. “Their lack of understanding parents who may struggle more than their in a class. If there are fewer than 20 such of this country, the regulations and the immersed students: gifts of food from students, each student receives individual system of what’s expected of them. around the globe. plans the teacher uses to ensure they “I lived it when I became a citizen.” Other languages in the district are understand a lesson and embrace the But she says she knows something Afrikaans, Cambodian, Creole, Dutch, English language, through student pairing, that has proved helpful as the number of Pilipino, Finnish, French, German, Italian, repetition and other techniques Ramirez languages spoken changes every single Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Navajo, says are valuable to proficient English year, as families move in and out from Papago, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, speakers as well. all over the world: No matter what the Swahili, Tagalong, Thai and Marshallese. Student plans could direct, for language of origin, children adapt fast to Every student who enters the school instance, how many times a word or English. system with another prominent language lesson or action should be repeated, as The Maricopa Unified School District spoken at home is tested for language the student picks it up. currently has 24 different spoken proficiency. Some students may speak Spanish-speakers are the most languages; a number that at times rises English well but need assistance with common, with 522 students of the into the 40s, as one family can add an grammar or reading, which puts them district’s total 5,838, who speak fluent entirely different language as they move into the largest category of Maricopa Spanish. Brown says while Latin families

20 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 have support among each other as a school, so it is encouraged. like in any country,” Lopez said. “When larger group, families from other parts Schools regularly hold parent nights we come here, we bring our history, our of the world often come with a stronger led by the students themselves in a way culture, our food, and teach our children immediate family support system, which to encourage parental involvement and never to forget where we came from, to moved to the states in advance. level of comfort, Brown says. Translation be open, heard and to become part of this Many students already are proficient services are available for parents. country’s future.” bilingual speakers, with 219 currently “We have a lot of cultures here in Ramirez uses her personal experiences tested as ELL students, 124 of whom are Maricopa,” she adds. “In November, to reach students, in her class which considered “intermediate” in needing we focused on cultural diversity in our includes English Language Learners. As support to become proficient speakers, schools. We brought in guest speakers, they learn a new word or subject, she but able to communicate above “below have family nights about diversity, and wants them to touch or see examples. proficient.” showcased all of the different languages or “Coming from a culture where the “They pick it up super fast, especially countries. It does make us unique.” customs are definitely different, the food among their peers,” Brown says. “They Bianca Lopez is mother of four is different. Coming from Mexico, the are all English speaking when they go out children who have immigrated with her education system is so drastically different to play on the playground. We can only to Maricopa, where she says the school — going to school up to a certain level is provide English instruction and that is system opens a much brighter future for not mandatory,” Ramirez says. “And then by state law.” her children. it’s more of a privilege to get education, it’s Because students are immersed in “There’s a huge difference in the so expensive. The culture, the traditions — English in school, oftentimes the parents educational system between Mexico and they tell me that the United States is a little have more needs when it comes to the U.S.,” she said, through a translator. bit more liberal than other countries. Even adjusting to U.S. culture, where students “We moved here for a better future. A our students who come from Vietnam — and parents have more rights and are better future for our children.” they’re just shocked how liberal it is. encouraged to be more involved. Parents But, she added, it’s one that doesn’t “Our freedom of speech that other from other cultures may often feel have to leave behind her ethnic culture. countries don’t have. Our freedom to uncomfortable being involved in their “Our culture, our desires, are just dress — they get a little bit shocked, and

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Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 21 www.HolsteinerSchools.com • 44400 W Honeycutt Rd. • Maricopa, AZ withdrawn … what can I say or not say, American populations can be a challenge, questions are based on cultural back- or speak up? They are shocked that they after being raised to count tangible objects, ground, questions like ‘what ingredient get to participate in computer lab, physical and Ponticello uses federal grant money to is missing from applesauce,’ or questions education, choir, music and band.” help students transition. about owls that to Native Americans have With support, the quickly embrace the “Our focus this year is primarily on serious religious connotations.” school, she adds, and the language. math, and how doing simple addition Ramirez says students themselves “By December, they will be talking without having our hands on something bring a new level of education to their their ears off,” she said. “And now I have to to manipulate,” she says. “It’s a challenge, peers, as they learn on so many levels in give warnings. It’s beautiful to see that with taking that abstract concept — how do you their new home. the kiddos, an amazing blessing to be able make it real?” “As a parent myself, these students to be part of that with the students.” “It’s a whole child approach,” she adds. just enrich our lives,” she says. “They Teri Ponticello oversees Native Ameri- “Looking at all of their needs, and being expose our children to culture, to their can education programs, which bring to very sensitive to their cultural upbringing traditions. They’re able to share with light another challenge for some youth and heritage.” them what other countries are going beyond language: cultural adaptation. Angelia Ebner teaches English Lan- through — political, religious and in Many Native American families teach guage Learners at Maricopa Elementary, education, to show pictures, videos and their children to learn in a manner very and as a single language speaker her- their history is amazing.” different from the educational system. self, she says she appreciates the value Maricopa Elementary School principal “Because culturally and traditionally, students gain from retaining bilingual Jennifer Robinson agrees that while the they’re used to the whole picture, where speech. But she also cautions the labels diverse cultures provide a challenge to everything is important,” Ponticello as being entirely about language — as ensure every student’s individual needs explains. “So we have a real challenge language proficiency test questions can are met — “we feel very fortunate to have bullet-pointing and summarizing — it at time confuse a student from a very dif- diverse cultures, diverse abilities. It makes goes back several generations, with ferent cultural background. us more well-rounded. storytelling, and the way they are used to “Maybe if they just got here, they used “We know that each child is unique telling stories very verbally.” symbols and not letters,” she says. “It’s and different and each brings something Abstract math concepts for Native a completely different system. Some test special to our school.”

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22 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 CAC Maricopa campus student leader Socorro Carrillo Education Student leader

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 Kathleen Stinson forming an Anime club, where they watch Japanese animation and then discuss each Student leader movie and the culture behind it. “A lot of our clubs are under construction,” she says, adding the emerges on new students plan to form an Honor Society, a DECA business club, a culinary club and a communications club by the end of the CAC campus semester. Socorro is working toward an associate By Kathleen Stinson in arts degree in liberal arts, which she plans to complete in December. She says ocorro Carrillo is in the thick of was dissatisfied with her experience and she wants to attend a four-year, out-of- things as an emerging student enrolled in Sequoia Choice for its online state university to earn a bachelor’s degree. leader at Central Arizona College’s instruction program. “I have always been interested in Syear-old Maricopa campus. “I studied at home (online) for my journalism,” she says. “I would like to earn Once so dissatisfied with high school junior year but got tired of being home a double major in new media and public she transferred to online learning, today all the time and not being around people,” administration.” Socorro finds herself starting CAC’s Socorro says, adding she went to classes at She says she hopes to go on to a career Anime Club, writing for the college Sequoia Pathway her senior year. in political writing and do something newspaper The Cactus, working part- “When I first went to Sequoia, I wasn’t like “anchor at CNN or write for the New time in the campus library, contributing on track to graduate,” she says, adding she Yorker magazine.” as an unpaid intern in the college’s public got involved in student leadership because “A number of people in the millennial relations office and heading the campus’ she was advised it would be “a way to stand generation don’t appreciate all the first Student Leadership Organization as out .” Republican-Democratic” banter in the president. Carrillo ran for student government news, she says. “I would like to see more In March, the 18-year-old was at Sequoia and was elected vice president. independent voices in the media.” named Student of the Month because She then decided to take early enrollment Her experience helping to develop of her contributions in getting the classes at CAC along with her high school student organizations at CAC has been leadership organization started and for curriculum. She graduated in May with 12 challenging since the age range on campus recently representing the campus at the college credits. is so diverse, she says. It has been difficult annual Student Public Policy Forum in Megan Brown, student government at times getting students together to plan Washington, D.C. college adviser at CAC, says Sorocco “has events. It has improved this semester. Socorro began her student leadership strong leadership skills, and with more “Student clubs may not have such an experience at Sequoia Pathway Academy. time and opportunity these skills will impact on any individual student but When she finished her sophomore year become stronger.” they impact the quality of student life on at Maricopa High School, Socorro says she Socorro has the maturity to relate well campus,” she says. Sports

Golf

AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES GOLF CLUB

Submitted The tale of two courses and their golfers

By Kathleen Stinson

aricopa’s two golf courses Both 18-hole courses are open to Indian Community purchased the golf — The Duke at Rancho El the public. The Duke offers annual club in 2010. Dorado and the Ak-Chin memberships. “Southern Dunes is considered one MSouthern Dunes Golf Club The Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf of the premier championship venues in — complement each other, experts say. Club is located on State Route 237, 2.5 Arizona,” Wilson says. “It attracts the “We couldn’t be more different miles west of John Wayne Parkway. It is highest caliber event.” — Southern Dunes is more of a a 7,307-yard course from the back tees, Southern Dunes has hosted the PGA championship course and The Duke is and is rated No. 6 in Best Courses You Can Tour’s Qualifying School. Golfers must more player-friendly and easier to play,” Play in Arizona by Golfweek and No. 87 in do well at the Q-School to quality for the said Jon Bacon, head golf professional at the Top 100 Courses You Can Play by Golf PGA Tour. The Duke. Magazine, according to the club’s website. Great golfers from around the world “For six months out of the year, there The Duke, located within the Rancho play at Southern Dunes, Wilson says. is plenty of play for both courses,” Bacon El Dorado community, was built in 2002 Steve Jones, winner of the 1996 U.S. Open says. “March is one of our busiest months and covers 7,011 yards from the back tees. Championship, shot a hole-in-one in — June, July and August are slow.” Southern Dunes was also established February on the par 4, 14th hole. The course does most its business in in 2002, first as a private club, and later “We are a little more expensive than January, February, March and April, he becoming a public course, says Brady The Duke because of our championship says. Wilson, general manager. The Ak-Chin caliber,” Wilson says.

24 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 8 Issue 2 THE DUKE AT RANCHO EL DORADO

Submitted

The club advertises nationally in “I don’t feel we are back to where we THE DUKE AT RANCHO EL DORADO Golfweek, he says. Ninety percent of the were in 2006,” he adds. Par 72 - 7,011 yards from back tees course’s players come from Phoenix, He said the Southern Dunes has 42660 Rancho El Dorado Parkway Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Denver or benefitted over the years from the Ak- Maricopa, AZ 85138 Chicago. Chin Indian Community’s support. The 480-844-1100 Bacon describes The Duke at Rancho community provides the club with “all the www.TheDukeGolf.com El Dorado as a resort-style course in tools and resources, equipment and capital the sense that the fairways are wide, the improvements necessary to continue to AK-CHIN SOUTHERN DUNES greens are big and “you don’t have to be grow the brand of Southern Dunes and GOLF CLUB experienced to play here and still have a Ak-Chin,” Wilson says. Par 72 - 7,307 yards from back tees good time.” Rob Pederson, visiting from 48456 State Route 238 “I think almost everyone in the Wisconsin, plays at Southern Dunes and Maricopa, AZ 85139 community probably plays at both describes the course as “manicured.” 480-367-8949 courses,” he says. “The city of Maricopa Maricopa resident Jim Henke, who also www.GolfSouthernDunes.com — for the size of the community — is very plays there, calls the greens and fairways lucky to have two golf courses of such “pristine.” “When you putt a putt here, it high quality.” goes where it is supposed to go.” He said most golfers at The Duke come Brenda Heibein, of Saskatchewan, says from the community. she prefers to play The Duke because she As with other sectors, golf has suffered has made friends there. economically in the past several years. For Marilee Bell, of Wyoming, the 109 The golf industry has seen minimal sand traps at Southern Dunes sway her to increase in revenues over the past three prefer golfing at The Duke, she says. years, Wilson says. The years 2007 to 2009 “Playability” for the average golfer were “hard” on the industry, but 2011, matters to Ans Kiewin, from British 2012, and 2013 were “better minimally.” Columbia, who golfs at The Duke. The Wild One

WHITE STALLION WON’T BE TAMED, BUT LIKES HANGING OUT BY THE CORRAL By Kyle Daly Photos by Jake Johnson

26 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 It was actually Henry’s love for the ladies that attracted the stallion to the center in the

Vol. 9 Issue 1 | InMaricopa.com 27 first place, and eventually landed him his name. 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 wound he received in a scuffle with another wild horse. family-run Koli Equestrian Center on the “We tried to catch him to like doctor him, but we couldn’t catch Gila River Indian Community, has heard him,” he says. the comment before. Camie Heleski, an instructor in the department of animal “Hey, one of your horses got out,” he sciences at Michigan State University, says horses are herd animals, says, repeating the phrase people utter when they see the white meaning they live in groups. stallion on the center’s land. At first glance, Henry seems like a unique case — a wild horse But as Pablo explains, the horse hanging around the center’s without a social group. corrals every day is not one of his. Henry — as he’s called — is wild. But that’s not how Chuck Pablo and his brother Roger view “He hangs out here all the time,” Pablo says. Henry. One Monday afternoon, Henry, who’s estimated to be in his “To him, this is his herd,” Chuck Pablo says, referring to the early 20s, stood between two of the center’s corrals with his head domesticated horses inside the center’s fencing. leaning inside some of the metal fencing — giving an odd picture More than that, the domesticated horses are Henry’s family — of a free horse taking a peek at the domestics caged within. literally. The 12-year-old center — located west of the Interstate 10 and Spirit, a young female horse around 7 months old, whose coat State Route 347 intersection near the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass is beginning to transform from gray to white, is Henry’s child. She’s Resort and Spa — has about 30 horses used for trail riding. Horses domesticated, and lives in a corral. are kept in three large corrals. Henry, one of more than 1,000 wild When the female horses — or mares — “go into season,” they horses estimated to live on the Gila River lands, has been coming simply back up into the fence in an attempt to mate with Henry, around nearly since the beginning. the brothers said. A mare is generally ready for sexual activity With a dirty white coat and a blond mane that has patches of during the longest days of the year — in spring and summer. red, Henry’s wildness is apparent. And the horse has the scars to Although Henry was successful in mating with one of the prove it. center’s horses, allowing the wild stallion to breed with the Pablo pointed out one scar near the horse’s rear end — a bite domesticated horses is not something the center’s operators’ desire.

28 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 “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

Story haul and photos by Craig Cummins

LOCAL WOMAN AND HER Her gated stable is lined with barrels The conference is an organization steadfast stallion were given and poles to train her horses. that runs national trail-riding horse a national award for their “We started doing poles and barrel competitions in a format that offers long outstanding season-long performance in racing last year. I’m trying to make them distance, timed races that judge rider and competitive long-distance trail riding. as versatile as possible. I take them out to horse on their performance. For novice An Arizona native and resident of chase the cows and have taken them to play riders, a single event consists of a 30 to 40 Maricopa for 11 years, Jill Worley makes horse soccer, which if you haven’t seen you mile course over a two-day period. her living as a software designer working should really check it out,” Worley says. Events last an entire weekend with out of her home in Thunderbird Farms. When Worley started riding nine scoring and evaluations beginning when For nearly a decade, Worley has been an years ago, she started in short-distance, riders first arrive on Friday. Veterinarians active competitor in different formats of obstacle-based competitions. Now, and judges do a scored pre-evaluation on horse racing competitions. She uses her Worley participates in some of the longest the riders set up and the physical condition backyard as an amateur training ground trail riding competitions in the country of the horse. to prepare her horses Rio and Zeus for within the North American Trail Ride Riders head out on Saturday morning competitions. Conference. to start the actual riding portion of the

30 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 competition. Rider and horse are judged Back surgery has kept on safety, performance, fitness and ability Jill Worley off the trail to stay within the time limits. Rides offer this year, but she is the 2013 winner with a grueling test of endurance for both the her horse Rio (white rider and horse, Worley says. stripe) of the Region “During competitions, on Saturday 2 Lighweight Novice you basically check out at 7 a.m. You have Division of North maybe a 40-minute break for lunch where American Trail Ride you’re actually off of your horse. Then you Conference’s National ride into camp around 6 p.m. So you’re Novice Division Region out there all day,” Worley explains. “You Team Award. have speed expectations so you trot, which for many riders is harder than walking or running because when you’re trotting you But they held an informal banquet for me do what’s called a post where you’re in before the Bumble Bee Ranch ride where front of the saddle, and it’s basically like they gave me my awards,” Worley says. doing squats all day.” Still recovering from back surgery in When riders finish their rides on Sun- August, Worley was unable to compete in day, a final scored post evaluation is con- races this year but attended the Bumble ducted to determine the condition of the Bee Ranch event to receive the award. horse. After the evaluations are done both While recovering Worley still attends the rider and the horses will receive scores. events as a volunteer point rider who “One of our top riders at Bumblebee After the 2013 season, Worley and goes out on the trails before competitors this year got first place as a rider, but her her 12-year-old stock horse Rio won the to make sure they are ready and properly horse got third place. There’re separate Region 2 Lightweight Novice Division of marked. awards between the two, as well as an North American Trail Ride Conference’s “When you’re training to ride a 30-mile award for combined scores,” Worley says. National Novice Division Region Team course, you have to get out there and push In Arizona, which is part of the confer- Award, which is given to the team that ac- yourself to ride further and further on your ence’s Region 2, there are three main rides cumulates the most total points through- own,” she says. “I’m riding again, but not — Bumble Bee Ranch, San Tan Mountain out the season. Award winners are honored up for pushing it 30 miles. We don’t have Regional Park and McDowell Mountain at the organization’s national convention. our next event until October, so we’ll see if Park. Together these three events make up “They had the national banquet in I’m ready to take that ride. But I’m looking the Arizona Triple Crown. Oklahoma, but I wasn’t able to make it. forward to competing in 2015.”

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Vol. 8 Issue 4 | InMaricopa.com 31 1 COPPER SKY RECREATION COMPLEX

Swimming Skateboarding Cardio Fishing Basketball

4 3

32 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 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 Fishing tip: Use Power Bait or something looking out over the Copper Sky similar. Get different colors and if the fish aren’t biting one color after letting your Recreation Complex. Photo by Kyle Daly line sit for 45 minutes, change the color of bait and recast. 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 Channel catfish 3. Aquatics centers includes a leisure • Most fished species of catfish pool, a competition pool, a rock- • Average between 2 and 4 lbs. climbing wall for swimmers and a • In the wild can grow to be over 40 lbs. • Catfish smaller than 16” are said to be splash-pad area. Photo by Craig Cummins the best to eat

4. Steel Lewis, 12, in orange shirt and Fishing tip: Use your sinkers; channel Hunter Scott, also 12, get in some catfish are bottom feeders so it is playground time at Copper Sky. The park important you get your bait as close to includes eight multi-purpose sports fields, the lake floor as possible. 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 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 “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.” 5 Valerie Reinecke 5. Skateboarder Danny “I think this is the best Barrera rides his board thing that could in the new skate plaza have happened at the Copper Sky to Maricopa. I just Recreation Complex. moved here in January Photo by Kyle Daly from Alaska and that’s the 6. Inside Copper biggest thing I missed was my Sky visitors can find local YMCA. … It’s wonderful. I a gymnasium with mean, every part of it. I can’t wait basketball courts, a 6 for the lap pool to open because catering kitchen, two multi-purpose rooms I’m a lap swimmer.” that can be rented, a movie screen, an Chad Molyneaux upstairs walking track, “I was really impressed a fitness area and by everything two studio rooms especially the cardio for fitness classes. equipment and just Photo by Craig Cummins the general size of 7. Individuals and this place. I think it’s families can buy going to be really good for the memberships to community. So I’m impressed.” Copper Sky Recreation Complex. 7 Don Ubarski Photo by Craig Cummins “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.”

34 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 9 Issue 1 Sergio Monzon “I take my nieces Go Wireless! over to the park Premier Orthodontics over here. I think Dr. Dustin Coles • Dr. Tyler J. Coles that’s pretty cool. But the skate park is my thing. I come here every morning. I really like this Maricopa’s skate park better than the one that’s across the street (in the only Elite Ak-Chin community).” Invisalign

Amanda Mcvay (with her son provider! Alexander, 1) “It’s a really nice facility. It’s really nice to have so much Maricopa Casa Grande 21083 N. John Wayne Pkwy, Ste C105 1968 N. Peart Rd., Ste 24 green space and Maricopa, AZ 85139 Casa Grande, AZ 85122 have a skate park (520) 568-5600 (520) 421-0880 for the kids, have the playground for younger kids. www.PremierOrthoAz.com And I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a membership so that we can use the facilities SUMMER – especially over the summer ENERGY with the splashpad and pool SAVING TIPS and stuff.” 1. Do not set your A/C thermostat George Rock to a colder than normal setting “We’re excited. when you fi rst turn it on. It will We like the size not cool your home any faster. of the lake, the 2. Energy Star® qualifi ed A/C units playgrounds for the are about 14% more energy kids. My boy did the effi cient than standard models. ceremonies for the tee 3. Remember to turn off ceiling ball this year, so that was pretty fans when you leave the room. awesome. I’m glad to see the Fans cool people not rooms. growth. … I’ve been out here 4. Ensure that furniture and other 28 years so getting to see objects are not blocking air fl ow something like this come into in your home. Source: www.energy.gov our neighborhood is real nice.” (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.” Submitted Hämäläinen’s life in Greater Phoenix a few years, he sold the shop and used the started in 2002 when his father took a job money to buy his Maricopa home. Finnish-born musician Antony Hämäläinen as a professor in Arizona State University’s Through the years Hämäläinen has traveled the world playing heavy- aerospace program. continued pursuing his passion for music, metal, but makes Maricopa his home. After spending some time studying learning to play a variety of instruments at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, and playing with many bands, but he Hämäläinen left the program to start his realized singing is his true talent. own European clothing outlet in Tempe. “I can play the guitar, bass, drums and After successfully running the business for keyboard, but I suck at everything other

36 InMaricopa.com | Vol. 8 Issue 4 Antony Hämäläinen shown with Swedish death metal band Nightrage. He recently started the band Meridian Dawn.

Submitted

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, Submitted Meridian Dawn aims to create new and than singing,” he says. “But it’s good to innovative styles of music that aren’t know instruments as a songwriter and be solely inspired by metal but many musical able to speak someone else’s language. If “We were trying to genres. To help the trio on their rhythmic you don’t know anything about the bass, step out of the box, crusade, they recruited Florida musicians it’s hard to sit with your bass player and CJ Cussell, a guitarist who toured with come up with the idea.” but still stick to our Nightrage in 2012, and Nick Ziros, former In 2007, after years of honing his craft, European metal roots. bassist of Remembering Never. Hämäläinen joined the already established It’s a futuristic and In March 2013, Cussell and Ziros Swedish death metal band Nightrage as loaded up their gear and started their lead vocalist. For five years, he recorded precise record with a 2,000-mile drive from Florida to Arizona and toured the world with the group lot of heart.” to record the album. After reaching performing shows in venues big and – Guitarist CJ Cussell Maricopa in 33 hours, the band started small, in countries and cities that cover the setting up their studio in Hämäläinen’s spectrum of economic development. The “In some of countries we played shows. house and got right to work. band even had offers to play in locations They didn’t speak English, but they sang “When we came in to record the album many would say are unreachable. the lyrics to our songs perfectly, which is we brought all of our gear; instruments, “South Korea was cool. The promoter funny. It was weird seeing someone who recording equipment, video screens, Pro told us that he could get us a show in lives 100,000 miles away or whatever it Tools and basically turned the kitchen into North Korea. He said there is a part of was, singing our songs.” a professional recording studio,” Johnson the border that he knew a guy that had Even though Hämäläinen made says. a little bar, with a little drum set up and Maricopa his home and the rest of Drummer Nunez couldn’t make it to a practice amp and was like, ‘If you guys Nightrage’s members were scattered across Maricopa so he recorded his drum sets in want to go and create some history and get Europe, they still managed tour across Luxemburg. the hell out of there.’ But we didn’t do it,” Europe, Asia and North America. “We basically locked ourselves in the Hämäläinen says. “When we were in Nightrage, it was a 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 Allene Dugan plays at least six instruments, group’s goals for the future. draws, and participates in a local poetry “We have another option,” Hämäläinen slam. Shown here at Tortosa’s St. Patrick’s says. “The management and myself have Day event. talked about maybe just doing a five- song EP. So we worked with four different T 13, ALLENE DUGAN MIGHT BE people on four different song selections TEEN considered a Renaissance girl. She and picked the best ones from those plays numerous instruments, is mixers and producers to put out. No one an accomplished artist and writes else is doing this in metal right now.” of MANY poetry. After considering the options the band Growing up on a small farm in the Hidden decided to release their first five-track EP Valley area, the eighth-grade Sequoia Pathway March 25, with a release of Fever Syndrome TALENTS Academy student is like many other teenage later this year. girls: She likes spending time with her friends, Eighth-grader plays six riding horses and playing with her pets. musical instruments and has However, Allene also gets out in the community and performs whether as a a penchant for poetry musician at the Tortosa St. Patrick’s Day festivities or Thursday nights at a local By Craig Cummins 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

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