www.InMaricopa.com July 2018 FAMILY Back to school yes, it's time GOVERNMENT Get ready for Primary Troop Support BLUE STAR MOTHERS AMONG MARICOPA'S NONPROFITS +Events Calendar Trending on InMaricopa.com Woman suspected of 1 assaulting grocery manager Committee Local News • Coupons • Calendar 2 gets early peek at Dutch Business Directory • Advertising Bros. proposal Senita man 3 accused of molesting children Drinks Prizes, Giveaways, & Horses breach & more Treats 4 fence, stop SR 347 traffic Maricopa man sentenced 5 for ‘horrific offense' MFMD fights fire at 6 Tortosa home Fall trial dates affirmed in 7 teen murder case Download the app and be first PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR NEW LABOR & DELIVERY UNIT to get breaking local news! 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY ON SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018 11 A.M.—1 P.M. Dunkin' Donuts opens 8 amid other construction BANNER CASA GRANDE MEDICAL CENTER in Edison Pointe WOMEN’S & INFANT SERVICES CENTER MHS 1800 EAST FLORENCE BLVD 9 administrator CASA GRANDE, AZ 85122 builds up teachers to Maricopa's Homepage impact students RSVP to be entered into a drawing for a Grand Prize Or feel free just to come by during the event. Motorcycle repair 10 business moves into RSVP to (520)381-6300 ext. 5840 Ak-Chin industrial park If you are an expectant parent or thinking about having a baby, please plan on taking a tour our premiere unit! 2017 Business of the Year Contents July 2018 It’s Here! 200 Members of the Maricopa High School band continued to perform during the summer in preparation for an early start to the school year. 23 Raquel Hendrickson Mbps LEADING OFF FAMILY HOME Editor’s Letter Page 4 A gallery of youth activities. Page 22 Rita Bricker explains the Master Gardener program. Page 38 Contributors Page 4 What's new at school this year. Page 23 HomeSmart's Dayv Morgan says its Maricopa’s How teachers and families are adapting to important to have a Realtor for a new build. PEOPLE new schedule. Page 23 Page 39 History photo lands in the pool. Page 5 Murray Siegel talks about principals at Most expensive home sold goes for a half A photo gallery captures events around high school and middle schools. Page 24 million. Page 40 town. Page 6 touts its Lighthouse Maricopa Elementary New home permits Page 41 Nonprofits show charitable side of designation. Page 25 Maricopa. Page 8 Fastest Meet the Best Dad in Maricopa. Page 26 HEALTH Swim coach Laura Logan joins MHS staff. Bernadette Russoniello explains the Longevity's Aaron Gilbert talks about Page 12 importance of SAT and ACT. Page 28 prioritizing. Page 42 Residential Internet Service Aaron Petrus talks about Be Awesome GOVERNMENT mentoring. Page 29 SENIOR LIVING Primary Election has taken shape. Page 14 Joan Koczor explains the popularity of BUSINESS patient advocates. Page 44 Learn about Maricopa City Council Beem Biologics uses ancient plant for new Proudly brought to you by Sheriolyn Curry says socialization is key to candidates. Page 16 ideas. Page 30 happy living. Page 45 Business briefs include new openings, licenses and inspections. Page 32 THINGS TO DO Directory Page 40 Check the calendar for Maricopa activities. 520-568-8890 Page 46 www.orbitelcom.com ON THE COVER: Members of Blue Star Mothers display their loved ones serving in the military (clockwise from lower left) Jeanette Meador with Ethan Meador, U.S. Army (not pictured Dylan Meador in U.S. Navy); Casssandra Graszler with Nathaniel Graszler, U.S. Navy; Tina Ripley with Michael Ripley, U.S. Army; Evan Grace with grandfather Donald Grace, US. Air Force; Gail DeLair with Torie DeLair, U.S. Navy and Matthew DeLair, Army National Guard; Veronica Sanchez with Julian Sanchez, U.S. Air Force; Edna Montes with Michael Handwerk, U.S. Army; and Tracy Davis with Blane Davis, U.S. Navy. Photo by Mason Callejas Many factors affect speed. Actual speed may vary. Cable modem required. Other conditions may apply. Call office for details. 2 InMaricopa.com | July 2018 Orbitel_It'sHere_200Mbps_InMaricopa_8.375x10.875.indd 1 6/6/2018 10:01:32 AM History Letter FROM THE EDITOR Making the best of summer Publisher Keeping cool in the pool SCOTT BARTLE eing involved with a good nonprofit is all The Primary Election is just around the corner. Editor PEOPLE about good citizenship. Many Maricopans Learn a little about the seven people running RAQUEL HENDRICKSON uring a long, hot summer, finding may not know it, but there are nearly 100 for three seats on Maricopa City Council. And, ways to keep cool has always been a Bnonprofits in operation in the city benefit- ahead of the Aug. 4 InMaricopa.com Town Hall Writers priority in Maricopa. Swimming is a ing kids, seniors, veterans, pets, profes- featuring local, county, state and federal RITA BRICKER big temptation, but in the 1950s the JOYCELYN CABRERA D sionals, food-deprived, artists and even candidates, see which names will appear only swimming opportunities were illicit ones car lovers. on your ballot. MICHELLE CHANCE in irrigation canals and ditches. AARON GILBERT In this week’s issue, learn about a Find out how scientists are extracting The fledgling Rotary Club decided in 1956 RAQUEL HENDRICKSON handful of local nonprofits, and then a local plant to increase crop yield and JOAN KOCZOR the community needed a swimming pool. As the check out the whole list at InMaricopa. turning it into a business. Catch up with FRAN LYONS late Don Pearce recalled to InMaricopa last year, com. You might even enhance your local development and business licenses, AARON PETRUS “Too many kids were drowning or getting hurt.” summer by getting involved. and rummage through our Business BERNADETTE RUSSONIELLO So, Rotarians John Smith and Fred Enke donated Though it may seem like summer Directory. MURRAY SIEGEL 3.5 acres along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway just started, it’s time for most Maricopa Bernadette Russoniello has advice for a pool and a park. Cost of building a pool had Photographers kids to go back to school. Students at Maricopa for high schoolers about taking the SAT or ACT, been estimated at $50,000, but Rotarians and MASON CALLEJAS Courtesy Maricopa Historical Society Unified School District, Sequoia Pathway Academy and Joan Koczor explains how a patient advocate MICHELLE CHANCE local businesses donated enough in resources and Legacy Traditional School will all adjust to can benefit seniors. RAQUEL HENDRICKSON and labor to cut that to just over $24,000. The moved to town. He maintained the pool until grounds at the site, and Stagecoach Days has a modified schedule that starts July 23. While These stories and much more are in the July issue. VICTOR MORENO Rotary Club started the annual Stagecoach Days it was closed in 2014. With the opening of mostly faded away. But the memory remains of Maricopa High School urges new students to get Happy reading, to help fund the pool. Smith and Enke took out Copper Sky, the Rotary pool became obsolete community generosity and hard work to create Designer registered early, we look at the impact the new loans to cover much of the rest of the expenses. for most Maricopans. Roadwork connected to a vital part of Maricopa summers for nearly 60 CARL BEZUIDENHOUT schedule may have. The pool opened in 1958. A year later, Pearce the coming overpass took away most of the park years. You can also catch up on what’s new at some of Advertising the local campuses for this school year. Learn about SCOTT BARTLE some MUSD administrators and meet the coach for RAQUEL HENDRICKSON | Editor VINCENT MANFREDI the new MHS swim team, which is going into action [email protected] TRISHA PAIGE this fall. 520-568-0040 ext. 3 MICHELLE SORENSEN Volume 13, Issue 7 InMaricopa 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 101 Maricopa, AZ 85138 Contributors 520-568-0040 Tel 520-568-0050 Fax [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mission Inform readers/viewers. Enrich advertisers. Core Values 1. Integrity 2. Accountability 3. Open, honest and real-time communication 4. Prosperity for clients, community, RITA BRICKER JOYCELYN CABRERA AARON PETRUS company and employees Bricker coordinates the Mar- Cabrera, an intern, graduated Petrus is known in town as a Published advertisements are not an endorsement icopa Master Gardeners. This from Maricopa High School physical trainer, but lately he of products or advertising claims by InMaricopa. month, instead of talking seeds this year and will soon be has become a mentor for the No part of this magazine may be reproduced by and stems, she explains the studying journalism at ASU. Be Awesome Youth Coalition. any means without the prior written permission Master Gardener program and She volunteered to write He said he discovered the of InMaricopa. Copyright 2018. its training opportunities. about MHS’ incoming swim generation gap is real. coach for this issue. 4 InMaricopa.com | July 2018 July 2018 | InMaricopa.com 5 Gallery Vekol Market PEOPLE Serving delicious WE breakfasts CATER, TOO! and lunches Maricopa Ace Hardware honored the late Joe Stanton, a long-time daily! employee who passed away in April, with a May Round Up campaign in Stanton’s name, donating extra coinage rounded up from receipts. Stanton’s wife Anna Jo and family presented the resulting $4,700 LOWEST to Maricopa Fire/Medical Department, which had responded to Convenience Store, Stanton’s health emergency. Mason Callejas TOBACCO Deli and Fuel Station PRICES Open 6 a.m. M-F and 8 a.m. Sat. & Sun. IN TOWN! 347 Carlyle Rd 47021 W. Farrell Road Pkwy Wayne N John W Farrell Rd Ak-Chin Recreation Center (520) 568-1654 UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle Students from Desert Wind and Maricopa Wells middle schools Freedom to choose NOT to use helped during a flag-raising ceremony for Memorial Day at the Maricopa Veterans Center.