June 2012 - InMaricopa.com

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Ancient construction
method used at
Maricopa CAC campus
Page 4
June 2012
MHS GRADUATES 280
Pages 13-20
BUSINESS
Eatery hangs on
Page 6
EDUCATION
Nissan helps fifth-graders
Page 21
Maricopa High School seniors took to the football field May 24 to get their diplomas and switch their tassles.
“I really enjoy doing the work, and when
you step back and look at the finished
product and you go, ‘I did that,’ I mean,
that’s pretty cool.” — Kevin McDill
Page 25
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Favor gay marriage and
have for a long time
Favor gay marriage now
that Obama has endorsed it
Oppose gay marriage
Have no opinion
Less than 1%
12%
shannon williams
BY THE NUMBERS
President Obama supports gay marriage. Do you:
42%
46%
Source: InMaricopa.com poll; 285 total votes

2 NOTEBOOK InMaricopa.com
June 2012
Maricopa Notebook
It takes a village
BY CHAIRMAN
LOUIS J. MANUEL JR.
There is a proverb said to have originated
among the Nigerian Igbo culture in
Africa that states, “It takes a village to
raise a child.” For the Ak-Chin Indian
Community this is very much the case.
It is our children who will grow to one
day have their first job on the reservation,
become a future council member and
one day an elder, who will have great
authority in the decision-making of our
community.
Without proper schooling, parenting
and many other factors that go into the
making of a well-rounded individual, our
community will be unable to develop and
thrive. This is why education has become
a top priority of the Ak-Chin Indian
Community, as it should be within all
communities.
While public and private school
systems offer a variety of programs,
clubs, technology and staff
members to nurture a child’s
development, there must also be
that support and encouragement
at home.
Not just from mom or dad,
but from other family members,
friends and neighbors. Without
the encouragement of the entire
community (or village), who is to
say how a child’s path may differ
from their peers?
Struggles in education are something
we have witnessed firsthand among
children within the Ak-Chin Indian
Community, as most communities do,
and it is something we are striving to
change for the better -- not just for our
Sharing the thoughts and
opinions of Maricopans
Chairman Louis
J. Manuel Jr.
children, but for our entire community.
Whether students drop out during
high school or don’t use the skills they’ve
learned once they do graduate,
neither are things we want our
children to face.
Nurturing their development,
encouraging their dreams
and offering support along the
way is sometimes all we can
do, but it just may be the one
thing that makes a difference in
a child’s life, and an enormous
impact on the community in
which they live.
Louis J. Manuel Jr. is chairman of the Ak-
Chin Indian Community and an advocate
for education, social and health services.
Ak-Chin.NSN.US
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Scott Bartle
Associate Editor
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Reporters
Wayne Block
Joe Giumette
Tim Howsare
Christina Sampson
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Wayne Block
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Tom Howsare
Jake Johnson
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Volume 4, Issue 6
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Copyright 2012.
Vote with informed intent
BY JOSHUA B. JUDD
In this election season, we will all be subject
to the national discussion of which
candidate each of us will support. My wish
for my fellow residents of Maricopa is that
we all examine what we want
in government and apply those
ideas to our decision.
It is more responsible to have
our own picture of government
than to succumb to another’s,
finding ourselves in a country of
agreement without any knowledge
of the land whatsoever. It
is vital for Americans to create
an image of perfect government and make
that a reality rather than borrow someone
else’s picture.
I have seen countless interviews of
everyday Americans being asked who
they support and why. While many seem
eager to answer the initial question, the
JOSHUA JUDD
“why” often will stump them; leaving the
interviewee surprised they uttered an
answer at all.
Many Americans have strong feelings
for political candidates, both for and
against, but when anyone probes those
feelings they seem to be void of
reason.
It is essential for everyone to
be an informed voter. It is a vital
part of our national fabric that
we give the reins of power to our
leaders with sincere reasons for
doing so. The fathers of this nation
suffered great hardship to secure
a government that requires
active participation by the people.
So I offer you this challenge: Sit down
this evening with your family, friends or
neighbors and discuss your vision for our
nation.
What role should our government
have? What is it responsible for? Should
it guide us and if so how? What are
particular aspects of our nation of upmost
importance to you and your family? Are
you putting all of your political eggs in one
basket, or are you looking at all aspects of
this country’s health and well-being?
Asking these questions amongst
family may show us all how delicate
governance is. We may find not all things
are as clear as we want them to be, but
at the very least you will come to an
understanding of what you want this
nation to look like.
My hope is you will come to find your
reasons. You will be able to enter the voting
booth with confidence, knowing you
are attempting to bring the nation closer
to your picture with the vote you cast.
Joshua B. Judd resides in Cobblestone Farms

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4m NEWS InMaricopa.com
June 2012
SR 347
PORTER ROAD
WHITE AND PARKER ROAD
Earthly construction
Exterior walls at CAC Maricopa campus built
with rammed earth technology
By Tim Howsare
The buildings and equipment inside will
be on the cutting edge, but the technology
used to build many of the exterior walls at
the Maricopa campus of Central Arizona
College is as ancient as the Great Wall of
China.
After evaluating different materials,
the project team for the new campus at
Bowlin and White and Park roads — across
from the city hall complex also under construction
— decided to implement a building
technology called rammed earth.
SmithGroup of Phoenix is the architect
for the new campus and CORE Construction,
also of Phoenix, is the builder.
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Rammed earth refers to the process of
compacting materials like dirt, sand and
cement with pneumatic compressors to
construct walls not only strong and longlasting,
but with a high level of insulation.
Another reason rammed earth
construction was chosen is because
it reflects the history of the site in
Maricopa, with the Ak-Chin Indian
Community and the Casa Grande Ruins
nearby, according to a video about the
project produced by CORE.
Jessica Steadman, CORE’s director of
marketing, said rammed earth is similar
to adobe, a common construction
technique used by Native Americans
and known to keep interior spaces cool
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Workers from CORE Construction in Phoenix compact earth and cement to form a rammed earth
exterior wall for a building on the CAC Maricopa campus.
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in the desert heat.
“They perform exactly the same
except rammed earth is thicker and
stronger, therefore it is more energy
efficient,” she said. “An adobe building
is a structure built of thousands of small
earth modules. A rammed earth building
is one large module with holes in it for
windows and doors.”
Another advantage of rammed earth
is it is low maintenance and doesn’t need
to be painted.
For the CAC walls, dirt is stabilized
with a 9.4 percent mix of Portland
cement, Steadman said. Harrah’s
Steadman cautions that rammed Ak-Chin earth
is not necessarily a green technology
Casino
because of the energy used to transport
the materials and the equipment needed
to build the walls.
“But it is green in the sense that it
is very energy efficient and it will last
forever,” she said.
She said this is CORE’s first rammed
earth project.
David Snider, District 2 county supervisor,
said rammed earth has merit for
other construction projects in the county
depending on the function and location.
“There are homes built within Pinal
County in the last 20 or 30 years with
rammed earth,” he said. “There are examples
at private residences and a building
at a middle school in Casa Grande.”
The 25-year master plan for the
campus will enable it to accommodate
more than 20,000 students with nearly
720,000 square feet. The first three
buildings, with an expected 2,500 students,
are scheduled to open in January.
A $99 million bond for construction
was approved by voters in 2008.
Although the location is generally
referred to as the Maricopa campus, an
official name has not yet been adopted.
CAC’s three other campus locations are
named after geographic formations relative
to those regions — Aravaipa, Signal
Peak and Superstition Mountain.

June 2012 InMaricopa.com NEWS 5
Local Democrats head
to national convention
By Tim Howsare
Two Maricopa Democrats will be
delegates at the Democratic National
Convention Sept. 3-7 in Charlotte, N.C.
Henry Wade, candidate for Pinal
County Supervisor District 4 and
organizer of the Copa City Dems, and
Marquisah Griffin, former Maricopa city
councilwoman and vice chairwoman
of the Arizona Democratic Party, are
among the eight Democrats from Pinal
County nominating the party’s candidate
for president.
Though both have been active for
years in the Democratic Party, this is the
first time Wade and Griffin have been
selected as national delegates.
“I’m excited. This is a great honor to
be selected by my peers and represent
the state of Arizona to select President
Obama as our president once again,”
said Wade, who is an affirmative action
moderator for the party at both the
county and state levels.
Griffin, who had worked as an intern
in the U.S. Congress, said, “I don’t know
words to describe it. It is one of greatest
highlights of life. I am elated.”
Griffin finished her term on the
Maricopa City Council June 5.
The six others from the county are
Emily Verdugo, who is running for state
representative in the newly drawn Legislative
District 8; Ruby Ivery, who is active
with Organizing for America, President
Obama’s campaign for reelection; Audra
Antone, a member of the Gila River Indian
Community; and Barry McCain, Mary
Desio and Barbara Njos, private citizens
active with Pinal County Democrats.
There are 79 delegates in the state
with five alternates.
Frank Camacho, communications
director for the Arizona Democratic
Party, said it is a great honor to serve as
a delegate and nominate the person who
could become the next president.
Delegates also vote on various issues
that affect not only the future of the
Democratic Party, but the future of the
nation, he said.
“They are active participants in our
democracy,” he said. “Arizona plays
an important part in the presidential
election.”
Phoenix Vice Mayor
Mike Johnson, left,
joins Sandra Kennedy,
Arizona Corporation
Commission;
Marquisha Griffin, vice
chairwoman of the
Arizona Democratic
Party; and Henry Wade,
Democratic candidate
for Pinal County
Supervisor District 4
as delegates to the
Democratic National
Convention.
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6m BUSINESS InMaricopa.com
June 2012
Couple perseveres at neighborhood
bar and grill without neighbors
BY JOE GIUMETTE
Jeanna and Rand Del Cotto settled in
Maricopa to start their lives anew, with
a clear plan that would help them reap
rich rewards.
“To sum it up,” Jeanna Del Cotto said,
“we started out to build and operate a
nice, friendly neighborhood place.
“And we did … without the
neighborhood.”
In 1997, using the equity on their
home in Thunderbird Farms, the
proceeds from the sale of Rand’s two
1932 Fords and Jeanna’s 401(k) from
her job at the telephone company, plus
the investments from family members
as partners, the Del Cottos bought 6.6
acres along Papago Road, two miles west
of John Wayne Parkway.
“There were plans to build 7,000
homes in this area,” Del Cotto said. “We
intended to have the closest bar and grill
and convenience store so people didn’t
have to drive to town. They expected no
less than 20,000 people were going to be
living near here.”
They started work on what they
originally called Papago Cantina — now
the Raceway Bar & Grill, courtesy of a
customer who spotted an old sign in
Tim Howsare
Jeanna and Rand Del Cotto wanted to have a
neighborhood watering hole, but the neighbors
have yet to show up.
the bar promoting a place called the
Raceway Diner — and opened in 2008.
The establishment features American,
Italian and Mexican food, all served
amidst a collection of old commercial
signs, metal toys, auto parts, clocks,
cages and musical instruments, the
product of Rand Del Cotto’s habit of
acquiring stuff.
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Since the growth spurt that saw
Maricopa grow from 4,000 to more
than 45,000 residents slowed to a
trickle, the couple has managed to get
by, although they lost the home they
borrowed against, and have since moved
to another.
Rand Del Cotto’s mother and father,
who sold a bakery business the family
operated in South Chicago Heights,
Ill. for 70 years, moved to Arizona and
work at Rob’s Convenience Store at the
north end of the same strip mall as the
Raceway in Papago Buttes.
An attorney occupies one of the eight
suites. A few other businesses have come
and gone, but space is available to rent.
“Darn,” Rand Del Cotto said, “there’s
nothing but potential out here – lots of
it.”
The couple, who met in pre-school,
works 12 to 14 hour days, seven days a
week.
“We were always buddies,” Jeanna
Del Cotto said. “Since we were 3 years
old, we shared the same neighborhood,
the same friends and we spent time with
each other’s families.”
When she was 29, Jeanna decided to
expand her horizons.
“I wanted to see what it was like
outside the Chicago area,” she said. She
and a girlfriend quit their jobs and drove
to Arizona, where Jeanna had visited
only once before.
“It wasn’t cold here in the winter,” she
said.
A year later, Rand followed, and the
couple settled in Mesa.
“I heard that a guy who lived around
here had a boat with a big Ford engine in
it,” he said. “And I wanted that engine for
a car I was putting together.”
He and a buddy ventured from the
East Valley to Papago Buttes, a place
neither had been before.
“Long story short, we found out there
was no boat, and no engine.”
Attracted by the open spaces,
however, Del Cotto said he began
thinking the Maricopa area might be a
better place to raise their family, which
now consists of their daughters Randi,
24, Alirose, 21, and son Tyler, 16, an
honor student at Maricopa High School.
Without the throngs of customers
they had counted on, the Del Cottos said
they are still grateful so many people
have become loyal patrons.
“They come from as far away as
Surprise and Superior,” Jeanna Del
Cotto said, pointing to a large map on
the wall, covered with pins representing
where customers live. “And, the Raceway
is really popular with our winter visitors
from Canada.”
Aware people who love antiques and
collectible items have few places to shop
in Pinal County, the Del Cottos offer
something they call “dine and consign.”
Customers are encouraged to travel
here with their stuff, have lunch or
dinner, and leave something to sell,
or even buy something they can’t live
without.
In November, Raceway was featured
on an episode of the History Channel’s
“American Pickers.” That show, its
reruns and a YouTube version of it, has
attracted new patrons.
So extensive have the couple’s
collection become, it occupies the suite
next to the Raceway, as well as a large
barn about six miles away.
The couple said they can continue
to pay the bills and keep their business
operating until Maricopa starts growing
again.
Still, where does Rand Del Cotto
want to be five years from now?
“In a convertible with Jeanna by my
side, getting the heck out of here in the
summer.”

June 2012 InMaricopa.com BUSINESS 7
YOUR HOME BUSINESS
What the heck is
SEO and how does
it help business?
By DEBRA PLUNKETT
If you have a business and website you’ve
probably heard the term SEO, but you
may be unclear about what it is and how
it works.
Let’s start with the basic definition:
Search Engine Optimization
(SEO) is exactly what it sounds
like – making your site as favorable
to being found by search
engines as possible.
If you’re expecting your
website to draw in customers
and create business for you,
you want to rank as highly as
you can on the big sites like
Google, Yahoo, and Bing for search terms
in your industry.
You need great, relevant content on
your site and active participation on the
Internet. It can take time to see results –
sometimes quite a long time – but those
with patience, dedication and stamina
often win.
What makes great Web content?
First, it has to be interesting to your
audience. You need to include keywords
that help search engines tie to your
industry. There is a fine balance, though,
between creating content that pleases
people and content that pleases search
engines.
Typically it’s best to focus more on
making your visitor experience engaging,
working the relevant words and phrases in
where you can. If you create entertaining,
fascinating, sharable content, your
visitors will happily do word-of-mouth
marketing for you, boosting your SEO
DEBRA PLUNKETT
rankings by linking to your site.
Search engines also establish your
credibility based on the links created
back to your site from other sites. This is
where participation comes in.
When you comment on someone
else’s blog, write an article for the online
edition of your local newspaper,
answer someone’s question in a
forum or otherwise participate on
the Internet, there is typically an
opportunity to garner a link back
to your site.
Additionally, the more
creative/funny/informative your
content is, the more likely your
site will be a destination others
drive their friends and peers. Google
counts up your links, ranks the quality
of the sites where you have links and
determines how relevant those sites are
to your topic.
As you amass more and more
reputable links, your recognition as a
quality site improves and before you
know it you’re on Page 1 of Google.
Again, the one thing many people
misunderstand about search engine
optimization is it typically takes a long
time to see the fruits of your labor – six to
12 months is a good estimate. However,
with genuine, engaging, purposeful
participation and devotion you will be
rewarded.
Debra Plunkett is the director of public
relations at Sure Spark, a Phoenix
public relations and marketing firm.
She works from her Maricopa home
three days a week.
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BUSINESS BRIEFS
City names new economic
development director
Micah Miranda has been named
the city’s new economic development
director.
Miranda is currently an economic
development specialist in Tempe. There
he created the Arizona Angel Boot Camp
Program and was integral in Tempe’s
efforts to recruit and retain more than
1,440 jobs.
Prior to his work in Tempe, Miranda
served in economic development roles
at the Arizona Department of Commerce
and the city of Mesa.
Miranda will directly supervise the
economic development specialist and
economic development coordinator and
report to Assistant City Manager Danielle
Casey, who was recently promoted from
economic development director.
Miranda has a bachelor’s degree with
an emphasis in regional development
from the University of Arizona and
is a certified economic developer
through the International Economic
Development Council.
New agent comes to Clear Skies
Real estate consultant Trisha Paige
has joined Clear Skies Realty.
She has worked in residential and
commercial real estate for 15 years and
earned her real estate license a year ago.
Paige is an expert on the rental and
property-management markets.
“My family and I moved to Maricopa
three years ago next month,” she said.
“Since that time I’ve not only convinced
my mother to move here but also my
sister and her family.”
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Coffee shop to open
on Honeycutt Road
Honeycutt Coffee Company is
scheduled to open in August at 44400 W.
Honeycutt Road, Suite 109 in Maricopa
Business Center. It will serve coffees,
espressos, teas, smoothies, juices and
hot chocolate.
Owner Eric Graham said the shop
will serve pastries and deli items, as well.
Though it will not have a full kitchen,
fresh food items will be prepared on site.
The coffee shop will occupy 1,300
square feet in the former Nifty Thrifty
thrift shop.
Harrah’s Ak-Chin hosts
free concerts
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort is
offering free concerts throughout June
in the Oasis Lounge noon to 4 p.m. on
Wednesdays.
Acts will include Arizona Diamond
— Tribute to Neil Diamond, Top Cats,
Silhouette and The Vogues.
480-802-5000
HarrahsAkChin.com
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...Are you watching?

June 2012 9
InMaricopa.com COMMUNITY
Horse arena group earns nonprofit status
submitted
TACC founder Chelli Sage, standing second from left, with volunteer work crew from left Clayton
Graeb, Dawn Lesperance, Robbin Schweitzer, Bobbie Johnson, Paula McNatt, Harvey McNatt, Cliff
Garner, Cassidy Garner, Travis Garner, Shiloh Garner and Cody Garner.
“We’ve been encouraging them,” said
Pinal County Assistant Manager Manny
Gonzalez. “It’s a much-needed amenity.”
“Their effort has been nothing short
of stellar,” said Pinal County Supervisor
David Snider. “This is a neighborhood
organization that put a lot of sweat
equity, enthusiasm and passion in taking
an underused arena and making it
functional.”
Gonzalez said the Thunderbird Arena
ultimately could be similar to the county
fairgrounds, which also are owned
by the county but managed by a local
community organization.
For TACC to achieve its vision of a
community park, it had to establish itself
as a permanent organization and lay an
administrative foundation.
The group meets every second Sunday
at 4 p.m. in the Thunderbird Farms
Community Building next to the arena.
Membership fees are $20 per person, $25
per couple and $30 for up to four family
members at the same address. The fees,
along with all proceeds from fundraisers,
go to the arena.
“This has not been any one person’s
plight, it’s everybody,” Sage said. “A
lot of people are out there chipping in.
Whether it’s volunteer hours, some people
have money, some people can gather
donations, some people can really do the
ground-level work, and some people do
the administrative work.”
Most recently, a short-term goal of
replacing the lights ravaged by copper
thieves was met, resulting in the arena’s
first evening event Memorial Day weekend.
Ultimately, TACC would like to see
the entire arena covered and have bleachers,
a plan Sage called “a 10-year goal.”
ThunderbirdArena.net
BY CHRISTINA SAMPSON
Thunderbird Arena Community Council,
the volunteer group committed to
restoring the arena and surrounding
area, began the year by officially being
designated a nonprofit organization.
Chelli Sage, one of the group’s
founders, knows overcoming that
administrative hurdle was just one of
many steps on a long road. Or, as Sage put
it, there’s a “long, long way to go.”
Still, TACC, which now has 93 paid
members — and the arena at 12365 N.
Ralston Road — has come a long way
since it began in August.
“Before TACC came in, the arena was
on its way to being leveled,” Sage said. “It
wasn’t safe anymore. It wasn’t conducive
to the purpose to which it was built.”
Now, the riding area of the park is
“100 percent fully functional,” Sage said.
So far, the arena has been used to
lead monthly gymkhanas, with free
horsemanship clinics beforehand, an
arena obstacle course challenge, a fourevent
gymkhana and, on Memorial Day
weekend, the newly formed mounted
drill team gave its first performance.
Although the organization is focusing
its efforts on the arena, TACC members
would like to see the entire area turned
into a community outdoor recreational
area.
“TACC isn’t just about the equestrian,”
Sage said. “We’re only starting with the
horses because that’s everything we
know. We have the arena; we have the
framework in place.”
“This is about creating a park that
has outdoor activities above and beyond
the typical swing sets (and) soccer,” Sage
said.
Land could be used for BMX
bicyclists, dog-agility events and other
activities suited to rural areas.
This fall, TACC is planning to host
mounted shooting events and more cattle
sorting and trail events.
The arena is owned by Pinal County.
The county, strapped for cash like the
rest of the state, was unable to pay
for the necessary repairs and upkeep.
Copper thieves exacerbated general
maintenance.
“Last year, we were actually
threatened that we were going to lose
the arena,” Sage said. “At one point, (the
county) came and the arena was locked
up; nobody could use it.”
Get to know
your
community
schools!
Parent Open House
Open to all Kindergarten
through 8th grade parents
living in Maricopa
June 14
Santa Rosa Elementary
July 12
Saddleback Elementary
5 to 7:30 p.m.
(520) 568-5100 ext. 1023
www.MaricopaUSD.org
Maricopa UNIFIED: A community dedicated
to student success

10m community InMaricopa.com
June 2012
MARICOPA LIFE
California Zephyr car
perfect symbol of rail past
BY WAYNE BLOCK
First, I have to explain I am a bit of a rail
fan.
Growing up in New York City
in the 1950s I had to take three
different subway lines to high
school, and also spent many
hours on the Long Island Railroad.
I have noticed there are at
least a few of us rail buffs in
Maricopa.
Every once in a while I see folks
photographing the Union Pacific freights
roaring through town on what is known
Maricopa
WAYNE BLOCK
as the Sunset Route, one of the main
cross-country routes in the U.S.
And living on the south side of the
tracks I fully understand the
frustrations of drivers caught
at the State Route 347 crossing
gates by 100-or-more car trains.
All that may be the subject of a
future column.
This, however, is about the
old California Zephyr dome/observation
car sitting just outside
the Amtrak station.
To me, it is a perfect symbol
of the city, honoring its past as a major
railroad junction in the late 1800s. I wish
IT’S TIME FOR
DAD
NOW THROUGH JUNE 18
21542 N. John Wayne Parkway • (520) 494-7805
www.MaricopaAce.com
Wayne Block
Maricopa’s Silver Horizon California Zephyr was renovated with the parts of two other rail cars.
there was a way to bring in one of the old
Butterfield stage coaches to represent
that portion of our history.
The railroad car is actually owned by
Pinal County.
I was directed to District 3 Supervisor
David Snider who told me much of the
history of its ownership.
With help from state and federal
grants, the county purchased three cars,
scavenging parts from two to renovate
the one sitting outside the station, the
Silver Horizon.
Originally owned by Burlington
Northern Railroad, it served Amtrak until
1985 and then passed through several
private owners until being acquired by
the county in 1999.
Its original purpose was to serve as
the Maricopa Amtrak depot. After two
years, however, Amtrak decided to bring
in the modular structure it uses today.
What will happen to the car when
Maricopa moves the station to the
opposite side of SR 347, a move to help
eliminate early morning traffic tie-ups?
“It is not an easily transferrable asset
because of the state and federal funding,
as well as some private donations,”
Snider said.
There is also some interest by the city
of Casa Grande in acquiring the car.
“My predecessor, Mr. (Jimmie) Kerr
had undertaken some discussions with
the city of Casa Grande, which also had
an interest in the Zephyr,” Snider said. “It
was an issue that needed to be resolved
between the District 3 supervisor’s office
and the two cities. And that has taken a
while to accommodate.”
Other legal matters must be resolved
before any ownership transfer can take
place, but preliminary discussions are
occurring between Maricopa and the
county, as well as between the two cities.
“I think it’s safe to say at this point that
I am guardedly optimistic that a transfer
to the city of Maricopa is feasible,” Snider
said, adding the legal processes probably
will take at least a year.
Meanwhile, the Maricopa Historical
Society periodically runs tours of the car,
which are well received by the public.
Another question revolves around the
condition of the car, which needs some
work to look its best. Right now there
simply are no funds to undertake repairs.
On another railroad note, I recently
visited the Arizona Railway Museum
in Chandler and thoroughly enjoyed
the visit. Anyone with similar interests
should definitely make the short drive to
this fine facility I expect I will join in the
near future.
For the time being, enjoy the sight
of the Silver Horizon as you near the
intersection of SR 347 and Maricopa-
Casa Grande Highway. It represents a
part of Maricopa’s past that lingers in a
small way today.
Wayne Block writes a monthly column
for InMaricopa. He can be reached at
Wayne@InMaricopa.com.

June 2012 11
InMaricopa.com COMMUNITY
Four-legged
friends ease
children’s fears
of reading aloud
benefit from reading aloud in such a
controlled environment, Gunter said.
Each session lasts about 10 minutes.
Children may either bring their own
books or choose one from the library.
The program, which runs in fiveweek
sessions, is open to anyone by
registering at the library. The next
session begins June 18 and takes place
Mondays at 3:30 p.m.
BY WAYNE BLOCK
The combination of children and dogs
can be a joyous one; fun for both parties.
A program at the Maricopa Library,
however, uses the pairing to provide an
opportunity for youngsters who feel shy
about reading aloud a very willing and
nonjudgmental audience — a dog.
“I had a parent last fall who was really
inspired by it,” said Library Manager
Joe Gunter. “Her child had never read
orally to anyone. To see him sit down
and read at all was a major thrill for her.
She was pretty emotionally charged by
that.”
Six-year-old Lily reads to P.J. and handler Denise Perry Williams.
The program began about a year ago.
Gunter experienced it in Colorado and
said it is in place in libraries around the
country.
Each child is brought into a closed
room with only his or her parent, a dog
and the dog’s handler present. All dogs
are licensed therapy animals. P.J. is
Linda Block
a 3-year-old Golden Retriever owned
and trained by Denise Perry Williams
of Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy
Services.
While beneficial to children with
ADHD/ADD, autism and speech and
language disorders, the program is open
to anyone who feels their child could
Billiards league looks to expand pool of players
BY CHRISTIA GIBBONS
Kariann Vezmarovic is full-time mom,
part-time pool player: “Playing pool is
how my husband and I started dating,”
she said. “It’s a love of his and
became a love of mine.”
Joe Thompson is full-time
retiree, part-time pool player:
“Been retired for a year, might
as well play pool.”
Tyler Del Cotto is a fulltime
high school student,
part-time pool player: “I like
to meet older people.”
These three are just the
kind of people Bill Huddart
is on the lookout for as he
distributes fliers and posters and readily
talks about the fun of playing pool.
Huddart took up the game about six
years ago and now runs the local American
Poolplayers Association league.
“The league is geared to the everyday
player,” he said. “You get to meet people
Bill Huddart invites
more people to join
APA league.
and get to play pool; that’s what we’re
based on.”
Huddart moved to Maricopa about
two years ago. He’s retired from the U.S.
Postal Service, although he runs a contract
route in the Glennwilde subdivision.
He also owns JLY Pool
Cue Sales and Repair.
“I was collecting (pool cues)
already, I might as well sell
them,” he said.
The game of pool, he said,
demands focus.
“It’s not as easy as people
think,” he said. “If you don’t
concentrate you can’t play.”
“I’m an example of that,” he
added.
The league plays at Headquarters,
O’Shays and Raceway Bar &
Grill.
There’s still time to get involved in
the current session. The league runs
year round with 15-week sessions and
two-week playoffs. The National Team
Championships is set for Aug. 16-25 in
Las Vegas.
It costs $25 to join APA and $10 a
night to play. League play is Monday
night.
Del Cotto, 16, said he likes the league
because “it’s designed for beginning pool
players and it gives them a really good
chance to win.”
Vezmarovic, who was a longshoreman
in Vancouver before becoming a mother
to 4-year-old Hailey, said she enjoys getting
out in the neighborhood.
“I can bring my kid, and it’s a good
group of men and women,” she said. “I
just wish more women would come out
and play. This is a great supportive group,
ready to answer questions, help you out.”
There currently are seven teams,
with eight people on a team. Huddart
said there are at least two women on
each team.
“You’ll play for the rest of your life.
It’s just fun and once you get good, it’s
really fun.”
JLMBHuddart@hotmail.com
520-568-2926
Keeping
the Focus
on you.
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Fathers get to golf for free after they eat brunch.
Please make a tee time accordingly.
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Adults $ 20.95 ++
Children 6 - 10 years $ 9.95 ++
Children 5 years & under Free
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Call for reservations
480.844.1100
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12m COMMUNITY InMaricopa.com
June 2012
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Church ribfest is Saturday
Our Lady of Grace Catholic church is
having a first-ever ribfest starting at 5
p.m. Saturday on church grounds. 45295
W. Honeycutt.
A full slab of ribs with sides is $18;
half-slab $10; child’s portion, $5.
There will be music and dancing.
All proceeds go to the church’s
building fund.
520-568-4605
PCoutre@MaricopaCatholic.org
There’s an app for that
Amtrak has a mobile phone
application that can tell users when
trains will arrive at the Maricopa station.
Mobile users can download the
app from Amtrak.com or find the app
directly at m.amtrak.com.
Once on the app, select Train Status,
#6 – InMaricopa News –06/1/2012
under Station, select Maricopa, then
click on Train No. and enter 2 for the
eastbound train or 1 for the westbound
train, then click Done.
If the train status is unavailable, it
has either arrived for that day or is not
scheduled for that day. Click on Arrival
Date and select the date you are inquiring
about and then click Check Status.
Drivers can also receive information
on the arrival time for the train by calling
800-872-7245 or visiting Amtrak.com.
Girl Scouts give cookie money
to the dogs
Girl Scout Troop 2216, along with
troop leader Elizabeth Huskey, met in
May with Kimberly Diedrich from Pet
Social Worker to work on a Community
Take Action Project with part of the
troop’s cookie money proceeds.
The Scouts prepared goodie doggie
baggies to give new rescue dogs as the
animals are brought in to be fostered.
“All of our Girl Scouts really enjoyed
submitted
From left on bottom row Savannah Shelabarger,
Jada Garcia, Elizabeth Dickerson,
Shailey Ringenback, Katelyn Stroschein and
Elizabeth Huskey. Top row Kimberly Diedrich.
putting together this project and working
on decorating the bags to touch the lives
of a sad dog somewhere and make him
or her feel special,” Huskey said.
PetSocialWorker.org
Hit tHe truckload of fun in June!
City Hall hours change July 1
The city of Maricopa will begin a oneyear
pilot program of a four-day, 10-hour
schedule at City Hall July 1.
The new City Hall hours will be 7 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays,
closed on Fridays.
Essential services such as police, fire,
library and some public works staff will
still work Fridays and weekends.
The extended morning and evening
times will assist residents who need to
visit City Hall either before or after work.
Assistance available for
overdue utility bills
Salvation Army, Maricopa Extension
Division may be able to assist Maricopa
residents with overdue Electrical District
No. 3 or Southwest Gas bills.
Additionally, emergency assistance
for gasoline, prescription drugs or
clothing may be available.
520-705-6509
Steel MaGnolia
June 16, 2012
Free show in the Oasis Lounge
at 8pm & 10pm.
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Maricopa High School
Class of 2012

CLASS
OF
2012
2012
Valedictorian
Speech
BY CARA ONEAL
When my friend mentioned this
poem to me recently, I thought
it would be perfect for this
moment:
Listen to the Mustn’ts
by Shel Silverstein
Listen to the mustn’ts, child,
Listen to the don’ts,
Listen to the shouldn’ts,
The impossibles, the won’ts.
Listen to the never haves,
Then listen close to me --
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be.
Who would have thought that eight
short lines could capture such a huge
moment so perfectly?
It is news to no one that Maricopa
has battled a negative perception in this
community.
Many kids that live here are bussed 30
minutes away to “better schools,” because
Maricopa High has a reputation for bad
test scores and “insert other negatives
here.”
Around our community, I hear a lot of
mustn’ts, don’ts, shouldn’ts, impossibles,
won’ts, never haves, never wills, and
can’ts. And I’m listening. I’m listening
to the “nothing good will ever come from
heres.” I’m listening to the mustn’ts. I
encourage you to listen as well.
A professor from Carnegie-Mellon
University named Dr. Randy Pausch once
said, “When someone stops telling you
that you’re doing something wrong, that
means they’ve given up.” So listen.
To my peers I say, “Challenge that!”
To the naysayers, I say, “Just wait, you’ll
see.”
Let’s look at the naysayers as a brick
wall — now they seem really menacing
right? How do you get around a brick
wall? I don’t actually know how each and
every one of you will individually do it,
but I am confident that every single one
of you can Hulk smash right through it —
you just have to want it bad enough.
The beauty of it is I know that there
are 315 out there who want it bad enough.
The naysayers don’t know that. When
they look at this crowd, they might see
purposeless kids with no drive. When I
look at this crowd, I see a social worker,
a broadcast journalist, a lawyer, an
engineer, an economist, a professor, a
surgeon and a neonatal nurse.
Valedictorian Cara Oneal is a National Merit
Scholarship winner.
That only accounts for eight of the 315
Hulks who are ready to smash through
any brick wall. And they’re ready because
they’ve been listening. They are listening.
We’re all listening, listening to the
can’ts, the impossibles, the negatives —
and we’re challenging them. So listen,
Listen to the mustn’ts, child,
Listen to the can’ts,
Listen to the wouldn’ts,
The improbables, the shan’ts.
Listen to the negatives,
Then listen close to me —
Anything can happen, child,
Just you wait and see.
2012
Salutatorian
Speech
BY TRISTA R. ECKERT
To my dearest classmates of the
Class of 2012, I am extremely
humbled to be standing here
before you, our families, mentors, friends
and staff as your salutatorian.
Take a minute and reminisce with
me:
The last weeks of school.
Stress. Projects. Papers.
Goodbyes and hellos.
Long nights before finals,
Days dragging, yet rushing,
Tugging us in different directions.
What has become of these four years?
New friends, new habits,
Maybe old friends with bad habits.
Literature and homework,
Late starts and no work.
Hot Arizona days, skies filled
with sun,
Coach yells, “Run, run, run!”
Run around the track
Don’t look behind my back,
At all those waiting for their chance
14
Salutatorian Trista R. Eckert is a member of National
Honor Society and graduated with highest honors.
to come,
While I chase after mine,
Run, run, run.
Hit hard by grief and heartbreak,
Moved by inspiration,
Withstand the earthquake.
Live in pride,
Colors red, black and white
Carry new meaning, carry life.
I drive through this familiar town,
What’s beyond, is waiting to be
found.
New adventures to search for,
My belongings sitting by the front
door.
Wave farewell to sports games past,
No more showing up to class.
Remember that one teacher you had,
Who always knew how you felt,
Be it happy or sad?
Some classrooms were a safe place,
Others an arms race.
Running with all that weight,
Do everything for my own sake
To live a better life than my parents
Through education and perseverance.
For those who care
Caps thrown up into the air
Signify a beginning and an end.
So start at the finish line,
You won’t be done running for a long
time.
Thank you, and best wishes for all.
Congratulations everyone. We made it!

Class of 2012
Logan Abel Raymond Adams Gibran Aguilar Cheyenne Anderson Ethan Anderson Randel Barber
Nicole Barwick Rachel Beach Shinasha Bedonie Brittany Blastic Karianne Borommavong
Saysana
Timothy Boyer Genevive Brick Bayanna Brown Corey Brown Jonathan Bustos Jorge Camacho Yasser Cardenas
Maria Carrillo Robert Carrillo Andrea Castano Deanna Chavanne Brittany Chavez Salena Chavez Chelsey Chavez Alejandra Cholico Kelsey Chrosniak Jessica Conner Amanda Corella Lidia Correa
Congratulations, Class of 2012!
• $2 million in scholarships
• National Merit Scholars
• National award-winning Career and
Technical Education programs
• Increased graduation rate
www.MaricopaUSD.org

CLASS
OF
2012
Graduating Seniors
Not Photographed
Sulayman Abdul-Khalliq
Zackery Allison
Heather Banuelos
Nicholas Barlow-Clark
Ashley Barnes
Lorenzo Batopis
Angel Belmontes
Johalmo Beltran
Jose Benitez
Tynealle Betone
Marijan Bilaver
Marcus Black
Christian Bobadilla
Fanco Bobadilla
Nicholas Braxton
Tiffany Brown
Carlos Cano
Andrew Cardella-
Solberg
Brett Carstensen
Shena Carver
Feliza Casillas
Alexander Ceja
Alexander Change
Andy Charlestin
Kyle Chavez
Jayme Clarke
Tyler Cleland
Moses Compian
Katy Cote
Daniel Cross
Stephanie Cuellar
Jennifer Dale
Julia Dickerson
Chelsey Distenfeld
Christopher
Douangchanh
Tara Drew
Trista Eckert
Jayson Esposito
Taran Foulger
Jarred Fowler
Dylan Frazer
Alan Garcia
Faith Garmon
Veronica Gerdts
Jorge Gonzalez
Jenssen Grimaldo
Taylor Grimm
Nicholas Hale
Tina Henderson
Jordan Holloway
Zachary Hubbard
Erik Johnson
Jenna Johnson
Jordan Johnson
Payton Johnson
Sabian Johnson
Kimberly Jurmu
Thomas Justus
Kody Kear
Zane Kruse
Kristopher Kujawski
Amanda Luth
Kadijah Lytle
Jose Maciel
Chonda Maisano
Alan McDaniel
Eric Melgar
Aaron Mendez
Michael Miller
Isreal Montoya
Alexus Muldrew
Jaimie Muzingo
Brooke Nesbihal
Alex Nguyen
Andrea Nieto
Pablo Olivas
Nathanial Orvis
Clyde Pace
Sarai Padilla
Guadalupe Penez
Cheyene Pearson
Tyler Penney
Cecily Peters
Jessica Piet
Andriana Pinales
Nereida Pinales
Adam Poland
Samsadeen Reese
Anthony Rubio
Berenice Ruiz
Cristina Santillana
Erick Sausedo
Janae Saunders
Travis Shays
Katherine Sherrod
Raven Sirmons
Jared Skinner
Nina Sosa
Kali Starkson
Desinee Strzelecki
Keyara Taylor
James Terrell
Kelsea Usher
Eleazar Valenzuela
Toni Vargas
Elyna Verdugo
Diana Villegas
Monica Villegas
Cong Vo
Cody Wallace
Antonie Warren
Matlyn Welsch
Dorothy Westermayer
Justin White
Kayla Wilson
Alexandria Woods
Celeste Ybarra
By the
Numbers
$2,067,969
in scholarship money and awards,
graduated its first students from the
online school and nine seniors captured
the prestigious Arizona Board of
Regents scholarship.
Trista Eckert, the salutatorian, is
headed to the U.S. Army and when
she received $500 from a professional
musicians union, she promptly gave it to
Maricopa High School.
She, and eight other seniors received
the Regents scholarship, which means
they scored exceedingly high on the
AIMS test, as well as maintained all As
and Bs in their core classes. The other
Regent recipients are Kaitlin Gowdy,
Stevena Herring, Kethia Kong,
John Newman, Cara Oneal, Priscilla
Plazola Vidal, T.J. Radigan and
Ariana Tyler.
62
seniors were awarded
80 scholarships,
including valedictorian
Cara Oneal and T.J.
Radigan who are the district’s first
National Merit Scholarship winners.
Alexandria Martinez was awarded
president and James Beard Foundation
scholarships through the Careers
through Culinary Arts Program. Cori
Teller captured a rodeo academic
scholarship from Odessa College in
Texas. Randel Barber earned an
athletic scholarship from Minot State
University in North Dakota.
Kelsea Usher received a scholarship
from the Dairy Council. Women In Business
granted a scholarship to Ariana
Tyler. Orbitel Communications
awarded scholarships to Ethan Anderson
and Kaitlin Gowdy.
Raymond Adam got an Arizona
State University dean’s scholarship,
Shannon Duffy received a Northern
Arizona State University dean’s
scholarship, Kethia Kong received
two scholarships from the University of
Arizona, Christopher Lessard earned
an ASU dean’s scholarship, Shayla
Lolo captured a merit scholarship from
NAU, Taylor Nun got a presidential
scholarship from ASU, Priscilla
Plazola Vidal received an ASU provost
scholarship, Melissa Sikes an ASU
dean’s scholarship and Ariana Tyler
an NAU presidential scholarship.
Amanda Corella received several
scholarships from Grand Canyon
University, and Alfonso Gonzalez
received a Project 2000 scholarship.
41
students received
scholarships from Central
Arizona College.
Eleven students received military
honors and are headed either to the
U.S. Army or U.S. Marine Corps. They
are Zachery Allison, Kevin Craner,
Trista Eckert, Thomas Fanella,
Geoffrey March, Andrew Cardella,
Austin Cox, Jarred Fowler, Alejandro
Fuentes, Zachary Hubbard and
David Westermayer.
Class of 2012
280 graduates
89 graduated with honors
45 graduated
with highest honors
10 members of the
National Honor Society
20 link crew members
22 student council members
62 scholarship awards
recipients
2 National Merit Scholars
PHOTO GALLERY
2012
Graduation
Ceremony
BY shannon williams
16

17
Shoes, smarts
and punk rock
define
scholarly
couple
BY christia gibbons
Cara Oneal is crazy about shoes but
went barefoot for two weeks.
TJ Radigan said the lyrics he
writes are “cruddy,” but who cares? It’s the
shouting that counts.
Cara described her boyfriend of a year as
“incredibly intelligent.”
TJ called Cara “absolutely
amazing.”
Shoes, shouting and
shared smarts start to define
this pair of 18 year olds who
are Maricopa High School’s
first National Merit Scholarship
winners.
When not relishing just
talking to each other, the
two are involved in many
activities.
Cara, who says she’s
“obsessed with shoes,”
was doing a little research
and “found out about kids
who were sick and dying
and can’t go to school, and
school means so much to me.”
She started a shoe drive — Soles for
Souls — and in her second drive collected
250 pairs to ship to TOMS Shoes, a national
footwear company known for philanthropy.
Cara goes barefoot to make a point.
TJ said the movie “School of Rock” with
Jack Black “made me want to be a musician.”
Now he sings and plays in a band
called TL;DR (Too long; didn’t read). He
also teaches guitar and piano and has about
20 students ranging in age from 4 to 70.
He described his own music as alternative
rock, punk. “My lyrics are kind of cruddy.
But, when you’re in a punk band you
don’t need awesome lyrics, just something
you can shout.”
The two met at — where else? A math
TJ Radigan and Cara Oneal,
Maricopa High School’s first
National Merit Scholarship
winners, happen to be a couple
and went to prom together.
CLASS
OF
2012
competition.
They will be attending Barrett, the Honors
College at Arizona State University. TJ
plans to study economics and Cara biochemistry.
At MHS, Cara’s grade-point average
was 4.8 and TJ’s 4.6.
Cara eventually wants to be a pediatric
reconstructive surgeon. At age 9 she was in
a daycare center when a younger child was
hurt and profusely bleeding and it was Cara
who calmed the situation.
“I don’t know what came over me,” she
said. “I wasn’t scared; I just knew I needed
to help. That’s kind of been my pathway.”
She’s interested in working with Operation
Smile, an international charity that
works with medical professionals to provide
facial reconstructive surgery to children.
Both scholars said they enjoyed their
MHS experience.
TJ went to Mountain
Pointe High School in Ahwatukee
his sophomore
year, but he said there were
too my cliques and he never
felt welcomed.
At MHS, “I love the sense
of community,” he said.
“There’s no one I feel like I
couldn’t talk to. You know
everyone.”
Cara agreed. “Like he
said, there aren’t any cliques
here. I am in soccer, I am in
drama, I’m welcome in any
group I’m in.”
Cara also was a crosscountry
runner, Spanish
Club president, member of Students Against
Destructive Decisions and she founded the
Green Earth Club.
For his part, TJ was president of the
math club, unit captain with We the People,
is a member of the Community of Hope
church youth group and an Eagle Scout.
Perhaps it’s little surprise that on their
first date at Subway they talked for four
hours.
“He’s one of the few people I can talk to
for hours and hours and hours,” Cara said.
For TJ, “I don’t think I’ve met anyone
I could spend unlimited time with without
getting tired.”
Both said they are lucky to be intelligent
and appreciate the opportunities and
challenges it allows.

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Shawnny Cruz Madalina Cutajar Hue Dang Melissa Dayton Jonathan Dean Jessica Delgado
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19
CLASS
OF
2012
Cherish Huish Tyler Hunsaker Alyxandria Hydrick Nickolas Ilten Reece Ivie Quincee Jackson
Gregorio Jimenez Adam Johnson Christopher Johnson Zachary Jones Amanda Jordan Brisa Juarez
We are proud of
our graduating
seniors!
Stacey Kearns Jerret King Kethia Kong Christina Lam Kaylen Langelier Cody Lara
Brett Cartensen
Samantha Cook
Brittney Farrow
Stevena Herring
Christopher Lessard
Nate Orvis
Gregory Ruiz
Katie Sherrod
David Westermayer
Lexi Woods
Paisley Larsen Kacey Lawson Christopher Lessard Matthew Lincoln Shayla Lolo David Loomis
20700 N. John Wayne Pkwy.
520-568-2854
41650 W. Maricopa/Casa Grande Hwy.
520-568-6688
Steven Lopez Marcus Lowe Mariel Manuel Geoffrey March Stephanie Marin Alejandra Martinez
The Maricopa Police Department
wishes to congratulate all of the
2012 Maricopa High
School graduates.
Best wishes in
reaching your future goals!
Alexandria Martinez Natasha McCullough Arielle Mejia Amairaine Miranda Robert Molina III Kaleb Moore
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2012!
Michael Moore Jaime Morales Fernando Munoz Troy Munoz Ariana Narcia Jerrick Natividad
Guadalupe Nava Johnathon Nelson John Newman Taylor Nun Elise Ochoa Alicia Oliphant
602 492-CARS(2277)
Congratulations
Seniors!
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Congratulations
2012 Graduates!
We wish you the best of luck
in future endeavors.
COURTNY TYLER
State Farm Agent
(520) 568-5588
MaricopaInsurance.com

CLASS
OF
2012
20
Colette Olsen Cara Oneal Taylor O’Sullivan Emmanuel Perez Emily Pina Priscilla Plazola Vidal
Shanice Poola Victoria Portillo Savannah Print Paige Provost Thomas Radigan Morgan Reinert
Crystal Rice Joshua Rodriguez Gregory Ruiz Jr. Katrina Saizka Dominique Salaam Taylor Salazar
Jesse Samuels Jannette Saucedo Aguilar Erin Shoulders Melissa Sikes Anais Solano Bryce Stradling
Nigel Sultan Isaac Talaver-Aguilar Corilynn Teller Stephen Temme Alexzandria Thompson Joshua Thompson
Orlando Tolano Aaron Trujillo Jennifer Turley Ariana Tyler Edgar Uriarte Lizveth Valadez
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June 2012 InMaricopa.com EDUCATION 21
Nissan engineers
hands-on experience
for Butterfield
students
BY CHRISTIA GIBBONS
It started with volunteers, balloons and
teams of fifth-graders.
Six weeks later, three classes of
Butterfield Elementary School students
have designed and marketed an airpropelled
“JetToy,” applied the scientific
method of collecting data, observing,
experimenting and adjusting, and worked
side-by-side with Nissan engineers.
Better yet, the students got a field
trip to the Nissan proving grounds in
Stanfield to get a taste of how designing
and engineering come together. In other
words, STEM learning in which science,
technology, engineering and math mesh.
The project is the brainchild of the
Society of Automotive Engineers through
its A World in Motion program.
“It helps students see the connection
between what they are learning in
school now and what they can become
in the future, with the intent of creating
some ‘inspiration’ along the way for
their future careers,” said Butterfield
Principal Janel Hildick.
Her students are the first in Maricopa
Unified School District to participate
in the program, and the hope is to
expand it to more elementary grades and
schools, and into the middle school and
high school. Society of Automotive Engineers
offers programs from kindergarten
through college.
Students were tasked to design a toy
car. They calculate and recalculate three
variables — nozzle size, weight, balloon
size — to boost their cars to go faster and
farther.
“It’s to get the kids excited about
math and science,” said Don Robbins,
a retired General Motors engineer who
coordinates the A World in Motion program
in the Phoenix area.
Maricopa volunteers Dan Cowley, a
retired John Deere engineer, and Jim
Irving, a member of the MUSD school
Christia Gibbons
Nissan’s senior manager for business and vehicle test operations Anita MacFadden works with
fifth-graders on finding the right combination of weight and air to best propel the JetToy.
board, have been with the students every
step of the way.
“A lot of companies in the automotive
industry are interested in building tech
talent,” Cowley said.
Cowley remembers it was about fifth
grade when he started thinking of becoming
an engineer, and said it’s a key
time to reach students and help set them
on a path.
Nissan bought the kits the 99 Butterfield
students used. The automotive
engineering society provides the teacher
training. Teachers Kristin McMullen,
Kelly Wilcox and Elizabeth Zimpleman
participated.
“It’s been really amazing,” Wilcox
said. “It’s opened the idea to some students
that ‘Hey I might want to do this.’”
Bill Klein is volunteer engineer from
Sun Lakes who works with the A World
in Motion program and instructs students
on the day’s lessons.
“The idea is to build a logical thought
process,” Klein said.
Five to 10 Nissan volunteers — wearing
red shirts — worked weekly with the
students. Among them Anita MacFadden,
senior manager for business and
vehicle test operations.
“We tell them it’s your decision, your
design and then we guide them a little,”
MacFadden said. “I think everyone’s
having a good time. … The idea here is
to build a light-weight car that can carry
weight and go far.”
Nissan’s Derek Logan said he “loves
the AWIM program.”
Logan first got involved with the Society
of Automotive Engineers when he
went to the University of Arizona and
built a formula car. “I realized it was my
favorite thing in college; learning to work
with a team.”
“It’s about how much we can help by
helping the kids,” Logan said. “We can
help with their entire future.”
Winners in the JetToy project were:
first place — Jerome Denmark, Tiffany
Quimby and Gabriel Salazar; second
place — Jasmin Dimas, Xavier Zamora
and Anthony Nieto; third place — Renzo
Silva, Rachel Hall and Austin Attridge.
Cowley said the program can grow,
but only with more volunteers.
And, local business partners are
needed to sponsor different school sites,
he said. For instance, this year the Sun
Lakes Rotary club provided medals for
the winning teams.
“We would like to recruit other businesses
in town to help with kits so more
students can participate,” he said, pointing
out. “We also went through a lot of
scotch tape.”
EConley@MUSD20.org, to volunteer
AWIM.org
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InMaricopa’s publications are made possible by our
advertisers. Please join us in supporting them.
Special thanks to the following local businesses that have
supported InMaricopa and its readers for five years or more:
Maricopa
AHS Landscaping
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John Pham, DC
TLC Yard Maintenance
www.InMaricopa.com/Advertising
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Academic League winners
Maricopa Unified School District’s
Academic League fourth- and fifth-grade
competitions finished with fourth-graders
from Butterfield and Pima Butte Elementary
schools going head-to-head and Butterfield
winning first place.
In the fifth-grade competition Pima Butte
beat Santa Rosa for first place.
MUSD20.org
Guide for families
with young children
First Things First in Pinal County has
designed a resource guide -- a comprehensive
list of service providers and referral agencies
— for use by parents, families and community
agencies.
Initial distribution has begun to social
service agencies, libraries, pediatricians,
hospitals, WIC offices, DES offices and child
care centers throughout the county.
“A child’s most important developmental
years are those leading up to kindergarten,”
said Program Coordination Specialist Katrina
DeVinny, who created the guide. “First
Things First partners with Arizona parents
and communities to help kids 5 and younger
receive the early education, quality healthcare
and family support they need to start school
healthy and ready to succeed. This guide gives
parents information so that they can make
the best choices for their kids.”
520-836-5838
AZFtF.gov/Pinal
Legacy Traditional School
names new principal
Nicole Mangum has been named principal
for the 2012-13 school year at Legacy
Traditional School.
Mangum has more than 17 years
experience in education.
Mangum was a fifth- and sixth-grade
teacher beginning with the school’s inaugural
year in 2007. For the past two years she served
as assistant principal and athletic director.
Mangum and her husband Troy have an
8-year-old daughter.
The accelerated K-8 school has more
than 1,000 students and is part of the only
A-ranked district in Pinal County. It is at
17760 N. Regent Drive.
520-423-9999
LegacyTraditional.org

June 2012 InMaricopa.com REAL ESTATE 23
Housing news and views
Know your rights if rental
house becomes foreclosure
BY DAWN ANDERSON
As a property management company,
tenants often express the concern of
the home they are renting going into
foreclosure.
Although we hope this never happens
to any tenant, it can and does happen.
First and foremost, if you
are provided a trustee’s sale notice,
contact your manager or
owner immediately.
If the property manager has
not contacted you yet, he or she
may not even know the foreclosure
has happened. The owner
may not be aware of a pending
foreclosure.
The owner also may be willing to
work with you on moving out of the
home, getting deposits back at the time
of foreclosure or additional options.
However, even though the owner is not
paying the mortgage, the tenant still is
legally required to pay rent per the lease.
If you stop paying your rent without
a written agreement to do so, you can be
evicted.
That said, tenants have more rights
when it comes to the homes they are
renting than they usually realize.
The Arizona Residential Landlord
Tenant Act details all the landlords and
dawn anderson
tenants rights during the term of the lease.
In 2009 the Protecting Tenants at
Foreclosure Law was enacted to provide
tenants rights in case of foreclosure.
Under this act, if there is a written lease
entered into prior to the foreclosure
notice being recorded, the tenant has
the right to stay in the home through the
term of the lease.
The only exception to this is
if the new owner of the property
wants to move into the home as
their own residence. In this case,
that new owner has to provide at
least 90 days written notice to the
tenant to vacate the home.
There are certain exclusions
from these rules. For example,
it has to be a written lease, the tenant
cannot be a relative of the prior owner
and the lease needs to be a term lease, not
a month-to-month lease.
However, the important thing to
remember is that the tenant does have
rights during a lease no matter what is
happening with the ownership of the
home.
Maricopa resident Dawn Anderson is the
broker/owner of Maricopa Properties.
520-568-0555
MaricopaProperties.com
FREE
ROAD TO RECOVERY
wORKSHOP
Learn about credit recovery, buying again and more after a
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June 12 • 7 - 8 p.m.
41600 w. Smith-Enke Road (next to library)
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EXPERIENCED IN SHORT SALES • MARICOPA RESIDENT

24m REAL ESTATE InMaricopa.com
June 2012
Workshop offers advice on
rebuilding financial lives
BY CHRISTINA SAMPSON
Foreclosure, short sales and bankruptcy
can have a devastating financial and emotional
impact on the people experiencing
them, but credit scores — and lives — can
be rebuilt.
“There is definitely hope,” said
Pat Lairson, a real estate agent at
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
“Eventually, the short sale and foreclosure
will be removed from your credit.”
The complicated part is figuring out
when that will be and how to rebuild
credit.
In Maricopa, residents facing this
issue can attend a free workshop called
Road to Recovery hosted by Suzie Rotter,
a real estate agent with Clear Skies Realty
and Renee Gerke, a lender with the
Peoples Mortgage Company.
Rotter and Gerke started the
workshops about six months.
“People don’t know what they can
do after these situations,” Gerke said.
“Nobody is giving out information; it’s
not common knowledge.”
“They’re talking to their friends and
neighbors about how to go about fixing
their credit or what they should do,”
Rotter said. “And these people are giving
them information that may have been
pertinent to their situation, but is not
pertinent to everyone.”
“Unfortunately, in the credit world
there is not a one-size fits all,” Gerke said.
Too many people are making poor
decisions based on myths or unfounded
advice seen on television, the Internet or
even well-meaning loved ones, the experts
said.
One mistake: People deciding to stop
paying the mortgage when the first sign
of real trouble appears.
People do this, Lairson said, because
they think “it’ll take a really long time to
foreclose.”
That’s not always true, she said.
“Another myth is that if you’re going
to do a short sale then you should stop
paying your mortgage,” Lairson said.
“If you’re having trouble making your
payments, the first step is to call your
bank,” she said.
“And it’s usually the last thing people
do,” Lairson said. “They bury the bill or
they think, ‘Well next month, I’ll just pay
a little more,’ and then they’re in no different
shape so then they don’t respond
to calls.”
Gerke said the first thing to do after
a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy is
for the person to get hold of their credit
report. “Because you need to make sure
that everything’s being recorded correctly,”
she said.
Once the credit report is squared
away, it is important to build a variety of
credit.
It is crucial payments be made, and
made on time.
“(Paying) utility bills is establishing
credit,” Lairson said. “It’s not all about
credit cards. (Credit bureaus) look at
a variety of loans. Even to build up a
savings helps your credit, because that
shows up.”
Open communication with the bank
is key.
“Go into a bank, meet with a bank
person — not for a loan — and just talk to
them about it,” Lairson said. “They often
will have something they can give you to
help build it up again.”
One example is a collateral credit
card.
“These are credit cards accounts
where you can place, like $300 in a
savings account, and then you can get a
credit card for $300,” Lairson said. “So
they will hold the money, and it’ll be a
small limit, but that will really help build
up your credit.”
There is a waiting period for
mortgages, Gerke said. “It depends
on whether you had a short sale, a
bankruptcy or a foreclosure, but there
is a waiting period for each one of
those events before you can get a new
mortgage.”
The waiting period can be anywhere
from two to seven years.
Getting the right information is key.
That’s one of the reasons Rotter
described the response to the workshops
as “very favorable.”
“They’re thrilled with the
information because they didn’t know it
prior to coming and they get a lot of their
questions answered,” she said. “Renee is
very knowledgeable.”
The next Road to Recovery Workshop
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June 2012 25
InMaricopa.com TECHNOLOGY
Becoming tech savvy
Traditional gifts for Dad
now come with tech twist
Sponsored by
Kevin McDill figures he acquired 30-40 tools while remodeling a previous home in California.
BY CHRISTINA SAMPSON
Dads who love their tools may seem like
an old cliché, but apparently it’s one that
remains true through the years.
Craig Clement, general manager of
Maricopa Ace Hardware said there’s
definitely an uptick in business around
Father’s Day and described the customers
he sees as “mostly its moms and kids.”
“Basically what they’re looking for is
something that dad wouldn’t spend the
money on himself,” Clement said.
There’s plenty of cool tools for family
members to choose from, too, many of
which leverage the latest advancements
in technology.
Even a hammer can get a high-tech
twist, such as the NEXTEC Hammerhead
Auto-Hammer, an electric, handleless
hammer that can get into tight places and
is battery-operated.
Cordless tools, though not new, have
come a long way as well.
Now that most of them feature sturdy,
plastic casings and lightweight, lithium
ion batteries, the latest cordless drill or
hand saw is much easier to carry. And
with a charging time of only a couple of
hours for a full day of operation, Dad
won’t have to wait too long to try out his
new “toy.”
For the dad who prefers to kick
back and relax with a burger and beer,
there’s always the grill brush that ejects
high-temperature steam for easy grill
cleaning and a portable hammock that
Kevin McDill Jr.
folds into a backpack.
Still, there’s always the dad who loves
his power tools.
One local example is Kevin McDill,
a father of two who moved to Maricopa
seven years ago.
McDill didn’t hesitate to say he “would
have absolutely no problem with getting
power tools for Father’s Day.”
As of yet, McDill hasn’t received any
tools from his 11-year-old son, Kevin,
Jr. or 10-year-old daughter, Sydney, but
that’s probably because he already has a
garage full of tools.
“Yeah, I do have a lot of tools,” he admitted,
laughing.
“What’s funny is I actually accumulated
most of my tools when I was remodeling
my house in California,” McDill said,
referring to a series of renovation projects
that took two years beginning in 2003.
“My wife wanted to remodel the house
and every little thing that she wanted to
do I would say, ‘OK, I can do that, but I
got to buy these tools for it,’” McDill said.
McDill, who designs copper and fiber
optic cabling infrastructure for Wells
Fargo Bank, wasn’t experienced in home
renovation.
“I love to tinker around with stuff,”
he said. “I was never really good at it,
never really anything specific, either,
but I’ve always been fascinated with
building things and changing things and
rearranging things.”
Armed with some do-it-yourself
books and advice from the experts at the
hardware store, he would look at the next
project needing to be done and “just dive
right in and do it.”
Depending on the job, McDill said the
necessary tools could range “from little
hand tools for tiles and hardwoods down
to the big stuff” like saws.
He estimated he acquired between
30 and 40 tools during the renovation,
including such smaller items as putty
knives, mallets, hammers and wedges.
McDill said he generally prefers tools
— high tech or not — that “get the job
done and that are reliable.”
“I don’t need all the fancy gimmicks
and gadgets with laser beams and all
that stuff,” McDill said. “I just like good,
reliable brand names that you know are
3
Mbps
going to last and aren’t going to break
down in the middle of a job.”
For some guys, a list of home projects
is a downer. Not for McDill.
“I really enjoy doing the work, and
when you step back and look at the finished
product and you go, ‘I did that,’ I
mean, that’s pretty cool,” McDill said.
“In fact, that’s one of the things I was
bummed about when we built a new
house down here, was that it was a new
and there wasn’t really anything for me
to do on it,” he said.
But there will be one day. And when
that day comes, although McDill said
he’s pretty well set up in the tool realm,
he might be in the market for a new,
cordless drill.
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26m HEALTH InMaricopa.com
June 2012
CGRMC receives mammography grant
SUBMITTED BY CGRMC
Casa Grande Regional Medical Center
Foundation was awarded a $75,000 grant
to provide free screening and diagnostic
mammograms in Pinal County by the
MOST MAJOR INSURANCES
Medicare / AHCCCS
Uninsured? We can help!
Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for
the Cure.
The foundation was one of 18 community
breast health and breast cancer
programs in central and northern Arizona
to receive a portion of more than
SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
FAMILY HEALTH CARE by
Jean Paul, D.O. & David Sorenson, P.A.C.
• Welcoming patients of all ages
• Prescription pick-up available
www.SunLifeFamilyHealth.org
(520) 568-2245
44765 W. Hathaway Road
Open 8 am to 5 pm, Mon thru Fri
• Immunizations for children & adults
• Physicals: sports and employment
Sun Life…Excellence in health care!
$1.5 million in grants to continue fighting
against the disease while impacting
the lives of thousands of Arizonans.
Karen Kerr-Osman, CGRMC’s
director of community relations and its
foundation, said since this is one of only
two screening grants in Pinal County, it
is critical women in all communities are
notified of its availability.
“We especially want to reach out
to women in outlying communities
such as Maricopa so they know there is
assistance for screenings even if they do
not currently have health insurance,”
Kerr-Osman said.
“In addition, this year we requested
transportation funding to remove one
barrier for women who cannot easily get
to Central Arizona Breast Center in Casa
Grande for their screening.”
To qualify for a free screening mammogram,
women must be at least 40
years, have no history of breast cancer,
have not had a mammogram in more
than a year, have no medical insurance
and meet certain income requirements.
In addition, women with health insurance
deductibles of $100 or more also
may be eligible.
The program includes screening or
diagnostic mammograms for younger
and men identified by a physician as
medically at risk because of family
history or medical concerns.
Patients may be referred to the
program through Stanfield Free Clinic,
Sun Life Family Health Center, primary
care physicians or gynecologists.
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June 2012 InMaricopa.com RELIGION 27
Being a father
is a privilege
BY PASTOR GRADY ROOT
One out of 365 sounds like a pretty poor
return if you ask me.
Father’s Day is one day out of 365 in
which my family celebrates me for playing
my role as dad.
If I had that low of a return in
my career, my batting average,
or any other area of my life, I’d
close up shop and quit for being
a failure. But the truth is, in spite
of all the hard work, self-sacrifice,
worry and effort that goes
into being a dad, I’d do it even if
there were zero days out of 365
where I’m celebrated for my role.
But I do love Father’s Day.
Not just because I feel special and celebrated
for being dad and my family let’s
me do whatever I want. I love Father’s
Day because it reminds me of the privilege
and responsibility I have as a father.
Nobody else in the whole world can be for
my kids what I am — their dad.
It’s not the job of their teacher, pastor,
boss, coach, mother, friends, or anyone
else to father my children. That’s my job
and my joyful responsibility. And Father’s
Day reminds me it’s more important
than any other responsibility I have
as a man.
Fortunately, it’s a job and responsibility
that comes with awesome rewards
far beyond just Father’s Day. Like heartwarming
moments when my 2-year-old
daughter climbs into my lap just to be
close to her daddy.
Or the feeling of pride when my son
throws a ball in the house so hard my
wife scolds me for telling him, “Good
throw;” even the joy that comes with sacrificing
my own ambitions or well-being
because the well-being of my children is
more important.
Sure, being a dad comes with a lot of
trials and difficulty, even moments when
GRADY ROOT
I don’t want the responsibility. Sometimes
I struggle to be a good dad and be
patient with my children.
Sometimes I even wish I could get a
vacation from fatherhood and just take
the week off.
But the simple fact is I love my family
more than anything else in this
world and nothing rewards me as
much as my role as dad.
I want my children to have
the best this life has to offer. And
I’ll pay any price I have to pay to
make sure they turn out to be the
best kids they could possibly be.
I hope on this Father’s Day,
as your family celebrates you for
your all-important role as dad, you realize
what a wonderful privilege you have
to be the dad of your kids.
Grady Root is lead pastor of Maricopa
Springs Family Church, 22590 N. Powers
Parkway South. He is the father of son
Aiden, 3, and daughter Karis, 2. He and his
wife Leanne are expecting twins in July,
a boy to be named Soren and a girl to be
called Briley.
MaricopaSprings.com
Join us!
Sundays 10:30 a.m.
Worship & Children’s Ministries
Sundays 5 p.m. – Youth Nights
Wednesdays 7 p.m. – GROW Family discipleship
with dinner at 5:30 p.m.
20038 Taft Ave.
(520) 568-4867
Satellite home of Western Bible College
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28m SPORTS InMaricopa.com
June 2012
Outgoing AD: Bar has been raised
BY WAYNE BLOCK
Progress.
When Brian Winter assumed his
duties as vice principal and athletic
director at Maricopa High School last
summer that was what he was looking
for in his first, and what turned out to be
only, year on the job.
And that is what he said he achieved.
“We got a lot of things in place;
raised the bar on a lot of levels,” he
said speaking in his office days after
tendering his resignation. Winter will
move to Goodyear Millennium High
School in the same two positions at
MHS.
“Like I said when I got here, and I
really believe it, I think this place is a
sleeping giant,” he said.
Although there was not a lot of
Summer’s Gonna Start...
Call A/C Smart!
success on the playing fields during
the past school year, Winter said much
progress has been made that will lead to
a better athletic future.
“We started doing some of the
legwork in terms of a booster club, trying
to create more of an umbrella booster
club that didn’t exist,” he said.
“We were able to create a sense of
direction with our coaches and that’s
probably the most difficult thing.”
Turnover in head coaching positions
had become a problem in recent years.
“Our coaching stipends are not very
good; they’re not comparable. At the end
of the day, that’s going to be a challenge,”
Winter said. “Many of our teachers and
coaches drive, they’re not residents of
Maricopa. If they can make more money
teaching and coaching closer to where
they live — we’re fighting that.”
A major improvement during the past
year has come in facilities.
The baseball and softball fields
received major improvements, going
from poor playing surfaces to good.
Some improvements were made
possible because of increased gate
receipts and pay-to-play fees, and
volunteers made huge contributions, too.
Tom Dugan, owner of several NAPA
Auto Parts stores “was kind of our
volunteer grounds person,” Winter said.
“He did the bulk of the mowing on this
campus all year.”
The Whittles, Aaron and Chad, were
both guys who came onto the campus
and volunteered at various times. They
did a lot of work, particularly on the
softball field.”
Facility upgrades included: pouring
a curb to keep rocks from going onto
Did you know?
Using a locally owned
business has 3x the impact
for the local economy.
Maricopa Chamber
of Commerce
MaricopaChamber.com
JAKE JOHNSON
Brian Winter looks back over his year as MHS
athletic director.
the track, completely redoing the weight
room including padding on the walls, and
painting Ram Country on the football
stadium and banners that will hang in the
gym next year honoring Maricopa’s past.
“Eleven state championships and nine
runners-up,” Winter pointed out.
Winter has fond memories of the high
points of the year athletically.
“The girls’ basketball team had a
nice run and had a playoff game; Chris
Lessard’s second place finish at the state
cross country meet; our varsity football
team finished the season strong,” he
said. “I think we were competitive on a
lot of levels.”
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June 2012 29
InMaricopa.com SPORTS
Recital showcases
kids’ karate skills
BY WAYNE BLOCK
Maricopa youngsters are getting a kick
out of karate thanks to a local couple.
Charlie and Amy Rogers, owners of
the Arizona American Institute for Self-
Defense, spotlighted their Maricopa
group in a recital at Saddleback Elementary
School in May with more than 50
youngsters ages 3 to 14.
“Our goal is to spread martial arts to
everyone and keep the ‘art’ in martial
arts,” Charlie Rogers said as children
excitedly roamed the halls just off stage
prior to the show.
The couple, who teach martial arts in
25 locations throughout the Valley, have
built the number of Maricopa students
to the point where a local demonstration
was possible.
“We teach our children that they don’t
need to fight to protect themselves, (but)
to use their brain to get away from danger,”
Rogers said.
The recital featured no fighting, only
technique.
“Honor, respect, patience and kindness,”
called out one group of girls lining
up to go on stage when asked by Rogers,
“What are the karate code words?”
Rogers began teaching martial arts as
a college student and he and Amy went
into business together after they were
married in 2000.
LINDA BLOCK
About 50 Maricopa children performed in the karate demonstration at Saddleback Elementary School.
“We’re trying to do more here in Maricopa,”
Rogers said. “We travel around
400 to 500 miles a week to classes. Since
we have three children of our own, the
more we can build here in Maricopa the
more we can be at home.”
Most classes are held after school and
in the evenings. Adult lessons also are
available.
480-213-5438

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Pool Care
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Rita Weiss, Broker
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February 2012 31
InMaricopa.com NEWS
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All Appliances Repaired
Appliance Works LLC
520-424- 8435
480-310-8395
ronellejamieson@hotmail.
com
CHILD CARE /
education
Annette’s Place Daycare
& Preschool. Sibling
Discount 520-709-3130
watermann12@yahoo.com
Busy Bees Daycare
20 yrs. quality, dependable,
loving experience
520-568-5839
all4wells@msn.com
Hope’s Cobblestone
Child Care
90% Green Center
hopepedigo@aol.com
520- 868-6790
602-810-6865
CLEANING
Alex & Claudia’s
Housekeeping,
Windows/Screens
Service
520-350-8776
alex.claudia2cleanfreaks
@gmail.com
HELP WANTED
Auto Bodyman
Experienced
Full/Part Time for small
Specialty Shop- Call
520-494-2745
levyracing@yahoo.com
Business Manager U of A
Maricopa, AZ Review begin
ning 5/18/2012 Apply at
www.uacareertrack.com;
Job #50060 (520) 381-2204
Computer Repair / Sales
Full/P.T. in Mariocopa &
Chandler. Submit Resume
W/ Salary Requirements &
References to steven.
sanders@datadoctors.com
Line Cook – Raddison
6 mo. Restaurant exp.
Work as a team; English
Reading/Communication
480-961-4444
Local Cleaning Company
Seeks honest, hard working,
reliable, part time help.
Requires background check
Please call 520-850-1454
PT Bilingual Front Desk
Send resume to: lance
@lancelaneinsurance.com,
fax to 520-568-5200, or
deliver in person to
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P.T. Reception - Proficient
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Please reply with resume
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Every Dog Has Its
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