Welcome to the Internet home of   The Save Apache Wells website went online in the summer of 2006 in response to actions taken by the Apache Wells Board of Directors that many of our homeowners disagreed with. Those actions and commentary can be found in the website's Archives section. The purpose of the website today is to inform Apache Wells homeowners of the activities of the AWHA Board of Directors and the various committees sanctioned by them. Apache Wells news and information is also featured along with items of interest to both our full-time and part-time residents. Bob Teague, Editor
 New Feature: Search our SAW Website Enter key word or words (i.e. meeting minutes) 
Click here to take a Virtual Tour of Apache Wells todayClick here for an Interactive Aerial View of Apache Wells in late 2007 NEW: Visit our redesigned AWHA website at www.apachewells.com 
NEWS & UPDATES
The Arizona Republic Newspaper has announced that Apache Wells residents will receive a discount if ordered through the Apache Wells Homeowners office. In addition to the discount, the Association will receive a portion of the proceeds. If you choose to order on your own, please use the attached form in order to receive the discount.
AWCC Social Membership/Reservation Policy: a Social Membership will be made available to individuals who desire to participate at events sponsored by AWCC, live music and dining at The Grill @ Apache Wells.
Social Membership Information Multiple Property Owners: Those of you who own multiple properties, please verify with the office regarding the address you want all corresponding HOA mail sent to instead of sent to each piece of property. It will save printing and postage. Thank You.
POOL HOURS FOR CHILDREN OVER AGE 3 & UNDER AGE 18: Thank you!
AWHA OFFICE HOURS
2014/2015 AWHA COMMITTEE MEMBERS
April 2, 2016
Here's how the scam typically unfolds: You get an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be with Microsoft or Windows tech support, who says viruses have been detected on your computer. In order to protect your data, you are told to immediately call up a certain website and follow its instructions. A dummy screen may appear that shows viruses being detected and eliminated, but in reality malware is being installed that allows the scammer to steal your usernames and passwords, hold your data for ransom or even use the webcam to spy on you. Your Plan Hang up the phone. "Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls," says Courtney Gregoire, senior attorney at the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit. Also, don't click any links in unsolicited emails from "Microsoft" or in pop-up ads promising to speed up your computer. "And if you haven't downloaded Windows 10 or the latest version of OS X, do it," says William Woodworth with Best Buy's Geek Squad. "Each update is free and has lots of new security built in." Ditto for any other software programs you're running. Website Editor February 12, 2016
Female WWII pilots barred from Arlington
Harmon piloted aircraft in World War II under a special program, Women's Air Force Service Pilots, that flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat. Granted veteran status in 1977, the WASPs have been eligible to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors since 2002. But earlier this year, then-Secretary of the Army John McHugh reversed course and ruled WASPs ineligible. After Harmon died in April at age 95, her daughter, Terry Harmon, 69, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was dismayed to learn that the Army had moved to exclude WASPs. She said her mother had helped lead the effort to gain recognition for WASPs. "These women have been fighting this battle, off and on, for over 50 years now," she said. Harmon's family and others are working to overturn McHugh's directive. A petition on change.org has received more than 4,000 signatures. Harmon also hopes Congress will ask incoming Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning about the issue at his upcoming confirmation hearing. McHugh's memo, which Terry Harmon obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, says Army lawyers reviewed the rules in 2014 and determined that WASPs and other World War II veterans classified as "active duty designees" are not eligible for inurnment — placement of their urns in an above-ground structure at Arlington. The largest group affected by the memo is actually the Merchant Marine, nearly 250,000 of whose members served during World War II. The WASP program was much smaller — just over 1,000 women were accepted into the program, which ran from 1942 to 1944. In a statement, Army spokesman Paul Prince said the cemetery superintendent in 2002 had no authority to allow WASPS' remains into the cemetery. Under federal law, he said, WASPs are eligible only for burial at cemeteries run by the Department of Veterans Affairs — not Arlington National Cemetery, which is run by the Army. Kate Landdeck, a Texas Woman's University history professor who has focused much of her academic research on WASPs, said she doesn't understand the rationale for the Army going out of its way to exclude this group of women from Arlington after they had been deemed eligible for over a decade without controversy. WASPs "are a distinct group of women with the surviving 100-or-so women all in their 90s," she said. "It is just mean-spirited for the Secretary of the Army to question their value to their country. Again." Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, who commanded the Army Air Forces in World War II, created the WASP unit in 1942 with the intention of granting it full military status, but Congress never approved it. So the WASPs served as a paramilitary unit, subject to military discipline and staying in barracks, Landdeck said. They test-flew repaired military aircraft, trained combat pilots and towed airborne targets that other pilots fired at with live ammunition during training. Arlington is running out of space and faces ongoing pressure over its eligibility requirements. Tight rules spell out whose ashes can be laid to rest there, and even tighter rules spell out who is eligible for in-ground burial, which place a greater strain on the cemetery's capacity. Harmon's family says the WASPs aren't asking for anything beyond what they earned: eligibility for placement of ashes. And they say the impact on cemetery capacity would be minimal, given that so few World War II veterans remain. Harmon's granddaughter, Erin Miller, said her grandmother, a Maryland native, had specifically requested her ashes go to Arlington. "My grandmother is from here," Miller said. "Arlington is kind of our local national cemetery." In an interview archived with the Library of Congress, Elaine Harmon recalled she needed permission from her skeptical father to begin training as a pilot while a student at the University of Maryland. "Back in those days, women weren't expected do things like this, and so many people were against the idea of women flying, endangering their lives," she said in the interview. Website Editor January 17, 2016 Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 11-5-15 Apache Wells Homeowners Association December 18, 2015
Cat Daddy says we can end shelter killings
Yet a snap judgment of his appearance is much more likely to place him as the fifth member of Metallica. Covered in tattoos and wearing large earrings and a facial-hair pattern straight out of a Wes Anderson film, Jackson is an unmistakable presence. This is his greatest strength. He doesn’t care what people think. He wants to push them to think outside the box. Jackson sat down with The Arizona Republic to chat before his book signing at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix on Nov. 19.
Question: Your new book 'Catify to Satisfy' is about how to lay out your
house in a cat-friendly way, almost like cat feng shui, correct?
Question: What do you think makes the cathuman relationship so special?
Question: Do you think cat owners tend to view themselves as
misunderstood? But of course there is that subset of, “I’m misunderstood. I’m not what you think I am” — and, of course, neither are cats. That’s my story. I mean, look at me! I think one of the reasons that people will become more intrigued with me than another cat-behavior person is because of what I look like. What I appear to be. My whole life I loved messing with that. My mom thought this whole thing was so funny, because when I was a kid I was always trying to mess with perception. I would get a big kick out of that. So clearly, that is also a type of person that’s attracted to cats.
Question: What is the most satisfying thing about dedicating your life
so fully to something? Now I travel the world going to animal shelters and rescue organizations, and they say the same thing: that we have already had an impact. For someone who spent the beginning part of their career in horrible circumstances trying to advocate for animals, to know that we are crossing a bridge and getting to a place where the relationship between humans and animals is changing, is beyond gratifying. It’s like nirvana, you know?
Question: That’s fantastic. When you think about your career and all
you’ve been able to achieve, is there an overwhelming emotion attached to that,
or an unquenchable thirst to do more? Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy is host of the Animal Planet television show “My Cat from Hell.” He is with Lulu in the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles. Website Editor October 27, 2015
It’s time to play golf once again!
The repetitive movements involved in swinging a golf club can easily cause shoulder tendonitis, forearm strains and low back injuries. The best way to treat shoulder tendonitis is to rest it for a few days, apply ice to the area for at least 20 minutes every several hours and take Ibuprofen for the first 48 hours. Although placing your arm in a sling may be beneficial, I seldom recommend it because of the potential to cause frozen shoulder, by completely immobilizing it. Forearm muscles can easily be strained while playing golf. I suggest curling exercises and reverse curl exercises for 10 minutes per day, using light weights to strengthen and tone those muscles. The low back requires exercises as well, as it can easily get injured from repetitively swinging the club too hard. I often see golfers in my office complaining of low back pain, not realizing that the pain has nothing to do with leaning over and picking up the ball out of the cup, as much as it is the repetitive swinging of the club and torqueing your back up to twenty to thirty times during the course of an 18 hole round of golf. I recommend isometric strengthening exercises for your back by lying flat and bending your knees and pushing the small of your back down to the floor, to the point that a towel would be difficult to pull away. Holding this type of isometric exercise for a period of 20 to 30 seconds, four or five times can strengthen back muscles. Golf, of course, is a great exercise for a lot of people emotionally, however it does little to condition you or burn calories or provide cardiovascular benefits by elevating your pulse, unless you get a hole in one and are extremely excited. Besides the conditioning aspect of strengthening and stretching your shoulders and lower back, your golf game may even improve and prevent injuries. So the next time you go out to play those 18 holes of golf and your shoulders and elbows start to ache, and your back is stiff, remember conditioning can prevent these injuries. Dr. Art Mollen is an osteopathic family physician and a health, fitness and preventive medicine expert. Reach him at 480-656-0016 or askdrartmollen@gmail.com. Website Editor October 17, 2015 Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Special Board Meeting Minutes 9-3-15 Apache Wells Homeowners Association October 13, 2015
How the Superstitions got their name, legend
Question: How did the Superstition Mountains get their name? And do more hikers disappear there than anywhere else? Answer: I made some calls, and even chatted with an archivist and librarian for the Arizona Historical Society, but inevitably found out that a drive to the Superstition Mountain Museum was the best way to dig up the dirt on this one. So I headed east, with the massive (and stunningly beautiful) Superstition Mountain range in full view during my entire road trip. I was told that the man to talk to was George Johnston, president emeritus of the Superstition Mountain Museum. After a couple of hours with Mr. Johnston, I couldn’t agree more! I found this gentleman (at 95 years young) every bit as interesting as the mountain, and all of the mystery that surrounds it. But I digress….. Next to the Grand Canyon, the Superstition Mountain range is the most photographed and painted landmark in Arizona. So where does the “Superstition” portion of its name come into play? There seems to be a few different versions of when and how it was named. According to Johnston, the mountain was called many different names, by a handful of different cultures, over the years. “The Crooked Top Mountain,” “Thunder Mountain,” and “Mountain of Foam,” are a few examples. But it was the local farmers, in the late 1860s, who tabbed this mountain with its final namesake. Through the Pima Indians, the farmers of the Salt River Valley had heard stories about “strange sounds, people who disappeared, mysterious deaths, and an overall fear of the mountain.” Johnston said. This influenced the farmers to believe the Pimas were superstitious about this particular mountain, and thus the name Superstition Mountain was born. Of course we can’t skip over the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s gold, which is another ingredient to the Superstition Mountains’ mystique. Many people believe there is a fortune to be found, and they are willing to risk everything to be the one to finally find it. “They can’t do anything with it, if they do find a treasure,” Johnston said. The Superstition Wilderness is one of eight congressionally designated wilderness zones, which prohibits people from disturbing, leaving, or taking anything from the preserved areas. There is a strict “leave no trace” policy within the nearly 200,000 acres of protected Superstition Wilderness. The Superstition Mountains have certainly had their share of casualties. “There do seem to be more disappearances here, than on other mountains,” Johnston said. “On average, about four to five hikers die each year.” In addition to the severely rugged nature of the terrain consisting of sharp drop offs, cliff and deep canyons; hikers can also encounter extreme changes in temperature, harsh winds, and dangerous wildlife. “Even the forest service has said that it’s the most rugged within the United States wilderness system,” Johnston added. But explorers trek on regardless. “No matter what we tell them, people still go in unprepared,” Johnston said. He went on to give several examples of individuals who went missing, some of which were never found. “A few years ago there were three guys, I believe they were from Utah, that went missing.” Johnston said. “They weren’t found for months, until one day another hiker happened to discover the skeletal remains of the three men, still fully clothed, shoes and all. Just clothes and bones.” Of course those kind of stories only heighten the mystery and intrigue that are associated with this range of mountains. Whether you feel these hikers are adventurous, gullible, reckless, or superstitious, the fact remains that there are a great number of tragedies linked to this mountain and its wilderness. It should be revered and respected. And if you are determined to defy the danger, by all means do your homework. If you’re fortunate enough, you may even get to meet Mr. George Johnston, at the Superstition Mountain Museum, while studying up on the subject. Have a question about the Valley’s landmarks and people? E-mail Andrea Hiland at arizona.asks@gmail.com. WWII Bombers Superstition Mountain Flyover Website Editor October 9, 2015
How Many Websites Are There?
But quantifying pieces and pages of the web gets murky pretty quickly. For one thing, finding a reliably representative sample of links for this kind of analysis is tricky if not impossible. There's also a sort of existential question, as Mike Ashenfelder wrote for the Library of Congress in 2011: “That is to say, we take for granted that we know what it means that a webpage has ‘died.’” In other words, what lives and dies on the web depends in large part on how you define a webpage or a website in the first place. “Is a ‘webpage’ defined by its URL or by its contents?” Ashenfelder wrote. “A non-resolving link doesn’t necessarily imply that the content once hosted there no longer exists; it may have been archived or simply exist at a new location (albeit, one mediated by a paywall) to which the web server was not configured to redirect page requests. Conversely, a resolving link doesn’t necessarily imply that the same content is still hosted there as it once was.” But if you just want to get a sense of how big the web is, how much it has grown in 20 years, there are blunter measures. In 1994, for example, there were fewer than 3,000 websites online. By 2014, there were more than 1 billion. That represents a 33 million percent increase in 20 years. That’s nuts! It’s also imperfect. For one thing, various estimates say about three-quarters of websites are live but inactive. The web’s ephemerality also means the precise number of websites at any given time fluctuates quite a bit. For instance, according to the site Internet Live Stats, there are now 935,950,654 websites as of this writing. (Now 935,950,713. Wait, 935,950,801. You get the idea.) “This is due to the monthly fluctuations in the count of inactive websites,” according to the site. “We do expect, however, to exceed 1 billion websites again sometime from late 2015 to mid 2016.” The weird thing is, most of these sites exist without being seen. The average person doesn’t venture very far across the web, only visiting 96 separate domains per month, according to a Nielsen estimate in 2013. So while tracking the number of websites online, or trying to, hints at the web’s explosive growth in the past two decades, it doesn’t capture how people are actually using the Internet today. For that, we look to the growth of search. In August 1999, Google was fielding 3 million search queries per day, according to John Battelle’s book, The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture. A year later, that number had leaped to 18 million search queries per day. By 2012, the most recent year for which data is available, Google was serving more than 3.5 billion searches per day—equivalent to 40,000 searches every second. Even as most websites flicker in and out of existence at a rapid clip, you can still find some real antiques out there. Gizmodo rounded up a whole collection of ancient websites a few years ago. Among them: CNN’s 1996 year in review, the old Bob Dole presidential-campaign website, and the search engine IFindIt.com, which you can see but doesn’t seem to actually work. When I started writing this morning, Internet Live Stats told me there were 935,939,044 websites online. Now there are 935,951,027—almost 12,000 more websites! I have no idea how many disappeared in this time. Which brings me back to a truth about the Internet that’s often acknowledged but still hard to grasp: It’s always changing. I mean, always always. And though the web is never what it used to be, you can still find little traces of its previous iterations, if you know where to look. Website Editor Note: http://www.saveapachewells.com has been online since December 2006. October 4, 2015
Arizona ranks 10th in the number of HOAs!
Answer: No matter how you feel about homeowner associations, the fact remains that these organizations are prevalent in the Valley. Whether they they go by the name "common interest communities," "condominium associations," or just plain old, "homeowner associations," they all cost money. And, if you are among the multitudes that are a part of one, you are paying anywhere from $25 to $600+ in monthly dues. What about Arizona? Did we help start this trend that has taken over communities across the nation? For that answer, I made contact with a law firm who handles a large number of HOA cases. Josh Bolen, esq., a litigation partner for Carpenter, Hazlewood, Delgado & Bolen, PLC., helped me out with a little background on this subject. Bolen was able to interpret some of the findings from the national and state statistical review, which was conducted by the Community Association Institute in 2014. According to this report, there are approximately 333,600 community associations in the United States. This breaks down to 20.7 percent of the U.S. population that reside in a community association (this includes homeowners associations, condominium associations and cooperatives). In this study Arizona ranked 10th in the number of community associations. Arizona has about 9,250 community associations, containing approximately 1.5 million residents, Bolen said. What’s the highest ranked state on this list? Florida comes in at No. 1, with approximately 47,100 community associations consisting of 7.9 million residents. So there goes the theory of Arizona having more HOA communities than any other state. But how did it all begin in Arizona? “The first community association in Arizona was developed in the 1950s," Bolen said. "The reason these associations were formed was to protect the values of a home." However, Bolen went on to state that the concept has evolved, and that “today’s community associations can contain expansive, unique and advanced amenities, which are designed to meet the demands of Arizona’s ever-changing demographics.” What are you paying for? HOA fees cover the cost and maintenance for a variety of obvious amenities that a community may have, such as a common area playground, pool, gym, or tennis court. Some of the less obvious functions like road maintenance, parking lot maintenance, utilities, landscaping maintenance, code enforcement, building maintenance, desert preservation, drainage management, are often maintained through those funds as well. But there is more to it than that. “What most people don’t realize is that the main purpose of a community association is to defer municipal financial and maintenance responsibilities from the public sector, by placing these obligations in the hands of the residents of the community," Bolen said. "This privatization of public functions allows the continued development of housing and infrastructure without having to increase taxes for a municipality’s citizens." So for the 1.5 million Arizonans who pay HOA fees, they are not only helping to preserve the value of their home, but as Bolen puts its, they are "offered the opportunity to have local control over their community and to defer public expenses from the entire tax base to the residents of a community association." Website Editor September 27, 2015
Fitzgerald thriving in third year with Arians
Fitzgerald became the receiver in the slot, where things can get rough and blocking is a must. A tough sell at first, Fitzgerald is thriving there now, experiencing a career renaissance a month past his 32nd birthday. In two games, the player everyone around here calls “Fitz” has 14 catches for 199 yards and three scores. “I feel like I’ve been comfortable for a while,” Fitzgerald said. “I just wanted to get that trust level with Carson (Palmer) and try to establish a trust with coach Arians. He’s somebody that you have to earn his trust. I worked hard every day to make sure I’m doing everything he asks me to do so, so on Sundays, if he has to call my number, I’m ready for the job.” Shortly after Arians was hired, Fitzgerald called friends Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne, who told him their careers were prolonged when Arians moved them inside. They assured him Arians would get him the ball. “Those two guys were able to have a lot of success in coach Arians’ offense,” he said. “They played at a very, very high level when they were with him. I just wanted to understand exactly what my role is going to be just so I could speed up the learning curve a little bit.” In Sunday’s 48-23 rout of the Bears in Chicago, Fitzgerald had eight catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first three-TD game of the regular season and one more touchdown than his total for all of last season. “This is not a starter kit offense when you can plug someone in and it’s easy,” Palmer said. “We started getting things going in Year 2, he and I, as far as our rhythm and comfort level with him knowing what he’s doing and me knowing what I’m doing, then being on the same page when things go awry. I think we are right where we need to be and we still have a ton of room for growth and improvement.” In Fitzgerald’s last seven games with Palmer, he has 56 catches for 660 yards and five touchdowns. Arizona’s running game is better, too, topping 100 yards in the season-opening win over New Orleans and against the Bears. Arians credits the ground game improvement for the Cardinals’ seven touchdowns in seven red zone appearances. Palmer calls Fitzgerald the best blocking wide receiver in the game. “I would take him over a lot of tight ends in the blocking game,” Palmer said, “and it’s nothing but will and want-to.” Fitzgerald as a blocker was far from anyone’s thoughts when the Cardinals made him the No. 3 overall pick out of Pitt in 2004. “It wasn’t something that was really high on my priority list when I was younger,” he said. “But here, for us to be able to have great team success, it requires wide receivers to do some blocking. ” Fitzgerald said the receivers work on blocking in every practice. “Larry’s bought in 100 percent,” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said, “and it’s helped us a whole lot. With the rest of receivers seeing him block, they buy into it and they block as well.” And boy can he still catch. On Sunday, Fitzgerald became the 10th player in NFL history with 12,000 yards receiving and 90 touchdowns. His 92 TDs rank 11th on the all-time receiving list. His career numbers would have been much better had there been better quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Twelve QBs have thrown him touchdown passes in his 11 seasons. There were some rough years between Kurt Warner’s retirement and Palmer’s arrival. But Fitzgerald stuck it out and could be one of the rare NFL players to play his entire career with one team. Many thought dissatisfaction with his new role might lead him to look elsewhere, but he signed a two-year contract for $22 million, all guaranteed, before this season. He loves Arizona and cherishes the memory of that 2008 Super Bowl run. He looks around him and sees the makings of another one. “Honestly,” Fitzgerald said, “it’s a privilege to still be able to play.” Website Editor September 23, 2015
Yankee legend Yogi Berra dead at 90!
Berra’s contributions to MLB history are incalculable, but his legacy might be even better remembered for what he contributed to American language. A sportswriters’ favorite, Berra had countless expressions and turns of phrase that were memorable because most of them didn’t make any sense. (At the same time, every one had some truth to it.) Berra-isms (colloquial expressions that lack logic) are now countless, and many of them are just attributed to Berra, even if he never actually said them. As he so perfectly put it: “I never said most of the things I said.” Here are 50 of our favorites.
1. When you come to a fork in the road, take it. Website Editor September 21, 2015
How long will you live? And have you saved enough?
The difficulty of making that kind of projection is part of the reason why half of people polled in a 2014 Wells Fargo/Gallup poll said they were worried about outliving their money in retirement. This is where online lifespan expectancy calculators come in. Lifespan expectancy or longevity calculators are free online tools that use mortality statistics to generate estimates about the average length of time someone can expect to live. Usually, estimates are modified by risk factors, such as a history of smoking or family medical problems, that are specific to the individual using the calculator. Lifespan expectancy calculations have long been used for by insurance company actuaries to price life insurance premiums. More recently, corporate pension actuaries employ them to estimate how to pay for defined benefit pension plans. Today, as individuals have become primarily responsible for funding their own retirements through defined contribution plans, they’ve entered individual retirement planning. Using a lifespan calculator can be as simple as taking your next breath. The Social Security Administration’s lifespan expectancy page tells you in a glance that a man reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, to 84.3, while a woman turning age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 86.6. If you want a more tailored forecast, you can use the Social Security calculator to enter your gender and birth date. The result is likely to differ little from the overall average. For a more individualized look, the “How long will I live?” calculator created by a University of Pennsylvania Wharton School computer science professor asks dozens of questions about height, weight, race, education, family medical history and more. The intended use of the calculator, according to creator Lyle Ungar, is to show effects specific behaviors have on average life expectancy. Ungar’s idea was to help people decide whether or not to, say, quit smoking or start exercising. “In fact,” he said, “most people use my calculator for financial planning.” There is a problem with that -- there is no reliable way to tell using population-wide mortality data how long any individual will live. “It's like the stock market,” Ungar says. “It's based on history but it's random. And past performance is no guarantee of future performance.” Ungar’s calculator will generate one number, say, age 88.2, that an individual can expect to live to with 50% accuracy. A lower number, say, 80.4, has a 25% likelihood of representing the end, while a higher number, say, 96.6, is similarly 25% likely. Although precise, however, these are probabilities, not certainties. And that’s the problem. “I personally don’t want to spend my last penny on the date of my life expectancy,” Ungar says. “Because at that point I’ve got a roughly 50-50 chance I'll still be alive for many more years.” This possibility of planning to die broke only to live a long time broke does not keep financial services companies from providing calculators that give highly specific-seeming answers. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance has one that lets you see how your life expectancy changes in real time as you change answers. If you stop wearing your seatbelt, you’ll see, you lop several years off your life -- probably. Another thing you need to know about lifespan calculators is that professional retirement advisors don’t use them. Chantel Bonneau, a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual in Los Angeles, says she plans as if every client will live to 100. She’ll modify that if clients insist on planning only to, say, age 85, or there is some other health concern. Bonneau reasons that every individual is unique, and caution commands that we prepare for a maximal life expectancy when it comes to our finances. No one can say for sure when you personally will run out of life. But she is sure of one thing: “You cannot afford to run out of money.” Lifespan Expectancy Calculator Website Editor September 11, 2015
Things happen when you eat a good breakfast
1. You start thinking more clearly.
2. Your a.m. workout starts to feel a little easier.
3. Your risk for scary health conditions drops.
4. You're less likely to eat crap throughout the day.
5. You might lose weight. Website Editor September 5, 2015
Judge vacates Brady’s 4-game suspension
The judge cited “several significant legal deficiencies” in the league’s handling of the controversy, including no advance notice of potential penalties, a refusal to produce a key witness and the apparent first-ever discipline of a player based on a finding of “general awareness” of someone else’s wrongdoing. Because there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented here, Commissioner Goodell may be said to have ‘dispensed his own brand of industrial justice,’” Berman wrote, partially citing wording from a previous case. He said a player’s right to know what constitutes violations and what penalties are was “at the heart” of the collective bargaining agreement “and, for that matter, of our criminal and civil justice systems.” “The court finds that Brady had no notice that he could receive a four game suspension for general awareness of ball deflation by others,” the judge wrote. Goodell said it was necessary to appeal “to uphold the collectively bargained responsibility to protect the integrity of the game.” Website Editor August 30, 2015
How did early humans get by without toenail clippers?
Today’s question: How did the early primitive peoples clip their toenails without toenail clippers? Did they just break off at some length naturally? I am not an anthropologist, but you should be careful with the word “primitive.” You have to remember that for most of human history there have been thousands of cultures — and there are still a few today — that have survived and flourished in environments where you and I probably wouldn’t finish the day shift. And they did so without cell phones or eBay or in some cases even without literacy. Of course, if you’re talking about the Legislature, well, that’s a different matter, but that isn’t the question. Pretty much as soon as our ancestors figured out how to make tools, they figured sharp tools would be even better than plain old bashing tools. So it stands to reason that they had instruments available for personal grooming. For instance, in some old cultures they shaved with sharp clam shells. Our ancestors, however, had to do almost everything by hand or in bare feet so there would have been a lot of natural wear and tear on their nails, not to mention their other body parts. Clay Thompson can also be reached at 602-444-8612. Website Editor August 22, 2015
Roadrunners turning a back yard into 'Jurassic Park'
You are either new to Arizona or else never lived on the edge of open desert. Roadrunners are well known for their skill at killing rattlesnakes. If the snake is too big to digest all at once, you’ll see a roadrunner going about with the rest of the snake hanging from its mouth. Roadrunners, however, are not picky eaters. Baby quail make an especially tasty morsel. You are either going to have to figure out a way to provide a safe haven for the quail without confining them, get rid of the quail block or live with the fact, often repeated, that nature is red in tooth and claw. Good luck. Website Editor August 21, 2015
Breakthrough on pancreatic cancer
According to a study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute, or TGen, drugs that target and strip away the stroma could pave the way for targeted chemotherapies to reach the cancerous cells within the tumor, which may have a beneficial impact on the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The TGen study shows that, by targeting and eliminating the stroma surrounding the cancer cells, anti-cancer drugs should be more effective not only within the pancreas, but also on areas throughout the body where the cancer may have spread. In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, TGen found that metastatic lesions can have the same high level of stromal content as the primary tumors in the pancreas. And, significantly, these high levels of stroma correlate with poor patient survival. The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach that produces digestive juices and several key hormones. This year, nearly 49,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and more than 40,000 will die, making it the fourth largest cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Median survival for patients with advanced forms of the disease is less than six months following diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate is less than six percent. Dr. Haiyong Han is head of the pancreatic cancer research unit at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, or TGen, in Phoenix. He can be reached at hhan@tgen.org. Website Editor August 20, 2015
Light Rail extension to Mesa Drive a reality! 
The earlier opening date was announced on Wednesday, June 3, at the project’s fifth milestone event, which celebrated the arrival of light rail train to downtown Mesa. Next Steps Train testing and training will ensure the 3.1-mile extension is a safe and reliable addition to the entire transit network. Trains will be moving on Main Street from Sycamore Street to Mesa Drive. It allows for a full inspection of the system, including track and overhead wire, and operations staff training. Project Background: Valley Metro received local and regional approval in 2009 to move forward with the Central Mesa Light Rail Extension, which will extend light rail on Main Street from Sycamore to Mesa Drive and include four station locations and a park-and-ride. In August 2010, the extension was approved to enter into Project Development by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Entrance into Project Development signaled the beginning of the project’s design phase as well the first step in receiving federal approval and ultimately federal funds for the project. The project is being built using a mix of regional Proposition 400 funds and federal grant dollars. The city of Mesa is responsible for the operating funds. Business Assistance Programs Valley Metro, in coordination with the city of Mesa and community partners, has developed a wide array of business assistance programs as resources to stay well-positioned during the construction phase. View the Central Mesa Business Assistance Brochure for more information. Timeline: Event Schedule Environmental Assessment Summer 2009 – Summer 2011 Design 2010 – 2012 Initiate Utility Relocation Late spring 2012 Construction 2013 – 2015 Opening August 22, 2015. Website Editor August 18, 2015
Summer in Arizona is a you-know-what; deal with it!
You must remember, however, that Friday’s 117 was “merely” a tie with the hottest August day in Phoenix on the 26th in 2011. People, people, people. There is no rule that says June must bring our hottest weather. We are, after all, living on the Sonoran Desert. And, not to go all philosophic on you, but the weather is sort of like life. Sometimes things happen that are beyond your control. Sometimes these things are pleasant. Sometimes they’re not. Get over it. I also got a note from a reader who was cranky about a headline that described this weather as “warm” as opposed to “hot.” I don’t write headlines. I have in the past but was never any good at it. There is an art, and while I am gifted with incredible good looks, writing headlines is a gift I never got. So I am not about to criticize people who do have the gift. How many humans have ever been born? According to the Population Reference Bureau, since 50,000 B.C. there have been 107,602,707,791 human births. Don’t ask me how they got that number. I don’t know. The current world population is around 7.3 billion. Reach Clay Thompson at clay.thompson@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8612. Website Editor August 16, 2015
When you’re heartsick, the love of a pet can be a cure.
Last Tuesday, a Tempe man wrote a tribute for his dog, Scully. Randy Keating poured his heart out and posted it on Facebook. He described how a Maricopa County shelter dog he adopted more than a decade ago gave him an unconditional love that changed his life. Saved it, really, he says. And he wrote that even after a pet passes away, there’s a bond that remains. It was a universal message for anyone who has ever lost a pet so beloved, they were as much a part of their family as any human. People responded to the post with kindness, prayers and stories about grieving and healing after the loss of their own pets. While social media memorials for pets are increasingly common, this tribute revealed low moments in a human’s life when the love of a pet becomes a lifeline. “It was a time when I had never felt more alone in the world. I desperately needed a companion, I needed an outlet for the love I felt in my heart but didn’t know how to express. I needed something to make me believe that there was good in my life and it was worth living. Scully was that outlet, she was the rock I needed. She was the foundation which I began to turn my life around. I knew I wouldn’t do it for myself, but I would do it for her. I could love Scully as a proxy for myself, and I would strive to give her a better life.” Keating says he wrote the post because Scully had given him so much he wanted thank her in a public way. And he wanted to fight stereotypes that can cause people to worry about adopting a pit bull for fear the dog will be aggressive. “Her breed is often demonized and gets a lot of bad press, but she was the most loving creature I’ve ever known,” he says. Keating adopted Scully when she was four months old. He was 22. The blonde pit bull mix with chocolate-brown eyes was the first dog he ever owned. “I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back, there’s something to be said about having an object of affection, something that you love and loves you back,” he says. “Scully taught me how to love.” Scully was fine up until about a week earlier. She looked lovely in her red- flowered bow, napping in her favorite squishy bean-bag chair. Then, Keating noticed her breathing was labored. The vet checked for valley fever. Keating was relieved when the test came back negative. But on Sunday, Scully’s breathing was so rough he rushed her to the emergency vet clinic. “We knew something was seriously wrong,” he wrote. The vet said Scully had terminal lung cancer. Nothing could be done to save her life. Keating asked friends to send him pictures of Scully, as if he didn’t have enough already. He had posted photos of Scully playing with her new banana-yellow football. Scully giving sloppy-wet kisses. Scully on Halloween when she played Spock to his young Captain Kirk. On National Puppy Day, Scully was smiling, sitting in the grass under the shade of a tree looking showy in her blue bow. “She may be an old gray lady, but she will always be my pup,” he wrote last March. On Tuesday, Keating wrote that he had said a last goodbye to his best friend, his pup Scully. He posted 108 photos of her. And in comment after comment, people reached out. “It’s not easy to lose a part of your family. Dogs are such a loyal, loving, forgiving and selfless creatures and we are fortunate enough to be able to give them happy lives and enjoy the immense amount of joy they bring into ours!!!!” “Pets" are more than mere animals. They are love in the deepest, purest form.” “Farewell, Scully, good and faithful servant. May you run free and await your best friend at the rainbow bridge.” “She certainly sounds like an amazing friend. A quote I always appreciate is "I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am." Keating wrote that his heart ached, but that he would remember every good lesson Scully taught him. “Goodbye, Old Girl. I love you so much, and hope you are at peace now. I will never forget you, and everything you did for me. You were, are, and always will be my best friend, and a very, very good girl. Cute, too. Scully Dog Keating. 9/6/04 – 8/3/15.” Dianna M. Náñez writes about stories in Arizona and the rest of the world that make us believe in humanity, faith, hope and love. Drop her a line about your community's superheroes. You know the ones — kind, resilient, empathetic people making small miracles happen. Website Editor August 13, 2015
Pat Haruff, a homeowner's best friend!
Mesa activist often at odds about limits, associations. Pat Haruff had never heard of a homeowners association before moving to Mesa in 1994. She and her husband moved into Sunland Village, where she came face to face with the development's association. She learned the law, bothered the board and fought what she thinks is unreasonableness. Now she is the co-founder of a growing nationwide group: Coalition of Home Owners for Rights and Education. It works to change laws governing homeowners associations and helps people fight their associations. "As far as the number of members, I couldn't even begin to tell you.... Each day, it just continues to grow," she said. On a recent day, Haruff got a call from a person in South Carolina with a question. Haruff posted an e-mail message to the network asking for help from someone familiar with South Carolina law. Two hours later, the Carolinian had his help. Haruff's interests go beyond sharing information. She considers herself an activist, a doer, a thorn in the thumb of the housing industry establishment. She testifies at hearings. She lobbies at every level of government. And she puts her own sweat into the battle. It was Haruff and a few others who rallied to help Marie Brown, a 77-year-old Peoria woman who lost her house because she did not pay association fees. On the most humid days of August, Haruff drove scores of miles to Brown's house to help salvage the valuables left behind when Brown was evicted. She spent whole days getting Brown medical care. "I guess it was my upbringing," Haruff said. "I've always been the kind of person to stand up and speak up for what I think is right." In her discussion of association issues, Haruff often speaks negatively of Curtis Ekmark, a lawyer and expert about homeowner associations in Arizona. For his part, Ekmark said Haruff is a good person, who is not in the fight for personal gain. "I think one of Pat's strengths is that she is a very energetic and caring person," Ekmark said. "I think one of her weaknesses is that she tends to view every single issue through a myopic view." He thinks she often misses the big picture. Haruff's goals are not to eliminate homeowner associations, she said. "But we need to make legislation so that homeowners are protected," she said. Haruff welcomes the complaints that come to her daily. She sometimes can help, pointing people in the right direction or making a phone call to someone who feels compelled to listen. Sometimes, she can only advise the person to comply with the association requirements. The effort is huge and the results often are frustrating. "It's a huge wall that we're trying to climb over," Haruff said. But she is not quitting. "I'm an optimist. I believe things are good and it can happen." Website Editor August 5, 2015
Pilot spots drone flying near airliner at Sky Harbor
Just before 7 p.m., the co-pilot saw a black-and-yellow drone flying about 100 feet below the plane’s nose while cruising over Fountain Hills at 7,000 feet, James Holmes, a Phoenix Police spokesman, said. Flight 605 landed safely without having to alter its route, but the flight crew still reported the sighting to the Federal Aviation Administration. Phoenix police didn’t have enough details to begin searching for the drone or its owner. City council members Sal DiCiccio and Michael Nowakowski recently began drafting an ordinance that, if approved, would limit drone usage and give law enforcement authority to enforce infractions. The language of the ordinance would prevent citizens from secretly filming or intruding upon others in private without their consent. A violation would be categorized as a Class 1 misdemeanor. According to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, a drone cannot be flown to interfere with any manned aircraft, and if a drone is flown within 5 miles of an airport, the owner of the drone must contact control tower. FAA regulations also said drones cannot be flown careless or recklessly as to endanger someone’s life or property, Holmes said. Penalties for violating the FAA regulations were not immediately available. Website Editor August 2, 2015
7 Tips for keeping your pets cool during summer heat
Protect the paws — Just like the hot car seat burns when you sit down, the outdoor pavement can burn the paws of your four-legged friend. Black asphalt in particular heats quickly and is too hot for your pet’s paws. Test this by
putting the back of your hand on the asphalt and holding it there for 10
seconds. Tom Simplot is president and CEO of the Arizona Multihousing Association. Website Editor July 29, 2015
Microsoft’s Windows 10 rolls out for free today
The company is counting on tens or even hundreds of millions of people to download its latest release in the coming months. Many people will also get Windows 10 as part of new PCs. The launch will be accompanied by a global marketing campaign for an event the company hopes will be pivotal — both for its own future and for a vast audience of computer users around the world. Windows 10 is coming to PCs and tablets first, but it’s also designed to run phones, game consoles and even holographic headsets. It has new features, a streamlined Web browser called Edge and a desktop version of Cortana, the online assistant that is Microsoft’s answer to Google Now and Apple’s Siri. Still, the company insists Windows 10 will seem familiar to users of Windows 7, the six-year-old operating system still running on most PCs. Microsoft and PC makers want to erase the memory of the last big update, 2012’s Windows 8, which alienated many with its jarring, unwieldy design. Here’s a look at the launch and why it matters:
Q: What happens this week? The company is also offering Windows 10 as a free download, any time over the next year, to anyone who has the Home or Pro versions of Windows 7 or 8 (but not the Enterprise versions used by big organizations). Some people might not get it the first day; Microsoft says it will deliver downloads in waves, to ensure things go smoothly, but it hasn’t said how long that will take. Details on how to upgrade are here: http://bitly/1eNCySl. Retailers such as Best Buy, Staples and Walmart will have some desktops and laptops with Windows 10 already installed. More models are coming.
Q: Why is Microsoft giving Windows 10 for free?
Q: How will Microsoft make money? In addition, Microsoft is counting on Windows 10 to spur more use of other services. Microsoft makes money from selling advertising for its Bing search engine, and Windows 10 comes with many apps that steer people to Bing.
Q: Why does this matter to consumers? Website Editor July 25, 2015
Why a road is named Bloody Basin!
This question comes up pretty often in the summer when a lot of people are headed north for the mountains. I’ve answered it before, but since people keep asking, we shall discuss it again. There are a couple of myths about Bloody Basin. One holds that during range wars between sheep ranchers and cattlemen, a big flock of sheep was slaughtered there by the cow people. The fact, however, is that in March 1873, U.S. Army soldiers tracked a band of Apaches who had attacked and killed three Whites to nearby Turret Peak. The soldiers attacked at dawn and caught the Apaches flat-footed. Between 25 and 57 Indians were killed with no loss of life to the troops. As long as we’re at it, you’ve probably also noticed a sign on I-17 for Big Bug Wash. There are two stories about this. One holds that in 1863 a group of prospectors were attacked by a horde of large insects. Another says that “big bug" was slang for a foreman or boss. There was a rather successful mining town on Big Bug Creek from 1879 to 1910, when the ore ran out. More on Bloody Basin Road's History E-mail Clay at clay.thompson@arizonarepublic.com.
Brains of elderly slow because they know so much!
AHHHAAAA... I knew it... My hard drive is FULL!!!
Doesn't this make you feel better?????
I knew it, I knew it, knew it!!!!!!!!!!! I thought you can all appreciate this fact.
Older people do not decline mentally with age. It just takes them longer to
recall facts because they have more information in their brains, scientists
believe. Much like a computer that struggles as the hard drive gets full up,
so to do humans take longer to access information, it has been suggested.
Researchers say this slowing down it is not the same as cognitive decline.
"The human brain works slower in old age,” said Dr. Michael Ramscar, “but only
because we have stored more information over time. The brains of older people do
not get weak. On the contrary, they simply know more.”
Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get
there, they stand there wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory
problem, it is nature's way of making older people get more exercise.
SO THERE!! We are all brilliant!
Have a beautiful day!!!
Website Editor
July 15, 2015
Pluto coming into focus
Pluto, reveal thyself, and Earthlings, enjoy the show.
Today, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will sweep past Pluto and present the
previously unexplored world in all its icy glory. It promises to be the biggest
planetary unveiling in 25 years. The curtain hasn’t been pulled back like this
since NASA’s Voyager 2 shed light on Neptune in 1989.
Now it’s little Pluto’s turn to shine way out on the frigid fringes of our solar
system.
New Horizons has traveled 3 billion miles over 9 years to get to this historic
point. The fastest spacecraft ever launched, it carries the most powerful suite
of science instruments ever sent on a scouting and reconnaissance mission of a
new, unfamiliar world.
Principal scientist Alan Stern says, “We’re going to knock your socks off.”
The size of a baby grand piano, the spacecraft will come closest to Pluto this
morning — at 4:49 Arizona time. That’s when New Horizons is predicted to pass
within 7,767 miles of Pluto, which was discovered by Arizona astronomer Clyde
Tombaugh in 1930. Fourteen minutes later, the spacecraft will zoom within 17,931
miles of Charon, Pluto’s jumbo moon.
For the plutophiles among us, it will be cause to celebrate, especially for
those gathered at the operations center at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied
Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. The lab designed and built the spacecraft for
NASA, and has been managing its roundabout route through the solar system.
“What NASA’s doing with New Horizons is unprecedented in our time and probably
something close to the last train to Clarksville, the last picture show, for a
very, very long time,” says Stern, a planetary scientist in Boulder, Colo.
Website Editor
July 10, 2015
Old photos provide glimpse into Mesa’s past
Occasionally historians come across an old photograph that they just can’t stop
looking at — a window into a time machine that magically transports the viewer
right into the image. But for as much as a photograph reveals, it also keeps some tantalizing secrets. The seldom seen photograph accompanying this story is a perfect example.
In this old photo, several clues give a hint as to its location in early Mesa,
including the Majestic, Mesa’s first indoor movie theater built around 1910. It’s so alluring that you can’t help but be drawn into it — as if pulled back almost a century through an Orwellian time machine Within its borders is a wealth of information So many stories. And so many questions.
A couple of clues help determine its location. In the lower right hand corner we
see the entrance to the Majestic — Mesa’s first indoor movie theater built around 1910. At the far left is the distinctive façade of Chandler Court erected in 1908 by A.J. Chandler. That tells us we are looking across Main Street to the
northwest. Looking at a Main Street full of cars we can discern the mysterious
photo was taken around 1920 — just ahead of a decade in which single-story,
wood-framed, open-air structures west of the Majestic were replaced by more
substantial, memorable commercial buildings.
We can deduce a building with the broad-awning and the wonderful “Drink Coca Cola” sign attached to the false front was a restaurant. With a little more research we should know its name. Barely visible on the north end of Chandler Court is a rooftop sign identifying the business as “The Bicycle Shop.” On the dry, flat streets of Mesa bicycles were more than just a recreational form of
transportation. Almost every week competitive bike races were held throughout the Valley.
Numerous towering wooden poles connected by a jumble of wires reveal that when
this photo was shot Mesa was well connected to electricity. More than two-dozen
cars and trucks are within the narrow view of the photo. Parking in the middle of the street was legal at the time. Along the north side of the street we see cars double-parked, and a couple wedged in at an angle. This was not an ordinary day in Mesa. All those vehicles were crowded in for a reason. But what could it be? A possibility is the King Kotton Karnival first held in October 1919 to celebrate one of Mesa’s premier crops — which is also consistent with the time frame of the photograph. Also re-enforcing the assertion is the blurred, but distinct image of a large Ferris-Wheel and its framework towering behind and above “The Bicycle Shop.” Careful examination also shows what appears to be booths and people congregated along Macdonald Drive — elements confirming a large-scale public event like a street fair/carnival.
The photo exudes excitement. You can almost hear the voices and sounds of a big
gathering. Even laughter and screams of those riding over Mesa on the Ferris
Wheel.
Reach historian Jay Mark at jaymark@twtdbooks.com.
Website Editor
July 4, 2015
License issue won’t ground fliers in 2016
But the new licenses won’t be available for a while, so the state is asking
federal authorities to hold off on enforcing a key portion of the Real ID Act of
2005 until next April.
The act set a January deadline for air travelers nationwide to have a more-
secure ID.
While there is no official confirmation from the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, state transportation officials said they are confident Arizonans’
current driver’s licenses will be sufficient for air travel well into next year.
“It’s an understanding that Homeland Security will give us time for full
implementation so there won’t be a big rush on MVD,” said Ryan Harding, a
spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, which houses the Motor
Vehicle Division.
Arizona lawmakers outlawed the issuance of secure identification cards in 2008
over concerns the federal requirements imposed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks reached too deeply into citizens’ private lives. Arizona is one of a
handful of states without an ID that meets the federal standards, although
nearly two dozen states have been granted extensions to comply with the
requirements.
The requirement has been phasing in since last year, with compliant IDs required
to gain entrance to certain federal buildings.
Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, said he believes the state will have until 2020 to
comply, to prevent a flood of license applications at MVD offices from Arizonans
who want to fly.
“That would mean, as you move, as you change your address, you can come in and
get a compliant license,” Worsley said.
At the MVD, Harding said work is underway to create the new licenses. They are
expected to be similar to Arizona’s existing license, but with updated photos
and a gold star to indicate it complies with federal rules. An earlier
requirement that the licenses contain an RFID chip, which can be tracked, is no
longer part of the new provisions.
Worsley waded into the license dilemma earlier this year as chairman of the
Senate Transportation Committee. With Arizona law barring compliance with the
Real ID Act, Worsley looked for a workaround to prevent thousands of would-be
fliers from being grounded.
His solution was to create an optional license that would meet federal
requirements. Arizonans who don’t want the more-secure ID can continue domestic
air travel with their passports.
The proposal became bait for vote trading in the final weeks of the legislative
session, resulting in the requirement that the state first must seek an exemption to the federal requirement.
The machinations left Phoenix resident William Shaw sputtering in disgust.
“That whole thing was a bipartisan fiasco,” he fumed. The long-standing ban on
complying with the federal law has resulted in confusion and inconvenience for
drivers, he said.
His partner, who uses a walking stick, had to get a new driver’s license earlier
this year when his old one expired. And now he’ll have to stand in line, again,
to get a compliant license, Shaw said.
Worsley said the hope is people won’t have to make back-to-back trips to the MVD
to get the ID needed to board an airplane next year if Homeland Security
continues to grant extensions.
The agency has done so for 23 states as they work on complying with the federal
law, federal records show. Now that Arizona has indicated it will work with the
federal program, instead of against it, extension requests should be well-
received, Worsley said.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8963.
Website Editor
July 3, 2015
Mesa recognized as 2015 Playful City USA
“We are delighted that Mesa was chosen again this year as Playful City USA,”
Mesa Parks, Recreation and Commercial Facilities Director Marc Heirshberg said
in the release. “This year we opened five parks, one pool, added and upgraded
playground equipment all while maintaining affordable and fun recreation
programs for our community. I encourage our residents, young and old to go out
and explore what Mesa has to offer.”
Mesa was selected for its outstanding dedication to play. Mesa has developed a
framework for planning and generating support from the community and city
leaders for the growth of play in Mesa. With the passage of the 2012 Parks Bond
Project we can now see some of those projects come to fruition.
“With the support of Mesa voters passing the Parks Bond in 2012, we’ve been able
to add new parks, pools and bike trails for our residents to enjoy,” Mesa Mayor
John Giles said in the release. “Our new places to play are state of the art and
some of the best in the nation.”
Hopscotch sidewalks, structured recess programs, mandated neighborhood play
spaces, city-wide play days and mobile recreation vehicles are all ways in which
these communities are appealing to residents, and attracting and retaining
residents.
“Playability is crucial to the success of our future communities, and we are
proud of the work these cities and leaders are doing to provide a better quality
of life for all residents, and especially families,” KaBOOM! President James
Siegal said in the release. “Play provides a competitive advantage for cities
looking to attract and retain residents. With these esteemed leaders, and our
friends and partners across the country, we continue to prioritize play for all
kids.”
To learn more about these cities, see the full list of the 241 communities named
2015 Playful City USA honorees, or to gather more information on the Playful
City USA program visit www.playfulcityusa.org.
The Mesa Independent is available in Mesa and Maricopa County
Website Editor
June 25, 2015
Golfer's cramp causes the Yips!
Question: What did you find in your study?
Question: Are there treatments available?
Charles Adler, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic Arizona.
For appointments call 800-446-2279.
The Golf Channel takes on "the Yips"
Website Editor
June 22, 2015
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
June 22, 2015 Issue 161
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
June 20, 2015
New workout equipment at Usery Mountain Regional Park
Hikers and mountain-bikers enjoying the outdoors at Usery Mountain Regional Park
can now also use new athletic equipment.
“This month, new outdoor fitness equipment was installed in the park near the
Merkle Trailhead. Now, park visitors can exercise under a shaded structure while
enjoying the scenic backdrop of the park or enjoy a hike or run along their
favorite trail,” Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Steve Chucri
said in a press release.
Usery Mountain Regional Park is at 3939 N. Usery Pass Road in Mesa. Cost is $6
per vehicle for a day-use entry fee. For more information about the park, call
480-984-0032 or go to www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery.
Last month, Caliente Construction Inc. was awarded a contract by the Maricopa
County Parks and Recreation Department to install new outdoor fitness equipment
in the park. Prior to preparing for the installation, crews first had to remove
20-year-old playground equipment, a rubberized base and sand pit. Once the space
had been prepared, a four-inch concrete slab was poured for the installation of
the fitness cluster, according to the release.
“The existing playground equipment had become weathered and outdated over time
and needed to be replaced. We’re very excited about the new outdoor fitness
center. This is yet another way the department can help promote wellness while
connecting people with nature,” R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and
Recreation Department director, said in the release.
The new outdoor fitness station includes an adjustable ab toner to strengthen
abs and the lower back; leg press that helps to develop abs, glutes and leg
muscles; squat machine to strengthen glutes and leg muscles; triceps press that
helps to strengthen trapezius, triceps, biceps, chest and shoulders; chest press
that helps develop shoulders, chest and triceps; arm curl to help develop biceps
and forearms; hip twist to strengthen core muscles; and leg extension and curl
machine to develop glutes and leg muscles.
“With more than 170,000 people visiting the park annually, I foresee the fitness
equipment being used daily by regular and seasonal visitors alike. We’ve
selected a good mixture of equipment that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages
and fitness levels. Being outdoors is invigorating, and I believe the new
fitness equipment will motivate visitors to bump up their exercise routines,
especially when the temperatures are cooler,” Mr. Cardin added.
In addition to the fitness equipment, the area has approximately 2,400 square
feet of shade for visitor comfort, and to keep the equipment from residing in
direct sunlight.
“While at the park, we also hope that visitors will also stop by our new nature
themed playground, which is located near the group picnic Area. The playground
features a mountain lion rock wall for climbing, Saguaro swings and several
other fun pieces the kids can climb on,” Dan Wilson, Usery Mountain Regional
Park supervisor, said in the release.
The Mesa Independent is available in Mesa and Maricopa County.
Check out the new workout
equipment
Website Editor
June 17, 2015
Do birds talk?
How do birds communicate? Do they actually have a language? Once in a while, I
put seed out in a hard-to see isolated area on my porch. One bird will come and
go and, after about 20 minutes, a lot more will come. Is the first one chirping,
“Hey, that fat guy put food out again?”
This question isn’t as silly as it sounds at first reading. Of course birds have
language. What did you think all that noise is? Birds use their voices to
attract a mate or to assert their territorial rights. They also vocalize to
sound alarms about some danger or to beg their parents for food. Right now there
is a mockingbird in my front yard telling a pair of grackles to stay away from
its tree.
I think that sometimes birds just sing for the heck of it. Birds even have
dialects. A bird in Arizona may have a different sound than the same type of
bird in Pennsylvania.
As to how the other birds found the seeds on your porch, there could be any
number of explanations. Birds are always on the lookout for food. Most of them
don’t have a really sharp sense of smell, so they find food mostly by sight.
It's also possible the first bird at your porch used its language skills to tell
a mate or other flock members it had found food, just like scout honeybees
report back to hive when they’ve found nectar.
Website Editor
June 15, 2015
Beware of the Arizona Heat
Exposure To Extreme Heat
In the extreme Arizona heat, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly. High-risk factors include the elderly, youth (age 0-4), obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, prescription drug use, illicit drug use and alcohol use. When your body isn’t able to cool itself, you
are at dire risk for heat stroke.
A heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating
mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise
to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or
permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Be careful during the extreme Arizona summer heat. Symptoms of heat stroke include:
A less serious heat condition is heat exhaustion and can develop after several
days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment. You really have to limit your activities in the extreme Arizona heat. The best time to do physical activity is early in the morning while it’s still in the upper 80’s and 90’s. As soon as the sun comes up (normally around 5 AM), the temperature rises rapidly.
To prevent heat-related illness while in the Arizona summer heat, drink plenty of fluid, wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen, pace yourself, stay cool indoors and schedule outdoor activities carefully.
Keep Out of Arizona during the summer! Are you outside of Arizona while reading
this? Are you considering a summertime visit to Arizona? If so, the best
prevention for you is DON’T COME TO ARIZONA! The most common victims of the heat
in Arizona are often out-of-town visitors not used to having to drink as much
fluids.
The Arizona heat is no joke. This article cites a study where 1,500 people in
Arizona died of heat-related illnesses between 1992-2009. The highest number of
annual heat-related deaths occurred in 2005 with 225 deaths.
Website Editor
June 10, 2015
Happy 50th, Pickleball!
A rainy day. Bored kids stuck indoors. A bunch of classic lake house sports
equipment, including a whiffle ball and ping pong paddles. Joel Pritchard, Bob
Bell and Barney McCallum had all these things on a summer afternoon in 1965
Bainbridge Island, Washington. What they did with it changed their lives. A game
they created to keep the kids entertained turned into the sport of pickleball.
First a game just for their immediate friends and family, pickleball spread with
a slow burn over the course of decades. Now in its 50th year, it has become one
of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.
Pickleball is a creative hybrid of different sports, often called “Ping-Pong on
steroids.” It’s played indoors or outdoors on a court that is shorter than a
tennis court, with a ball that’s similar to a whiffle ball and a paddle that’s a
little like an oversize Ping-Pong paddle. Since that rainy day in 1965, the sport has gained momentum with a speed that’s surprised almost everyone. It was mostly a local backyard game in the Pacific Northwest until the early 1980s. Now there are over 2,000 pickleball courts in the US, double the number there were as recently as 2010. According to the USA Pickleball Association, there are now over 150,000 active pickleball players in the U.S.
“The number of players just keep growing from year to year,” says Rusty Howes of
Pickleball Channel, an online source for news and tips on pickleball. “I don’t
see it slowing down anytime soon.” Since launching Pickleball Channel in 2014,
Howes says the online network has far exceeded its initial expectations. “There’s a vibrant community of people involved who really want to see the sport grow.”
What is it about pickleball that’s so enticing? Players say it’s easy to learn
and easy on the knees and elbows, making it a great alternative to tennis, which
can lead to injuries in these sensitive areas. Because the pickleball court is
shorter than a tennis court, there’s less running involved. The rules are simple
so the game is easy to learn and master in a short time. While pickleball has the strongest following among the senior demographic, Howes says that part of the appeal is that it’s really a multigenerational sport. “I’ve seen 20-year-olds playing with 70-year-olds. What other sport can you say that about?”
As pickleball heads into its next half century, players can expect to see
continued innovation in pickleball equipment as more and more manufacturers jump
into the game. While there are plenty of players who are only in it for fun,
pickleball is becoming increasingly professional and competitive. It’s now a
sport of the National Senior Games and the Huntsman World Senior Games and the
number of local and regional pickleball tournaments held each year continues to
grow. Interest in the sport has increased outside the U.S, too, with associations forming in Canada, Spain and India. By all accounts, pickleball is heading strong into its next half-century.
For more information on pickleball, see PickleballChannel.com or visit: www.usapa.org/what-is-pickleball.
NOTE: The Apache Wells Pickleball Courts are now available to residents and their guests. Information is available at the AWHA Office.
Website Editor
June 6, 2015
You've been hacked: Do this right now!
It is not the first and it follows massive data breaches at health insurance
companies, major U.S. banks like JPMorgan and retailers such as Target and Home
Depot.
Here's what to do if you think you've been compromised.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
BE A DETECTIVE
DO PAID SERVICES WORK?
SOMEONE DID STEAL MY IDENTITY, WHAT DO I DO?
AVOID ADDITIONAL HACKS
ONE MORE RESOURCE:
Website Editor
June 3, 2015
Scam targeting grandparents hits state again
Billy and Sherry Williams answered a phone call from a man claiming to be their
22-year-old grandson, who told them he’d been arrested on drug charges in Mexico
and would spend the next six weeks in a Mexican jail if he couldn’t raise bail
money.
On the phone, their grandson’s panicked voice was replaced by a calm and
reasonable police sergeant, who explained they needed to wire money to Mexico in
order to secure their grandson’s release.
“I told my husband, get dressed and go,” Sherry Williams said, adding their
first reaction was to rush out and get the money. “Then I said, ‘He’s never
called you Grandpa in his life. He’s always called you Papa.’” That was enough
to stop the Williams's from reacting to the phone call and start thinking about
it. They called the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and their children to find out
whether their grandson was even in Mexico.
Government officials advised the couple that the call was a fraud. Their
relatives told them their grandson was safe and was not in Mexico.
The grandparent scam has been around for years and is as simple as it is
effective. Someone calls a senior citizen claiming to be a grandchild in
desperate need of cash. It might involve an accident, an eviction or some other
crisis. The Arizona version often revolves around a Mexican jail and a plea for
bail money.
The scam has evolved to include social media. Con artists in the past relied
primarily on cold calls to convince seniors to wire money. But sophisticated
perpetrators use sites such as Facebook to custom-tailor stories with authentic
details, including names, photos, phone numbers, family histories and up-to-the
minute accounts of travel.
So when unsuspecting grandparents pick up the phone, their “grandchild” appears
to know what they look like, who their parents are, where the family vacationed
and other convincing details.
Arizona authorities in the past have warned that the scams come and go. It’s
unknown whether the Williams case represents a surge of new cases.
The caller in the Williams case used the number 514-699-6788, which is
registered in Quebec. The number on Tuesday rang to voice mail and messages were
not returned. The number is associated with similar telephone scams. On consumer protection websites such as Whocallsme.com others reported that callers targeted senior citizens.
One person posted a warning last month saying that a man called his 84year-old
mother and claimed to be her grandson.
According to the post, the purported grandson said he was driving with a family
friend to a funeral in New York when the driver was pulled over for speeding and
police officers found 10 pounds of marijuana in the trunk. He needed $1,480 for
bail.
The poster said his mother attempted to send the money, but Western Union
flagged the transaction.
Billy Williams, 78, said he’s sure he provided the fraudster with the name of
his grandson when he answered.
“He said, ‘This is your grandson,’ ” Billy said. “They had no information. They
offered no information.”
Billy said the caller first asked him for the money, then begged him not to tell
anybody what happened. Then he turned over the phone to the fake police
sergeant.
The sergeant said Billy’s grandson had been pulled over and officers found
marijuana in the trunk of his car. The sergeant told Billy that his grandson
qualified for bail and could be released for $1,900. He instructed Billy to go
to a grocery store and a drugstore to make separate wire transfers to an address
in Mexico.
Sherry, 65, said that if you stop to think about it, the scam doesn’t make
sense.
“But that’s not your first impulse,” she said. “Your first impulse is to get him
out of there.”
A component of the scam almost always involves a plea from the grandchild not to
tell anyone what happened, especially parents. So grandparents don’t try to
verify the information until long after the money has been sent.
The Williams's said they reported the scam to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s
Office, but officers told them there was little they could do and they wouldn’t
take a report.
A few hours after the initial call, the fake Mexican police sergeant called
back. But when Sherry said she asked for details, he hung up. She said he hasn’t
called again.
“If he hadn’t said ‘Grandpa,’ we would have sent it,” Sherry said.
Website Editor
May 28, 2015
Five Traits of a Successful Community
1. A Functioning Board of Directors
2. A Relationship Between the Board and Management
3. Communication Between All Parties
4. Financial Integrity
5. Community Governance
Website Editor
May 25, 2015
River explorers paddle on Benedict Arnold’s trail
AUGUSTA, Maine — Benedict Arnold and his men should have had it so good when
their 1,100-member expedition ventured into the forbidding upper reaches of
Maine’s Kennebec River in 1775. There, Arnold’s troops faced unspeakably bad
weather, ran out of food and endured illness, deaths and countless other
hardships in their attempt to sneak through the woods and capture Quebec as part
of America’s Revolutionary War against England. The men lacked supplies and
proper maps. There was no GPS in those days, not even Doritos. Worse, their
invasion failed.
Following the path of Arnold and his men (and a few women) up the 170-mile river
route, my band of three was spared the bulky, leaky, 400-pound wooden bateaux
the soldiers used, instead taking kayaks, a 1980-vintage canoe and finally a
motorboat. And unlike Arnold’s band, which did the trek in roughly two months,
it took me, my son and an adventure-hungry friend upwards of four years to
complete it. We had the luxury of tackling relatively short stretches of the
river when we wanted.
We also did the trip backwards, taking advantage of the river’s north-to-south
flow to push us along. We drove segment by segment north, but paddled each
section south (leaving cars at beginning and end points). The Arnold expedition
had no choice but to forge north the entire way, often portaging the heavy boats
around waterfalls and rapids that are now largely gone due to dams.
Not that we didn’t have our little hardships along the route, from south of the
Augusta area to the tiny town of Caratunk. That’s where Arnold’s men crossed to
what’s known as Carrying Place Township so they could take a more direct route,
via the Dead River and a chain of other waterways, to Canada.
Like Arnold, whose venture was handicapped by inaccurate maps of the time, we,
too, experienced a daunting setback by failing to have GPS or bring along a
proper map. This was in Madison, roughly 40 miles upstream from Augusta, where
we got tangled up in a nasty oxbow — a conglomeration of tiny islands whose
winding waterways form a natural maze. As the sun began its summer descent, I
thought we might wind up encamped along the river’s edge — just as Arnold’s men
did a few miles upstream at the site of the present-day Evergreens Campground in
Solon. But we gradually made our way out of the trap and, following the sounds
of logging trucks off in the distance and reached Madison’s landing just before
dusk.
We faced another challenge upriver where a dam, which has replaced a steep
waterfall Arnold and company had to get around, required an arduous portage of
our kayaks through woods and down a steep embankment. It wasn’t easy but it beat
the continental soldiers’ task of hefting their heavy, flat-bottomed bateaux
around the cascade.
Wind was our nemesis at a stretch encompassing the present-day Wyman Lake, a 15
-mile impoundment along the Kennebec’s path that’s created by a dam. Soon after
we set off, a stiff and steady south-to-north breeze nearly locked us in place,
kicking waves over the bows of our kayaks as we furiously paddled. A few hundred
yards into the river, we surrendered to the elements, turned about and headed
for a landing.
The place we chose for lunch was likely near a spot where the Arnold contingent
rested before trudging on toward Carrying Place more than two centuries earlier.
By then, rations were short for those bedraggled troops, who would eventually be
reduced to eating dogs and shoe leather. For us, the staples were sandwiches,
tortilla chips and bottled drinks.
Defeated by the wind, we tied our boats back on our cars, vowing to return and
complete that stretch of the Arnold Trail. That would come a year later, this
time with a motorboat in tow. It was a clear August day as we motored the length
of Wyman Lake, watching bald eagles soar to towering limbs of pines lining the
shores.
The powerboat also eased our passage from the ocean’s edge at Phippsburg to Swan
Island, the site roughly 20 miles inland where Arnold and his men made landfall
after sailing in several ships from Newburyport, Mass., at the start of the
expedition. It was farther upstream, in Pittston, where the 220 bateaux were
delivered on the property of Reuben Colburn, whose restored house is open for
tours summer weekends.
Other notable sites along the Arnold Trail include Fort Western in Augusta,
Arnold’s staging site for the assault; and Fort Halifax in Winslow, encampment
site for Arnold’s troops. In Norridgewock, we found a Tarzan-style rope swing.
The river has good fishing, too.
Five years after Arnold’s trek, it was revealed that he’d secretly switched
sides in the Revolutionary War. He fled the Americans and joined forces with the
British. His name remains synonymous with the word “traitor.”
Learn more about Benedict Arnold
Website Editor
May 23, 2015
The Midnight Visitor
THIS WEEK IN ARIZONA HISTORY
May 24, 1869: John Wesley Powell and his party began their historic
exploration of the Colorado River. On this date in 2013, a federal judge rules
that the office of Joe Arpaio, the self-proclaimed America’s toughest sheriff,
systematically racially profiled Latinos in its trademark immigration patrols.
The decision marks the first finding by a court that the Maricopa County
Sheriff’s Office racially profiles people.
May 25, 1892: The Arizona Medical Association was organized in Phoenix.
It was incorporated on June 16, 1950.
May 26, 1894: The city of Flagstaff was incorporated. On this date in
1881, the first telephone office was established in Tucson. On this date in
1930, President Herbert Hoover signed the proclamation creating Sunset Crater
National Monument.
May 27, 1910: It was announced that Picacho Mine, which had sat idle in
the Cababi Mountains for many years, was to reopen.
May 28, 1918: Matthew B. Rivers, a Pima Indian, became the first Arizonan
to be killed in action in World War I. He died in Catigny, France as a member of
Company K, 28th Infantry. On this date in 1912, Executive Order 1538 set aside
the Ak Chin Reservation for the Maricopa Indians.
May 29, 1998: Former Sen. Barry Goldwater, who served five terms as
Arizona’s U.S. senator and lost a bid for the presidency in 1964, died at age 89
at his home in Paradise Valley.
May 30, 1935: The governors of Arizona and Utah met at Boulder City to
unveil a memorial plaque dedicated to the 89 men killed during construction of
Boulder Dam.
Learn more about Black Jack Ketchum
Associated Press
May 18, 2015
Using Drones To Enforce HOA Violations
Since the spike in private ownership of remote-controlled drones, more of us are
asking whether homeowners associations can (or should) be using drones to enforce HOA violations. There are mixed feelings about HOA drones. Some are worried about privacy. Others think their use will lead to abuse and “unreasonable enforcement” because it has too much of a “big brother” feel. Others believe that technology is supposed to make life easier and having drones for their HOA’s code enforcement will significantly reduce the time and expense traditional enforcement brings. Whatever your opinion is, when (not if) drone enforcement becomes a reality, associations need to be careful that the association uses them with prudence.
Right now HOAs cannot use drones “commercially” without FAA approval. Whether
enforcement drones in HOAs are considered “commercial use” depends on who is
using them and how. For example, use of a drone is likely not “commercial” if it is privately owned by the President and used by the President or another director without pay. Conversely, hiring a company to use drones for code enforcement may cross the line, at least right now. If Amazon can get permission to do it, I have a feeling we will see the use of drones in the commercial context across the board very soon.
HOAs using “private” drones to enforce HOA violations should consider a few
things as follows:
Liability: Drones crash. They can crash into cars parked on the street or
the grass in someone’s backyard. Hopefully they never hit anyone but if they do
expect a personal injury lawsuit. To minimize an HOA’s legal exposure, I’d recommend the HOA require that whoever is using the drone agree to indemnify the
association in the event of a claim.
Sound: Drones are loud. If you have rules prohibiting members from using
them because they are so loud, arguably the association should not use them
either.
Privacy: Drones record everything. Expect a lot of heat when your drone
flies over someone who happens to be sunbathing in the nude.
Conclusion:
Website Editor
May 15, 2015
County Parks set May 26 for annual fire ban
A fire ban is initiated to limit the possibility of starting a brush fire, which
could cause serious damage to the parks. The fire ban includes the use of
campfires, fire pits and charcoal grills; however, it is still acceptable to use
gas/propane grills in designated areas such as the ramada areas, semi-developed
and developed camping sites, and along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional
Park. Violation of this park rule, Rule 113, may result in a citation.
“During this time of year, the National Weather Service tends to issue red flag
warnings across central Arizona to alert land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition. When we experience high winds, the park supervisors have been authorized to issue a park specific temporary fire ban to ensure public safety and protect the park resources. When temporary fire bans are issued, information will be posted under the “alert tab” of the parks website page and park visitors will be notified as they enter the park,” added Cardin.
Smoking in the parks is still permissible, but all park users are strongly
encouraged to be responsible in their use and ensure that all cigarettes are
properly extinguished and placed in trash receptacles. A date to lift the fire
ban has not been identified and will be determined by the amount of rain Maricopa County receives during the monsoon season.
The following Maricopa County parks are affected by the fire ban: Lake Pleasant
Regional Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Adobe Dam Regional Park,
Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park (excludes turf area), San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Usery Mountain Regional Park, McDowell
Mountain Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, and Spur Cross Ranch
Conservation Area. If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, call the
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visit
www.maricopa.gov/parks.
Website Editor
May 5, 2015
View/Print Newsletter 5-7-15
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
May 3, 2015
Homeless vet rides to help pets, other vets
Palmquist and his dog, Daisy, are pedaling and walking from Ventura Harbor,
Calif., to St. Simons Island, Ga.
It’s not just for the heck of it. The venture has a purpose: Raising funds for
and awareness of Gilbert-based Veterans and Their Pets. The purpose and the
organization are near and dear to Palmquist. He’s a homeless veteran who had to
shelter Daisy while staying at a Phoenix homeless shelter last fall. Most
homeless shelters don’t accept pets. They each spent a couple of months at their
respective shelters, until Palmquist got the call that his father in California
was gravely ill. He went to Thousand Oaks, Calif., to see his parents, arriving
shortly before his dad died on Feb. 22.
So, the next day, Palmquist decided it was time to make his trek across the
United States.
“I decided to follow my childhood dream of running across the U.S.,” he said.
When someone asked him what cause he was embracing for the trip, it occurred to
him he should find one, and chose Veterans and Their Pets.
Since he was in California, that became the logical starting point for the
adventure. Years ago he had “met a lady from Waycross, Georgia, and that was my
inspiration to go all the way across.” But, Waycross won’t be his final stop;
he’s instead planning to end the trip in St. Simons Island, Ga.
He’s been in the metro Phoenix area for a week or so and plans to head back out
next week. He has friends here he’s been visiting and staying with. And his
bicycle and trailer both needed some repairs.
His route calls for him to head to Tucson next so he can continue to raise
awareness in Arizona of Veterans and Their Pets. He’ll then ride along the New
Mexico-Texas border before dropping into Texas for stays in Austin and Houston,
both cities where he has family and friends to visit.
Palmquist, 46, spent part of his childhood in Arizona, he was born at Williams
Air Force Base. His family moved to south Texas and after high school he moved to St. Louis. He served a five-year stint in the Navy, with his final post at Luke Air Force Base. After his discharge in the 1990s, he attended a Maricopa
community college and Arizona State University. After college, he started a
landscape business.
“A rough marriage and divorce” resulted in the loss of the business he and his
wife operated. Palmquist was initially given full custody of his two sons and
says he struggled as a single parent. Later, custody of the boys was awarded to
his ex-wife.
Those struggles contributed to his homelessness.
“I’m still kind of upset about that,” he said.
Palmquist and Daisy are “totally roughing it” on the trip, he said. He pulls a
31- by 24-inch trailer that holds minimal supplies and a place for Daisy to ride. He eats a lot of rice and beans. People have given him countless pounds of dog food along the way for Daisy to eat. He sleeps in a sleeping bag, often in the parking lot at a Wal-Mart.
People have also donated food and cash to support him along the ride. He doesn’t
accept donations for Veterans and Their Pets as he pedals, but gives out business cards with the website, email, Facebook and mailing addresses so people can donate directly to the organization.
When asked what kind of a dog Daisy is, Palmquist quipped, “She’s a used dog.” He found Daisy eight years ago when he was teaching an English as a second language class and she was hanging around. When no one claimed her, he took her in.
Palmquist hasn’t encountered too many obstacles so far on the journey. He “tore
up the rim” of the 1989-model bicycle he rides.
“People tell me I need a new, fancier bike,” he said. “My bike is good. I just
needed a stronger rim. I’ve got a real durable rim now.”
He expects to reach St. Simons Island in about two more months. He’s already
contemplating a second fundraising effort for the ride back to California — money to help with schizophrenia research and treatment. He has a good friend who suffers from schizophrenia and thinks it makes sense to help that cause.
“I have to come back, so why not do it for something?” Palmquist asked.
Where he’ll stay after the return trip isn’t clear yet. His mom and sister live
in California, but he thinks of Phoenix as home.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or sridenour@evtrib.com.
Website Editor
April 27, 2015
The Salt River Project
Jack Swilling One of the adventurers was John W. "Jack" Swilling, who first
observed the impressions left by ancient irrigation canals constructed by the
Hohokam Indians centuries before. Swilling was intrigued with the challenge of
re-constructing these canals to deliver water from the Salt River to land that
could be cultivated.
His enthusiasm attracted business partners, and soon the Swilling Irrigating
Canal Company dug what is now known as Swilling's Ditch. This first canal, built
in 1868 and first known as "The Salt River Valley Canal," is located near 40th
Street and Van Buren and runs West through Phoenix to the Agua Fria River. It
enticed more people to settle in the area and reap the benefits of a revitalized
irrigation system.
More irrigation companies sprang up, but the problem of managing crop production
with spring floods and summer droughts became increasingly difficult, threatening the survival of the Valley's fragile farming economy.
How those early citizens of the Valley solved the problem of flood followed by
drought is a story of how the metropolitan Phoenix area became the thriving
Southwestern community it is today. It is a story of a community still challenged with the task of managing its water --- the most important of natural resources - and with sustaining life in a harsh environment. And it is the story of an organization that has evolved over a century into a water and energy provider that is still a prime contributor to the economic vitality of Central Arizona.
It is the story of the Salt River Project, a 100-year-old Arizona institution
focused on a vibrant future.
Read more
history of the Salt River Project
Website Editor
April 16, 2015
Audit should push MVD to up customer service
A new law allowing Arizonans to get a driver’s license that meets federal
air travel security requirements is likely to result in more customers at MVD
offices. They might be hoping for a spiffy and efficient experience. Especially
after Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order in January saying state
agencies should focus on customer service.
But “MVD field offices do not consistently provide a good customer service
experience,” according to a performance audit released last week. These offices
are notorious for long wait times. The Auditor General’s report is not the first
to fault the agency. That might be why the auditor found the agency’s data is
skewed when it comes to measuring how much paint will dry while you watch your
day slip away.
The agency measures wait times from when customers get a numbered ticket at the
information desk until they are called to a window. By that measure, MVD said it
met its goal to have an average wait time of 23 minutes, even though that same
data says nearly 118,000 people waited longer than an hour in the period from
July 2013 to April 2014.
Here’s the rub: MVD doesn’t count the time people spend waiting to get the
numbered ticket or the time it takes to complete their transaction after they
reach the customer-service window.
The auditor sent “mystery shoppers” to seven field offices and found start-to-
finish wait times ranging from 23 to 88 minutes. The auditor also questioned
customers, and found wait times of more than five hours if their quest for a
driver’s license included a road test.
Computer crashes were another problem. MVD data showed computer systems had
“downtime issues” on 24 days between January and April 2014. This prevented or
slowed down processing. Some people had to come back another day to get what they needed because the 30-year-old computers were malfunctioning. Others had to
return because they did not have the documents they needed. Employees at the
information desk are supposed to explain what is needed before handing out
numbered tickets, but this didn’t always happen, according to the auditor. So
people waited a long time just to find out they didn’t have the paperwork needed
to complete their transaction.
The auditor also found some offices cluttered with trash on the floor and “dirty
or dingy walls, chairs and desks.” Even more people may be waiting in those dingy seats when Arizonans take advantage of a new law allowing people to get a
driver’s license that meets federal secure-identification requirements. Without
such a license, Arizonans will need a passport to board an airplane next year.
The new license hasn’t been developed yet. When it is, getting one will likely
require a trip to a MVD office. That could result in a great deal of customer
dissatisfaction unless steps are taken now to reduce wait times and improve
service.
In addition, the auditor suggests channeling people to self-serve kiosks or
online options when possible. Many people are already finding their way to
alternative services. The number of people served in field offices has dropped
from 42 percent in 2005 to 24 percent in 2014, largely due to a shift to the
servicearizona.com website.
The Arizona Department of Transportation agreed to the auditor’s recommendations
regarding customer service. That needs to be turned into action. Arizonans who
need what MVD provides should be treated as valued customers, not members of a
captive audience.
Visit the Service Arizona
Website
Website Editor
April 12, 2015
This adoption event goes for the soft shell!
“They just sort of lumber around, they’re not too much trouble,” said Michael
Kitchen, who, with his wife and kids, gathered around a row of boxes, admiring
the contents of each and every one — a desert tortoise.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department held an adoption event on Saturday that
found new homes for more than 50 desert tortoises. The tortoises, which can live
to be 100 years old, are increasingly inbred in captivity, leading to extreme
overpopulation. Families gathered at a wildlife center in north Phoenix to admire the animals and, in most cases, take one home. Only those with a preapproved application and proper enclosure were allowed to adopt a tortoise.
Game and Fish officials also closely monitored the gender of the newly adopted
tortoises, making sure that families adopting two or those who have another
tortoise at home were adopting only those of the same gender.
Kitchen, who had a tortoise as a boy, said he wanted to adopt because he wanted
to share that experience with his family. A lot of creative names had been
suggested for the new addition, he said.
“I’ve heard just about everything,” Kitchen said. “It sure will be interesting.”
Some of the tortoises slept in their boxes, soaking up the warm sun. Others tried in vain to climb the walls and make a (slow) break for it. One tortoise in
particular spent a good part of the morning moving around his box, reaching up
and trying to climb the walls each time someone walked by. Officials estimated
that he was around 50 years old.
A desert tortoise grows about 1 inch per year until it reaches a certain length,
said Lynda Lambert, a Game and Fish spokeswoman. “It becomes impossible after
they reach about 15 or 16 inches to determine their age,” she said.
Since desert tortoises can reach the century mark, people interested in adopting
are strongly urged to have a backup plan in the probability that the tortoise
lives longer than its owner. An adopter must also be a permanent resident of
Arizona.
Learn more about the Desert Tortoise Adoption Project
April 10, 2015
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 4-2-15
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
April 7, 2015
Changes in the HOA Laws
What is that all about?! Our Changes in the Law seminar is coming up on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 from 12:00-1:15PM.
Anyone can watch the seminar live on our website! No password or username is needed: Go to View Seminars Online. The seminar will then be available to watch live or later in our video library. We believe all education should be free and available to everyone!
Sincerely,
Website Editor
April 5, 2015
Scorpions return as weather warms
Answer: The return of hot weather brings some unwanted house guests —
scorpions. They’re looking for food, water and refuge from the heat.
Most people have mild reactions to scorpion stings, such as numbness or tingling
at the sting site. Young children and older adults are at higher risk for severe
medical issues. These would include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting,
drooling and flailing limbs. Symptoms can begin up to five hours after a sting.
If you have any of these issues, call 911 immediately.
The bark scorpion, which is found throughout the Valley, is the only scorpion
that delivers a neurotoxin that can affect the nervous system. They are also most commonly found in homes, often in towels, shower curtains or linens. It’s
important to check your shoes, clothing, bedding and towels for scorpions.
You can have an allergic reaction to a scorpion sting, but this happens rarely.
Symptoms are trouble breathing, nausea and vomiting. Call 911 if this occurs.
Most scorpion stings don’t need medical treatment. In the hospital, patients are
treated with common pain relievers and sedatives for muscle spasms. For more
severe symptoms, there is an effective anti-venom available.
Very few deaths from scorpion stings have been reported in the United States.
Dr. Dan Quan is a toxicologist and Emergency Medicine physician with Maricopa
Integrated Health System who studies scorpions and treats 30 to 50 patients
stung by the pests every year.
Website Editor
April 1, 2015
A disturbing little factoid about snake removal
For advice on this matter I consulted with my new best friend, Russ Johnson of
the Phoenix Herpetological Society. He said it isn’t so much a matter of distance as it is habitat and terrain.
If you capture a rattlesnake in your backyard and just drive it off some place
far away it’s probably going to die. You need to take the snake someplace where
the lay of the land and the habitat suits its needs. And my guess is there is no
shortage of such places around here where the snake won’t pose a danger to a lot
of people.
There wouldn’t be much point in picking up a snake in northeast Mesa and
releasing it downtown, would there be then? Of course, the best thing to do if
you come across a rattler is to leave it alone and back off slowly. Mind your own business and the snake will mind its.
Johnson’s organization removes problem snakes. They can be reached at 602-550-
1090. They actually like snakes.
Treatment for Rattlesnake bites
Website Editor
March 27, 2015
Internet Explorer is headed for the tech scrapheap
The much-maligned browser that battled Netscape to guide people around the World
Wide Web was consigned to history this week by Microsoft, joining Palm Pilots,
flip phones and Myspace as relics of a distant age. A staple of the Internet for nearly two decades, the Explorer brand will be replaced by a flashier, speedier browser code-named Project Spartan that will run on phones, tablets and personal computers, but is expressly made for a new era of mobile devices.
Junking the Explorer brand is part of a new game plan at Microsoft. CEO Satya
Nadella is determined to remake the aging technology giant as an innovator rather than a follower. Even when it debuted, Explorer was a me-too product. Browser pioneer Netscape Navigator was the world’s first commercial Web browser. It ignited the Internet boom and had already transformed how people roamed the Web. Even the Explorer name was derived from Navigator.
“Explorer was never a cool brand,” Silicon Valley futurist Paul Saffo says. “It’s like one step from AOL.” Nonetheless, bundled with its ubiquitous Windows operating system, Explorer crushed Netscape in the 1990s. The bundling triggered a Justice Department antitrust lawsuit and a settlement with Microsoft. With the launch of Mozilla’s Firefox, Netscape all but faded away. Netscape sold itself to AOL in 1999. In 2007, AOL stopped supporting it. Yet, despite Microsoft’s considerable might, Explorer never managed to win the hearts and minds of consumers, who in recent years defected in droves to a new wave of sleeker browsers.
“In a way, the introduction of Explorer marked the beginning of the downfall of
Windows and Microsoft. It was not an attempt to innovate. It was an attempt to
stay relevant,” Saffo says. “In that era, Microsoft was a fast follower: Let
someone else pioneer and then come into the market with muscle and take over. But they didn’t succeed with the Internet.”
Never one to throw in the towel, Microsoft is now ready to rumble. Cue up the
browser wars version 2.0. The Microsoft browser was ‘never a cool brand’.
Website Editor
March 26, 2015
Infinite angles to Pi Day, with special meaning in 2015
“It is important you get people interested in math,” he says. “It’s a good
outreach for the general public or people who have some interest in math.
Anything that can sort of kindle interest in some part of the populace is a good
thing.” Craig Collins runs Boost Academy, an online tutoring service that helps
people with math skills. He knows a lot about pi. For example, incoming students
to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology often find out they’re accepted on
Pi Day. Really, who knew?
Still, Collins’ plans are mellow for the day, which was recognized by Congress in 2009. “Our staff and I will probably go out for a nice IPA,” he says. “I don’t see us doing a lot more than that.” It’s a different story at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. There will be games, crafts and activities celebrating pi. It’s the first year the Mesa museum marks the event, and curator of education Kathy Eastman knows what you’re thinking.
“Yes, you can use pi in natural history,” she explains. “We started looking at
the sciences that would be represented, like archaeology and planetary sciences,
and started asking these people if they ever used pi and how they used it. It
makes the number a lot more meaningful and important.”
Also important is that a taste of pie will be served at the museum.
Scottsdale resident Robert Farthing knows about the importance of pi, and it
dates back to a dream he had two years ago involving a pie fight. A senior
content producer at Riester Advertising Agency in Phoenix, he investigated the
meaning of the dream, which led him to pi. “Put numbers in front of me, and I
start seeing complicated things that make no sense,” he says. “But I can actually see pi at work, and this expanding visual circle came to mind.” Thinking about the confused state of modern society, he visualized a circle of people. “The world right now is kind of a mess, and I believe that peace is possible,” says Farthing, who was turning 50 at the time. “Pi sort of provided this equation for what’s the missing equation for peace, and that’s things like joy and laughter.”
It’s very new-age sounding, but last March more than 500 people participated in
the first Peace Pi Festival in Phoenix. Followers, called Pi’ed Pipers, threw
pies at each other, with the pastries symbolizing various ingredients for peace.
A festival was planned for 2015 but canceled due to difficulties locating a site.
“I know what we’re doing isn’t going to solve world peace,” Farthing says. “But
we’re all connected. We’re all part of this big circle.”
Like pi.
Learn more about the Pi Day 2015 Celebration
Website Editor
March 22, 2015
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 3-5-15
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
NOTICE FROM COMMUNITY MANAGER ANNIE COLEGROVE
March 2, 2015
How many days old are you?
EXAMPLE:
Click here for Your Age in Days?
Website Editor
February 25, 2015
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 020515
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
January 18, 2015
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 010815
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
BOBCAT STRUCK, PULLED UNHURT FROM CAR'S GRILL
DON'T FALL FOR THIS IRS SCAM!
NOTICE TO HOMEOWNERS ON AQUATIC/FITNESS CENTER RULES
The Aquatic/Fitness Center restrictions do not include the Pool which has its own rules.
The problem of under-age visitors using the Fitness Center was revisited by the Board at their February 5, 2015 Board Meeting. Board member Tim Roach reported on the following rules that residents and guests must adhere to.
Apache Wells Board of Directors
ANNIE COLEGROVE EARNS BOTH HER CAAM® AND CMCA® CERTIFICATIONS
DESERT TRAILS PARK PROJECT COMPLETED AND NOW OPEN
READ THE APACHE WELLS ROUNDUP ONLINE
AQUATIC/FITNESS CENTER NEWS AND UPDATES
Status of Aquatic/Fitness Center 12/6/12: The Apache Wells Board of Directors voted 8-1 on Thursday December 6th to approve plans and seek bids to build a new Aquatic/Fitness Center on the site of the current facility. The plans from Richardson & Associates Architects of Scottsdale call for a 2-story building with an elevator.
OLD FITNESS CENTER DEMOLITION (6 PHOTOS)
Status of Aquatic/Fitness Center 1/13/13: FINALLY.... On January 13th, the City of Mesa released the permits for the construction of the Aquatic/Fitness Center. Construction will begin on January 14th. Be extra aware and careful of construction vehicles in the area.
AQUATIC/FITNESS CENTER CONSTRUCTION (120 PHOTOS)
APACHE WELLS COUNTRY CLUB EVENT CALENDAR
APACHE WELLS COUNTRY CLUB SUMMER EVENT SCHEDULE
BAR & GRILL/APACHE HALL EVENT SCHEDULE
Public golf is available. For information on availability, rates, specials and to book tee times, call the Pro Shop at 480-830-4725 or visit the AWCC website.
THE COURSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND OPEN FOR PLAY.... FORE!
Click here to take a tour of Apache Wells Country Club
Do you want to own a piece of Apache Wells Country Club? Apache Wells CC has limited certificates for sale to the outside public. For more information please contact AWCC Executive Office at 480-985-4102. Visit Apache Wells Country Club on Facebook.
February 28, 2015
Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock, dead at 83
Leonard Nimoy lived long and prospered, and not just because he played Mr. Spock. Nimoy, 83, died Friday morning at his home in Bel Air, California. Reports said he died of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Nimoy was a seasoned actor but gained his greatest fame, of course, from playing the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of the USS Enterprise, the starship on “Star Trek.” The show lasted only three seasons but continues to attract a rabid fan base, to whose members Nimoy is practically a deity. The actor famously had mixed feelings about the role that gave him fame but eventually came to terms with it, as evidenced by the titles of his two autobiographies. The first, published in 1977, was called “I Am Not Spock.” The second, published
in 1995, was titled “I Am Spock.” And so he was. Rarely has an actor been so identified with a role as Nimoy was with Spock. He continued to play the character in “Star Trek” films, as recently as 2013 when he appeared in “Star Trek Into Darkness.” But Nimoy was more than just Mr. Spock. He was a director, whose credits included the 1987 hit “3 Men and a Baby,” as well as “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.” He also co-wrote the latter film, as well as “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.”
He was also a photographer and poet, and put out what might charitably be called unfortunate albums.
So why, then, will he always be Spock? Part of the reason, obviously, lies with the enduring popularity of “Star Trek.” Gene Roddenberry’s show continues to connect, not just through reruns of the original series but through the films, the reboots of the films and the conventions that still draw fans, many of them wearing the pointy ears Nimoy immortalized while playing Spock. Beyond the show, though, a big part of the appeal is Nimoy’s performance. Spock was, in some ways, the perfect character, the ultimate challenge. Spock’s Vulcan side meant he was cold, a slave to reason, with no emotions clouding his judgment. But his human side sometimes interfered with his Vulcan focus. Nimoy played the duality perfectly, whether for comedy or drama (there was plenty of both in a show as campy as “Star Trek”). William Shatner was a ham as Capt. James T. Kirk. If you were a kid playing “Star Trek,” running around blasting everything in the
neighborhood with toy phasers, you likely weren’t going to pretend to be him, no matter how many alien women he wound up with. Spock was the better choice, more fun, not just logical but the smartest guy in the room, always — which meant the occasional withering put-down of Bones (DeForest Kelley), his friendly nemesis on the show.
Who among us hasn’t made the little V salute with our fingers and said, “Live long and prosper”? And, let’s admit it, who hasn’t tried the Vulcan nerve pinch on someone, only to be disappointed when it didn’t work?
Naturally, Nimoy blanched at being pigeonholed in the role. Who wouldn’t? “Star Trek” may have stopped, but he didn’t. Still, there are worse fates than being remembered for one of the truly iconic characters in the history of television. How iconic? Nimoy appeared in an episode of “The Simpsons.” That iconic.
Nimoy maintained a Twitter account, and his last tweet appeared on Feb. 23: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.” Nimoy is lucky in that some of his best moments have been preserved not just in memory, but on television and film, where Spock lives on.
Website Editor
February 20, 2015
People, don’t believe all the hooey on the Internet
People, people, people. You must not believe every piece of hooey you find on the Internet, no matter what your little friends tell you. This one has been floating around for at least eight years, if not longer. It warns you that cellphone numbers are going to be turned over to telemarketers any day now and urges you to call a toll-free number to get on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call registry. It also urges you to pass the warning on to others.
It is completely false. I don’t know where that toll-free number goes, but I sure wouldn’t call it. It is possible it is a plan by unscrupulous telemarketers to get your cellphone number If you want to sign up for the Do Not Call registry, go to donotcall.gov.
Website Editor
February 15, 2015
Survey says Arizonans love dogs!
Thanks to a recent survey, people now know Arizona is one of the
country’s most dog-loving states.
Maybe it wasn’t the most scientific survey, what with it being sponsored by a company that makes dog treats. But when dog-love researchers analyzed data concerning seven canine-loving behaviors,
the Grand Canyon State was No. 10.
Take that, all you states that rank ahead of us for, say, education
spending. While you’re out there repairing schools and hiring more
teachers, we’re buying our dogs at least one present a month (one of the canine-loving behaviors measured in the survey).
The Doggie Love Index (yes, that’s what makers of Milk Bone Dog Treats called its survey) declares California as the most dog-loving, not a surprise since taking your dog to the beach is one of the coolest things you can do, even though “Do you take your dog to the beach?” was not among the survey questions. The survey instead rated states on such dog-bonding moments as bed-sharing, gift-buying and telling canines they are loved.
Rounding out the top five dog-loving states were New York, Washington, Tennessee and Florida.
Arizonans’ preference for Canis lupus familiaris came as no surprise to staff of The Arizona Republic who worked a community connection event called “I Love My Pet.”
One last trick from an old dog named Leo
Every evening for the past several weeks, our old, old dog, Leo, has been waking up between 2 and 4 a.m. and waking me up with him.
Ailments and time caught up with him, but he hung on for as long as he could. And we hung on with him. I actually came to look forward to our nightly routine. Leo rising. Me flicking on a flashlight, finding the old dog in the pitch black, going outside together and then back in. I learned that an aged dog in a dark, quiet house in the middle of the night is very good company.
But he won’t be waking me up anymore.
I should be able to get a good night’s sleep. And I’m sure I will, sooner or later. Later.
I wrote about Leo in November, about the old dog who taught me new tricks. I talked about how he was supposed to be a hospice dog, about how he had been found wandering and eventually was taken to the pound, where he landed at the top of the euthanasia list. The veterinarians estimated he was between 10 and 14 years old. We took him home for what we expected to be a few months of palliative care. We called him Leo after the great artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, who even as an old man is said to have lived by the Latin motto “ancora imparo”: “I am still learning.”
What Leo proved, however, was that the overused adage about old dogs is completely wrong. Backward. The truth is that an old dog can teach us new tricks. It certainly was that way with Leo. Since writing about him, I have heard from a number of people with old dogs, and cats. Many of their pets came from rescue organizations. Many of them came with ailments and infirmities.
“I could have put a kid through college with what we’ve spent on vet bills for our old Molly,” one man wrote to me. “But it was worth it. And I wound up getting a top-notch education from her.” I found out as well that close association with an old dog can improve even a news columnist’s reputation. Slightly. “If you have a dog like Leo, you can’t be all bad,” one reader wrote. “Mostly — but not ALL.”
Since November, a lot of you have asked how Leo was doing. He’s fine, now. He has moved on. No more discomfort. No more ailments. No more Leo, though the large presence of a small dog can be felt in every room. The last lesson I learned from Leo?
Gratitude.
There are two other dogs in our house — bigger, noisier dogs — and yet... the place feels empty. I am no longer awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of a gray-snouted, geriatric canine with big feet clicking around on a tile floor. It’s peaceful now. Quiet. And I’m having a tough time sleeping.
Website Editor
February 4, 2015
HOA Rules About Minors Now Violate FHA
We all know that the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, religion, sex, and disability. But the law is much broader. It prohibits
discrimination on the basis of “familial status.” “Familial status” applies to
children that live with a parent or other guardian. Most people have never heard
of “familial status,” or skip over it, but the consequences of violating
“familial status” is every bit as devastating as violating the race, religion or
disability parts of the law. Directors, boards and managers can be sanctioned,
ordered to community service, attend hours of FHA training, and even pay tens of
thousands of dollars.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
In the case of Iniestra v. Cliff Warren Investments, Inc., an apartment complex’s pool rule said “Children under the age of 18 are not allowed in the pool or pool area at any time unless accompanied by their parents or legal guardian.” Sounds reasonable enough. One day the Iniestras’ children went to the pool without an adult. The manager saw the children in the pool and fined the parents. The Iniestras sued. In their complaint, the Iniestras argued that the rule discriminated against their children and thus violated the “familial status” portion of the FHA (i.e. prohibited their children who were competent swimmers but not adults who never swam a day in their life). The court agreed and found the rule to be facially discriminatory in that it “treated children, and families with children, differently and less favorably than adult-only households” in the apartment complex.
Why would the court rule this way? Simple. Among other things, the court did not
feel like the rule promoted “safety.” On the one hand the rule prohibited any
child, even competent swimmers from entering the pool. On the other hand, it
allowed any adult, even the non-swimmers, from swimming in the pool. Put
differently, the pool rule violated the FHA because it prohibited a 17 year old
certified lifeguard from using the pool but not a 34 year old father that has
never swam a day in his life. Unfair, right?
RECOMMENDATIONS
With some minor tweaks (pun intended) this rule could be ok. Many states require
young minors to be “supervised.” The general consensus is age 14. Notice that I
only write “supervised” and not “supervised by an adult.” The term “supervised
by an adult” may violate the FHA. Again, a minor in a pool being supervised by an
incompetent adult swimmer defeats the entire reason for the rule. The rule has to
apply the same standards to children as it does to adults. One way to accomplish
this is by referencing supervision by a “competent individual” and not simply by
“an adult.” If I were to rewrite the common pool rule above I would start by
saying “children under the age of 14 are not allowed in the pool or pool area
unless supervised...” This rule is by no means complete. It still needs to
address who supervises and when. If I were to simply say supervised “by an
adult” I would walk into a potential FHA problem.
CONCLUSION
The FHA is complex. Smart judges, attorneys and law makers disagree on what it
means and what it prohibits all the time. All too often, the FHA is a hazy maze
and nearly impossible for directors, managers or homeowners to understand.
Associations who haven’t done so should have their policies relating to children
reviewed. These policies can include curfews, occupancy limits and any other
supervision style rules. This will no doubt avoid problems in the future.
Website Editor
January 22, 2015
10 Tips for Dealing With Your HOA
First and foremost, a homeowners association is an organization of property owners that administers the rules and upholds the covenants of a subdivision, development or condominium complex. So if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, its rules affect and limit what you can do to a property you own. The rules and covenants are enforced by the HOA's homeowner-elected or developer-appointed board of directors.
That's good news to some, since HOA covenants and bylaws preserve the value of your land by ensuring neither you nor your neighbors do anything like paint your house a distasteful color or park several commercial vehicles in your driveway. The bad news is that you can't necessarily do what you want with your own
private property. Both directors and homeowners have a duty to uphold their ends of the bargain. Neglecting to do so could lead to legal action.
Homeowners associations have other roles, as well. In return for monthly or annual dues, HOAs can provide neighborhood amenities, such as parks, landscape maintenance, club houses and pools, and even fundraising. However, HOAs have often been notoriously difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to homeowner violations or disagreements. So if you want to get the most out of your HOA, you have to know how to deal with it properly. Let the countdown begin!
Tip #10 Know your homeowners association's bylaws -- and follow them. It's also good to read through the rules, covenants and deeds to find arbitrary ones, like one that might prohibit parking a pickup truck in your driveway. Florida resident Anthony Colecchia, a retired New York City firefighter who required extra legroom in his car for medical reasons, learned that the hard way. Sports utility vehicles were fine, according to his HOA, but the pickup truck he owned and parked in his driveway violated a particular bylaw, and his HOA sued him. Other common covenants regulate fences, the number of rooms in your house, building materials, and even the color -- and shade of that color -- you can paint your house.
Also, know if one bylaw puts another at odds. Another Florida resident, Deborah
Waldbillig, who had taken in six puppies, installed a fence so they could run around while she underwent chemotherapy. The HOA required dogs be contained in a fence or on leashes, but it also required getting the fence approved. Before Waldbillig and her husband could get approval, they installed a fence anyway, so the HOA had them take it down. The ordeal even resulted in legal action.
TIP #9 Expect the best from your HOA. As HOAs become increasingly common, they face controversy regarding their commitment to protecting homeowners. For example, some directors have purchased -- at extremely low prices -- the homes they've helped foreclose on. This and other actions give HOAs bad media attention. But all HOAs behave differently. It is important, nonetheless, to ensure your HOA is acting for you. After all, you're paying for it.
A 1999 poll sponsored by the Community Associations Institute reported about 75 percent of HOA residents were satisfied. But in 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported that as many as 48 percent of residents considered their associations a "major headache". Concrete statistics on HOA-satisfaction rates don't exist. There's too much diversity in associations' behavior and strictness. To gauge your satisfaction, check if your neighborhood facilities are in good shape, up to code and attractive to potential home buyers. Your HOA is doing a good job if your neighborhood is suiting your needs and wants, and the board treats you and your neighbors fair and reasonably. But consider this: If your HOA suddenly increases fees and fines, it might be because it's poorly managed its revenues.
One Florida HOA seemed to mislead its residents by not allowing school buses to pick up children inside the community gate. This was despite the HOA having advertised specifically to families with children by promoting its proximity to Disney World. So talk to residents living in an HOA community to see if its advertising matches its practices. You might not want to raise a family where school buses can't reach your children.
TIP #8 Communicate with other members. One of the biggest advantages of living in a neighborhood with a homeowners association is the bonds you can form with your neighbors. You might never talk to some of them, but they are paying the same monthly dues and working to stick to the same regulations, so you have a lot in common, and this might come in handy.
First, if your homeowners association suddenly starts assessing violations and charging fees on a large-scale, you're not going to be the only resident suddenly feeling targeted and pressured to pay. In 2010, a community in St. Augustine, Fla., banded together against an association that appeared to be shunning residents' trust and using "extortive methods" to collect dues. The residents somehow learned of each other's plights, and a legal investigation was instigated to see if their complaints had any merit.
Knowing your neighbors can have defensive benefits as well. Sometimes, it's not the association but rather an individual in the neighborhood who calls attention to a homeowner's violation. If you hang your clothes to dry on a line in an upscale, polished subdivision, a member of your HOA may turn you in, and that can result in hundreds of dollars in fines. But if you've befriended your neighbors, they'll be more likely to approach you before the association, and you can avoid the unpleasant scenario entirely.
Tip #7 Stay involved. Communicating with other homeowners and the board making the association's decisions is easiest at community meetings. Many associations require only one annual meeting for the purpose of electing the board of directors, which is open to members. Many, however, will hold a mix of meetings open to the board, or the board plus members. In some states, what members can speak about is limited to the items on the board's prepared minutes. But in states such as Florida, new laws allow residents to discuss whatever they please, although their time and manner of presenting is monitored.
Of course the benefit of attending meetings is not just to be heard, but also to hear what is going on. If an HOA is considering raising its dues next year, you'll want to find out as soon as possible. Similarly, you'll want to learn of any proposed bylaws or other changes in how the community will operate. And if your bylaws allow you to speak at the meeting, voicing your opinion could add a new perspective to a proposed policy that the board might not have considered.
But by far the most important meeting to attend is the annual meeting of the HOA to elect its next board of directors. If your HOA board is showing any signs of abuse or neglect to the homeowners it represents, it might be time for you to vote for a new board.
Tip #6 Get approval before making changes. Florida resident Andrea Piacitelli got her HOA's approval to build a concrete block wall around her rear courtyard and is likely thankful she did. When her neighbor complained about the wall's intrusion, the board of directors' decision stood because Piacitelli had gained approval in advance.
Gaining approval in advance is advisable to ensure your HOA doesn't come after you once you build a wall, add an addition onto your home, buy a vehicle that might be considered "commercial" or otherwise forbidden, or do any other potentially disruptive action. Not all of these are going to appear as items listed against the rules of your association; however, just because a behavior is not explicitly restricted does not mean your HOA will consider it acceptable.
Complaints by other neighbors can call attention to your actions. So, if you anticipate that the change you want to make to your house might somehow bother one or more neighbors, approach them before you initiate the change. Anticipate what they might object to. You'll learn they might have legitimate concerns or that they won't complain about your project -- both will be invaluable to know.
Tip #5 Run for a position on the Board. Knowledge might not always be power, but on an HOA board, the two come hand-in-hand. If you're serving as a director on the board, you will always know its latest proposals and how you as a homeowner will be affected and will need to act in the future. And you'll also be able to do something about them.
A director can vote in the board's decisions and influence others' votes. He or she can also propose changes in order to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. In Boca Raton, Fla., for example, young sisters Samantha and Sophie Chenkin opened a lemonade stand for charity, but the HOA shut it down. The HOA was concerned about their safety, but the security guard felt so bad, he donated a dollar to their cause. If he'd served on the board of directors, theoretically he could have gone to the next board meeting with a proposal to would allow lemonade stands and preserve the safety of residents.
Directors can have bigger impacts. They can stop practices such as using homes as collateral against risky endeavors, which risk leaving many homeowners in tight spots and unable to control the safety of their property ownership. Ann Roth, of the American Homeowners Resource Center, calls the use of homes as collateral "debtquity." Roth is basically warning that the more your home is worth, the more likely your HOA is to put it up as collateral against something the HOA wants. "You might ask for what?" she writes. "The answer you won't want to hear or believe is everything and anything the board decides is in the best interest of the association."
Tip #4 Pay your dues on time. It seems like a big price to pay, but if you fall behind on your association dues, the HOA can foreclose your home. After foreclosing on your home, your association can auction it off and evict you. One Houston lawyer says if this happens to you, your best option is to appeal to the HOA's humanity.
But that didn't seem to work for one Texas couple, where foreclosures have been increasing over the last couple of decades. In 2009, an Army National Guard captain serving in Iraq had his Texas home foreclosed on by his homeowners association. His wife missed $800 worth of dues because she fell into a depression, so the HOA auctioned off their home, which was completely paid off and worth about $300,000, for just $3,500, enough to cover their past dues and the HOA's legal fees.
It's cases like this that have some groups accusing homeowners associations of trying to create oligarchies out of their power, in that they are a small group of people controlling masses with intentions of serving their own benefit rather than those of the people they represent. The best way to avoid this type of situation is to pay what you owe and pay on time.
Tip #3 If fined, accept it and pay it. You have three options for dealing with a fine. First, you can pay it. The situation will be over and done with. That said, if you make the same violation in the future and have to pay again, your argument for opposing the fine will be weaker, because you've already paid it once, and essentially admitted guilt.
Your second option is to try asking for a variance, which is an exception to the deed or covenant by which your HOA functions. Sometimes, especially if the HOA doesn't want a legal battle, the variance will be granted. In many cases, the HOA will hold a hearing to which other homeowners are invited, to discuss whether or not to grant or deny the variance.
Your final option is taking legal action but this should be your last resort. It is possible to win a lawsuit, and sometimes the HOA will have to pay your legal fees. But homeowners have taken associations to court over hundreds of dollars only to come back, head in hands, owing the HOA the original fines or dues plus thousands of dollars in lawyers' fees.
The worst thing to do is simply refuse to pay the fines without telling your HOA why you're not. You could risk foreclosure, and considering the hard-playing reputation HOAs have, it's better not to tempt fate.
Tip #2 An abusive or unresponsive Board. If your HOA is unresponsive to written communication, the first thing you want to do is take every action to contact the directors by phone. If you get no answers, find out if they are holding a meeting and attend it. If they still don't address your concern, you might need to seek legal advice.
Media attention helped Florida resident Rebecca Krueger, who was outraged when her car was booted for being parked on her grass. Except it wasn't -- the tire of her car was simply an inch off of her driveway. She spoke to the association manager who told her they boot vehicles every night to make up for the lack of funds from homeowners who haven't paid dues. Her story was picked up by a couple of news outlets and, although she wound up paying $200 to have the boot removed from her car, her HOA agreed to discuss the situation with her.
If media attention and legal consultation don't convince your HOA to negotiate, you might have to take legal action. Sometimes court is unavoidable, because the HOA sues a homeowner. Legal fees add up on both sides, and usually the loser pays. In Phoenix, Joseph Haggerty was sued by his association for keeping a garbage can in his front yard instead of the back. The garbage can cost Haggerty about $12,000 in legal fees when he lost the court case. Picking battles is part of the struggle, but sometimes even legal action won't make an aggressive association back off.
Tip #1 Increasing rates. What do you do if the HOA keeps increasing your dues at alarming rates? First of all, pay them. There are too many risks involved, including foreclosure, if you don't. Second, review your deeds and bylaws to see what your legal rights are. If you can initiate intelligent dialogue with the HOA board, do so. Unfortunately, HOAs have reputations for being set in their bylaws and, if you don't have any legal basis for your objection to the rate increase, you might be out of luck.
Power is in numbers. If other homeowners feel the same way about the rate increase, join with them. You could hire one lawyer collectively to represent the case and needs of all homeowners who object. The rate hike should be significant enough to make you feel passionate in pursuing legal action because the risk of losing outweighs what the hike will cost you in money and willingness to conform to the HOA's policy changes in the future. The more people that object to the rate increase, the better off your case will be.
The board determines the rate of dues. If the HOA needs more money, as it may during a recession or if construction and maintenance is required to keep facilities up to code, it is more likely to increase rates or begin assessing homeowners for violations resulting in fines.
Website Editor
December 25, 2014
APS/SRP warn of phishing scams
Arizona Public Service customers across the state are being targeted with fake demands for payment at a website designed to look like the real thing. Power company officials say there is nothing real about it. The website is an elaborate fraud that not only bilks customers out of money they don’t owe, but could be used to implant a virus to seize information from the computers of users.
“It’s the season of sharing, but APS customers should be extra vigilant this holiday season about how they are sharing their personal and financial information,” APS officials said in an advisory this week. “Recipients are receiving the random emails, which instruct them to make a credit card
payment at a website that appears to be a valid APS website. These emails and website are fraudulent.”
Salt River Project officials on Tuesday warned via Twitter that their customers were targeted in a similar scam. For suspected phishing incidents SRP customers can call 602-236-8888 24/7. The SRP website can be accessed at www.srpnet.com.
Utility customers are the latest victims in a string of phishing scams that use official-looking websites and emails to frighten people into paying bills they don’t owe and trick them into divulging bank, credit card and other personal data. Other scams include fake email demands from the federal court, the IRS, police departments and mortgage companies. Another phishing scam uses death notices with the name and address of real funeral homes. The scams all share the same basic features and depend on the impact of an official-looking email to induce enough panic to override common sense.
The emails require immediate attention and come with the threat of arrest or fines or audits. In August, U.S. District Court officials warned about fraudulent juror summons. Emails threatening arrest and fines for failure to fill out a requested juror form were reported in at least 14 federal court districts.
Another scam threatens eviction for failing to make mortgage payments.
“Hereby we inform you that you will be foreclosed on your property residential and have a status of a trespasser. Please vacate it within the period of 25 days since the date of this notice... Otherwise you will be locked out from your home. Please find the bank statement enclosed to this notice,” the email reads.
Most email scams cannot withstand scrutiny. Often they lack official status or include typos and improper grammar. Even people who know they have never been late on a mortgage payment or always pay their taxes on time can be fooled into believing they did something wrong. And it only takes a single click on a fake website before the damage is done.
APS is Arizona’s largest electricity utility and serves nearly 1.2 million customers in Arizona. Company officials say customers are being fooled this time because the website closely resembles their own. They advise customers to avoid getting caught in the scam by taking simple precautions.
Learn more about phishing symptoms
Website Editor
December 21, 2014
The Great Papago Prison Escape
Seventy years ago, late on a Saturday night and only two days before Christmas, all was quiet in Phoenix. Above ground. Beneath it a daring escape was underway. Twenty-five German prisoners of war had begun their breakout from Camp Papago
Park, one of many wartime installations that dotted the United States.
Most Americans don’t know it, but their country held some 370,000 Germans in over 500 camps in 45 states during the war. Encouraged by the Geneva Convention to try to escape, those prisoners frequently broke out. And the biggest breakout of them all happened in Phoenix shortly before 9 a.m. on Dec. 23, 1944.
The Papago POWs had used only a few tools to dig a tunnel 178 feet through the desert earth and now began their crawl to freedom that opened up to them at a patrol road outside their barbed-wire compound. They would emerge in the early hours of Christmas Eve near an irrigation canal and beyond the fences that had held them.
The Great Papago Escape, as it was called, is barely remembered today. But it was historic in its size, with 25 German POWs on the loose in the open desert on a drenching day, intent on walking the 130 miles to the Mexican border.
It took nearly 24 hours for camp guards to realize there had been a major escape, and by that time — late Sunday afternoon — the fugitives, in groups of twos and threes, were long gone. Extensive news reports caused a flurry of citizens to write angry letters to Arizona newspapers. One letter — of many —
accused the camp authorities of being “damn slack.” Even acid-tongued syndicated columnist Walter Winchell entered the fray, blaming the War Department for coddling German prisoners, moving the rhetoric up a notch by calling the
escapees “saboteurs.”
But their intentions were largely benign. Most simply wanted to go home to Germany and figured they could do it via Mexico. They carried no weapons, only food, forged documents, clothing and a little bit of American money from selling to camp guards fake Nazi paraphernalia made from melted toothpaste tubes and
shoe polish. Some of the men had compasses and maps slyly stolen from unguarded camp vehicles.
The escape was officially blamed on ineffectual administration by camp officials. The most serious mistake, however, was made by a new camp commander. Col. William A. Holden believed he could control escapes by herding the most experienced breakout artists together in a single compound that came to be known as Compound 1A. Little did he know he was encouraging their collective expertise. Further, Compound 1A had a serious flaw — a blind spot between two guard towers. Camp officers chose to ignore it. The Germans didn’t.
One day in September 1944, when the tunnel was in its infancy, four U-boat captains in 1A idly watched American GIs as they headed toward their athletic field. An idea came to the wily Germans who had highly developed engineering skills and hours of unsupervised time: Why couldn’t they have a sports area in
their compound? It would be the perfect ruse to dump dirt from the tunnel. They were running out of places to put the fresh earth — filling attics of unused barracks or flushing dirt down toilets.
The captains didn’t think the Americans would go for the idea, but when it was approved and new dirt was found on the ground, camp officials never thought twice about it, believing the men were building a court for faustball, a form of volleyball. So complete was the ruse that in mid-November 1944, high-ranking
officers of the 9th Service Command headquarters in Salt Lake City toured the camp and Compound 1A and arrived at a humorous conclusion.
A colonel in the group, as the story goes, planted both feet firmly on top of the hidden tunnel entrance and proclaimed with confidence that Papago Park need never be concerned about tunnels because the soil was hard as a rock. Everyone smiled, including some of the diggers standing nearby. The biggest slip-up was the failure of camp authorities to conduct head counts on Sunday mornings, allowing the POWs to sleep in. On Sundays, the counts were done late in the afternoons, and since the escape was pulled off on the weekend of Christmas,
most of the top officers were not on duty, leaving inexperienced lower ranked officers and guards to deal with the confusing head count. In fact, the remaining POWs in 1A kept leaving the formation to go to the bathroom. At one point the guards thought 60 Germans had escaped.
Unable to find the commander and the director of security, Capt. Cecil Parshall called the FBI at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. By that time, one of the POWs was already in custody. He had hitched a ride with a civilian who drove him directly to the sheriff’s office.
During their freedom, the Germans hid out in caves, culverts, stables, under creosote bushes, even in the basement of Roosevelt High School, hoping they could make it to Mexico by night. Three men in the group, called the “three crazy boatmen” by other escapees, believed they could walk 40 or 50 miles westward from Papago Park, then float down the Gila River to freedom.
Gathering any wood they could, they designed a boat made of wood and canvas that could be broken down and placed in a bag and carried out the tunnel. They even tested its seaworthiness in a small lake dug in Compound 1A. Unfortunately, upon arrival at the river, they soon learned what most Arizonans know — the Gila wasn’t much of a river. They burned the boat. With citizens, soldiers, police and Papago Indian scouts looking for them, all but one POW were gathered up. Search crews either found them or they turned themselves in within a few weeks. They were hungry, tired and happy to be back. They all considered it a great outing.
The lone holdout was Fregattenkapitän Jürgen Wattenberg, the highest ranking German officer in the camp. A known troublemaker, he did not plan to walk to Mexico. He escaped merely to make turmoil for the Americans. Wattenberg had hid
in a cave near Camp Papago Park with two other men, who got food easily by sliding in and out of the camp among work crews. Wattenberg eventually ran out of food. With no other option, he cleaned himself up and walked into downtown
Phoenix, where he politely turned himself in to a policeman on Van Buren Street, not far from the Adams Hotel. It was Jan. 28, 1945. Wattenberg had been free for more than a month.
The Papago Park camp was located near 64th Street and McDowell Road near the Phoenix-Scottsdale border. After World War II, the German officers' barracks were moved from the Papago Park POW camp to Scottsdale and Thomas roads and used as an apartment complex.
A model of the POW camp at Papago Park during World War II can be seen at the Arizona Military Museum, located in the Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix.
Geraldine Birch is author of “The Swastika Tattoo,” a historical novel set at Camp Papago Park and Nazi Germany. She lives in Cornville.
Website Editor
December 21, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 12-04-14
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
December 16, 2014
Can You Report Violations And Remain Anonymous?
ANSWER: Arizona HOA laws change every year. The violation procedures changed a few years ago. These changes apply to both Condominiums and Planned Communities. See ARS 33-1242(B)–(D) (Condominium Act) and ARS 33-1803(C)–(E)
(Planned Community Act). Both of these statutes require the association to provide the “first and last name of the person or persons who observed the violations” if the owner requests it. One can reasonably assume that the complaining neighbors must be disclosed so that the accused has a right to face his accuser. Some have taken this position and that is OK. But, a lot of residents would rather not have their first and last names disclosed for fear of retaliation.
Can you balance the reporting requirements and anonymity of the neighbors? YES... when the association receives an anonymous complaint, the manager, director, or whoever is in charge of enforcement, can verify the violation. If a
violation does indeed exist, the name of the “observer” now becomes the agent of the association, NOT the complaining resident. Easy enough.
While this procedure balances the residents’ and statutes’ interests, it is not perfect. For example, some residents may complain that there is a violation but nothing happened. It may be that when the agent went out to investigate, the
violation was gone. Residents need to understand that if they want to remain anonymous violation notices will not be sent out unless the association’s representative actually observes the violation too.
To help remove any confusion about this process, associations should amend any prior rule that requires a different method. Anyone wishing to do so should seek out a qualified attorney who specializes in HOA law. A few dollars spent up front to do it right is money well invested.
The statute says: “Within ten business days after receipt of the certified mail containing the response from the member, the association shall respond to the member with a written explanation regarding the notice that shall provide at least the following information unless previously provided in the notice of violation...” Thus we see that from a very technical reading, disclosure of the first and last name of the person that observed the violation is not “required” unless the violator provides a response to the association via “certified mail” within 10 business days of receiving the notice. This does not happen very often. A lot of management companies provide the name of the person that observed the violation in the initial notice as a courtesy. It is up to each
association as to the procedure they wish to adopt.
Make sure this process does not violate the association’s current community documents. If this recommendation conflicts with the current procedure, the association should either amend its rules (usually only requires board vote) or continue to follow the current policy as long as it complies with the statute.
Condominium Act
Website Editor
December 13, 2014
Mesa nears Buckhorn Baths deal
For more than a decade, Mesa’s historic Buckhorn Baths Motel has sat frozen in time, its walls and roof slowly deteriorating as the hodgepodge of items inside gathered dust. Soon, the city might be able to turn back the clock. Mesa says it has worked out the details of an agreement to buy the once thriving relic, and the attorney representing the original owners’ heirs confirmed the deal. “Our goal is to have a closing by the end of the year,” Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said.
The yet-undisclosed purchase price would be covered using money approved by voters more than two years ago. Some residents had stopped holding their breath for a deal in the time since, as family squabbles and related legal actions repeatedly held up the negotiation process. Next came a lengthy inventory phase to distinguish between historic items that would come with the purchase of the property and others that would leave with the family. The city is still working through that part of the transaction.
“It’s taken us a lot of time to find a way to document those distinctions, because (both types of items) are right now in the same room or comming led,” Brady said. “A personal item often looked, to us, like a collectible. We needed to come up with a good document, photographic records and a listing system that could help us identify which was which.”
Once the property changes hands, Mesa and historic-preservation activists can begin the project’s next chapter: securing, restoring and figuring out precisely what to do with the 15-plus acres at Main Street and Recker Road.
A colorful history
The history of Buckhorn Baths goes hand in hand with that of Major League Baseball. Some say the Cactus League might never have been born had the owner of the New York Giants not found the spa to relax and rejuvenate his players after harsh winters. The motel sprung up after newlyweds Ted and Alice Sliger, working to establish a new trading post and gas station at the site in the late 1930s, tapped a warm, mineral-rich aquifer while drilling for what they thought would be cool well water. They soon were operating a bustling compound, with kitchenette cabins, a bathhouse with entrances separated by gender, cooling rooms and massage tables.
Tourists came from all over the world to take a dip in the hot baths, later gossiping about the water’s supposed healing powers. Giant's owner Horace Stoneham was one of them. The Sligers built a locker room for the Giants in the bathhouse, used by the team for decades, and autographed photos and baseball memorabilia eventually filled the walls and closets. Some of those pieces already have made their way to the Mesa Historical Museum’s Cactus League collection.
The motel also boasted a kitschy collection of taxidermy wildlife, stuffed by Ted Sliger himself, as well as collections of Western and Native American artifacts. Tranquil ponds and towering palm trees still dot the Buckhorn Baths land.
Restoring and reviving
Both city and historic-preservation officials say the first order of business after the Buckhorn Baths purchase will involve stabilizing and protecting the property. “The longer it sits, the more it deteriorates,” said Vic Linoff, Mesa Preservation Foundation president. The city said certain walls and pieces of
roofing are vulnerable to rain and other natural elements. Fortunately, the 2012 bond funding provides for some simple repairs. It doesn’t allow for much beyond that, however, and Linoff has said restoration costs would be in the millions. It’s a multiyear process,” Linoff said. “That’s why the very first thing is to secure it, so it is (stable) as we do the appropriate fundraising and planning.”
The Mesa Preservation Foundation began pushing to get residents thinking about what the property could become early on. It has thrown out the idea of using part of the property for Little League ballparks, for instance, to link the site’s hand in baseball history with the present. Linoff also has said there’s a chance preservationists could get the baths working again, since “the hot water hasn’t gone anywhere.” Architects have said that would be tricky, given modern environmental-health codes.
“There are also opportunities for infill on the site that would help provide more activities and amenities,” Linoff said. “My guess is, the first thing would be to have some public dialogue to see, what does the community want? What do they expect out of it? And see if we can’t match the community’s vision for it with the reality of what actually can be accomplished.”
Buckhorn Baths timeline
1936: Ted and Alice Sliger move their trading post and gas station to the future corner of Main Street and Recker Road after a fire destroys their original home.
Buckhorn Baths Video 1
December 7, 2014
Pearl Harbor attack December 7, 1941
The massive explosion that followed has never been fully explained, since the bomb apparently did not pierce Arizona's armored deck, which protected her magazines. Many qualified authorities have blamed powder storage outside of the
magazines as the cause, but this is conjectural and probably will always remain so. In any case, the battleship was utterly devastated from in front of her first turret back into her machinery spaces. Her sides were blown out and the turrets, conning tower, and much of the superstructure dropped several feet into her wrecked hull. This tipped her foremast forward, giving the wreck its distinctive appearance.
A day that will live in infamy
Website Editor
November 23, 2014
Garden railroads on display in December
Arizona Big Train Operators once again will conduct its “Trains in the Garden” open-house tours during two weekends in December at private homes with G-scale garden railroads in their backyards, plus the Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa.
Most of the displays will be open during early evening hours December 13-14 and December 20-21. Check the group’s website at www.azbigtrains.org for the locations, directions and any special running times of the open-house displays.
Tax-deductible donations are accepted and are used to benefit the promotion of garden railroading through shows and open houses, as well as maintaining the indoor garden railroad at the Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa.
Children of all ages enjoy seeing these trains so come on out and enjoy the holidays and these unique layouts.
More photos of Garden Railroads
Unless noted below, these displays will be open 5:30-8:30 p.m. on December 13-14 and 20-21:
Website Editor
November 21, 2014
Falcon Field was named after bird dear to British
Aerial view of Falcon Field in about 1950 after the airstrip was acquired from the U.S. government for $1. While the swimming pool remains, barracks have been removed from the oval area.
On July 16, 1941, only four months after Congress approved the Lend-Lease Act
allowing Great Britain to train pilots on American soil, ground was broken for a
720-acre air base on a former citrus grove 7 miles northeast of Mesa’s town center.
Working with the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, which was actively promoting Mesa for a training school, city engineer Enoch Brison Tucker (1892-1971) was instrumental in the selection of the site. Originally dubbed Thunderbird III — number I was in Glendale and number II in Scottsdale — the airstrip was the third operated by Southwest Airways (not related to modern-day Southwest Airlines), a Hollywood-financed company contracted by the United States government to train domestic and foreign pilots.
The field was being built as the fourth British Flying Training School in the U.S. Both the Brits and the Chamber of Commerce desired a name for the facility that better reflected its British tenant. So, the chamber conducted a contest to find a more appropriate name than Thunderbird III. By the time the competition ended at the end July, about 70 entries were submitted including Saguaro Field, Superstition Field and Sun Valley Field.
The Mesa Tribune announced the winning entry on August 1 with the headline: “British Isles' Fighting Bird Will be Symbol of Field - Fliers To Be Training Here Within A Few Weeks.” The new airstrip would hereafter be called Falcon Field. “And by coincidence,” the paper noted, “the reward for naming the field will be the first for E.B. Tucker, Mesa city engineer, for the many uncounted hours of time and overtime which he devoted to find sites for the two big training fields in the local district.”
The Tribune reported that, “Tucker's suggestion met with the wholehearted approval of Southwest Airways officials. His explanation that Falcon is symbolic of the famous English fighting spirit and is the name of their renowned fighting and hunting bird seems very appropriate,' John H. Connelly (Southwest Airways) vice president, said.” Tucker added, “The insignia on the (training) planes would be outstanding.”
Tucker’s prize was an air tour of the valley for himself and a companion.
Four years after it opened in September 1941, flight training ended. About 2,400 RAF recruits along with 125 U.S. cadets entered flight school. Of those, twenty-three British students were killed in training. One American and four instructors also perished. They are buried in the Mesa Cemetery and remembered with an annual memorial ceremony.
By the war’s end, 1,400 British cadets graduated and 116 Americans successfully
completed their training.
Take a Virtual Tour of CAF Museum
Website Editor
November 10, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 11-6-14
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
November 6, 2014
A Brief History of Crossword Puzzles
The first known published crossword puzzle was created by a journalist named Arthur Wynne from Liverpool, and he is usually credited as the inventor of the popular word game. December 21, 1913 was the date and it appeared in a Sunday
newspaper, the New York World. Wynne's puzzle differed from today's crosswords in that it was diamond shaped and contained no internal black squares. During the early 1920's other newspapers picked up the newly discovered pastime and within a decade crossword puzzles were featured in almost all American newspapers. It was in this period crosswords began to assume their familiar form. Ten years after its rebirth in the States it crossed the Atlantic and re-conquered Europe.
The first appearance of a crossword in a British publication was in Pearson's Magazine in February 1922, and the first Times crossword appeared on February 1 1930. British puzzles quickly developed their own style, being considerably more
difficult than the American variety. In particular the cryptic crossword became established and rapidly gained popularity. The generally considered governing rules for cryptic puzzles were laid down by A. F. Ritchie and D. S. Macnutt.
These people, gifted with the ability to see words puzzled together in given geometrical patterns and capable of twisting and turning words into word plays dancing on the wit of human minds, have since constructed millions of puzzles by hand and each of these puzzlers has developed personal styles known and loved by his fans. These people have set the standard of what to expect from a quality crossword puzzle.
Here is an easy crossword puzzle to test your puzzle solving skills on line.
Try out your crossword skills on an easy one!
Website Editor
November 2, 2014
Running Your HOA Transparently
While good HOA practices are fundamental to getting the job done right, "people
practices" are equally important. While most HOA elections are not usually barraged with candidates, the members do care what the board does. When the board doesn't do it right, some members simmer at a slow boil, some bellow and others beat tar and feather drums. Sometimes the picture isn't pretty for many well intentioned directors.
A truly effective and perceptive board understands the need to keep members in the loop and their HOA open and transparent. This style of management may seem
cumbersome. In reality, running an HOA transparently is largely symbolic and
requires little more from the board other than a few member-friendly practices.
Here are a few of the most important ones:
Using these member friendly practices demonstrates that the board operates in the open plus respects the members and their opinions. Simply communicating that
attitude will keep most members satisfied that the board is doing a good job.
Failure to provide these kind of services results in discord and suspicion which
promotes hassles that the board doesn't need.
Another benefit of HOA member friendly practices is that they get the board
organized and prepared to do HOA business. With these systems in place, crisis
management becomes rare and the directors can hang up their firefighter suits.
Still another benefit of this management style is that serving on an HOA board that has a clear plan of action is personally rewarding. As others observe the rewards, they will volunteer to be part of a winning team. Getting things done attracts achievers. Success begets more success. Happy members means a harmonious community. When it comes to HOA business, keep the boards activities transparent.
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Website Editor
October 22, 2014
500M financial records hacked!
“We’re in a day when a person can commit about 15,000 bank robberies sitting in their basement,” said Robert Anderson,executive assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Cyber Response and Services Branch.
The U.S. financial sector is one of the most targeted in the world, FBI and Secret Service officials said at a cybersecurity event organized by the Financial Services Roundtable. The event came in the wake of mass hacking attacks against Target, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase and other financial
institutions. “You’re going to be hacked,” Joseph Demarest, assistant director of the FBI’s cyberdivision, told the business leaders. “Have a plan.”
Nearly 439 million records have been stolen in the past six months, said Supervisory Special Agent Jason Truppi of the FBI. Nearly 519 million records were stolen in the past 12 months, he said.
About 35% of the thefts were from website breaches, 22% were from cyberespionage, 14% occurred at the point of sale when someone bought something at a retail store, and 9% came when someone swiped a credit or debit card, the FBI said.
About 110 million Americans — equivalent to about 50% of U.S. adults — have had their personal data exposed in some form in the past year, said Tim Pawlenty, president of the Financial Services Roundtable and the former governor of Minnesota.
About 80% of hacking victims in the business community didn’t even realize they’d been hacked until they were told by investigators, vendors or customers, according to a recent study by Verizon cited by Pawlenty.
October 15, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter 153
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
Website Editor
October 18, 2014
Old practice of cremation undergoes a new revival
Dear Abby:
We noted that cremation has become more common and guessed that one of the main reasons might be funeral and plot costs. After thinking about it, we thought there might be other considerations propelling people toward the practice of cremation.
In modern society, individuals and families seem less tied to one area, and also, larger communities make it more difficult to make trips to cemeteries. Any insight on this trend?
---Plotting and Planning
Dear Plotting and Planning: Cremation is nothing new. It has been practiced since ancient times — 5,000 years ago and possibly even longer than that. The early Romans did it, but with the rise of Christianity it fell out of favor. (It is accepted by the Christian religion today.) Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs commonly cremate their deceased. However, it is opposed by traditional Jewish culture, which believes our bodies belong to God and we are not supposed to actively destroy God's property, and by the Muslim religion.
You and your friend have covered the major considerations that make people choose cremation instead of burial. I would only add that in the past, I have heard from readers who could not bear to part with the remains of their loved one. Others would like to have their own ashes co-mingled with their loved one's at the appropriate time and placed in a columbarium.
Website Editor
October 5, 2014
Boy Scout’s rattlesnake encounter in the Superstitions!
“It was 11:30 at night,” Ethan said. “I didn’t see it until it bit me.” He
immediately yelled for help.
Jon Eliason, Ethan’s father, was leading Troop 218 as scoutmaster. “My heart kind of dropped,” Eliason said. “I knew for sure that I needed to keep him calm and elevate his heart from the wound.”
The Scouts built a stretcher using sleeping bags and branches from yucca plants to help carry Ethan out of the Reavis Ranch Trail.
A Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office search-and-rescue helicopter found Ethan and was able to complete the rescue the next morning at about 6:30 a.m.
Ethan was taken to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, where he was
treated with 20 vials of antivenom. His father was told that 12 was the average
number of vials needed to counteract rattlesnake bites. A few days after Ethan was released, his blood-platelet levels began to drop, prompting his admittance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where he was given an additional 10 vials of
antivenom.
Blisters, a normal side effect, began to form on Ethan’s foot and at the bite site. Then the pain began to come back: The bite area had become infected.
“He was admitted to the Cardon Children’s Medical Center on Tuesday, and surgeons
removed the infected dead tissue,” Eliason said. “Now he is hooked up to a wound
vacuum that is sucking out (what) dead tissue remains.”
Frank Lovecchio, co-medical director at Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, said that up to 60 people have been admitted to the hospital for rattlesnake bites since January and that the center has treated up to 110 bite patients.
“This time of year, they still tend to be around,” Lovecchio said of rattlesnakes. “We tend to see them go away when humidity levels decrease.”
Lovecchio said that, regardless of humidity levels, Phoenix residents should always be aware of their surroundings and avoid aggravating any rattlesnakes they come in contact with.
Website Editor
September 24, 2014
Coyotes in populated areas rarely bite humans
Although the presence of coyotes may cause concern in populated areas, it is very rare for coyotes to bite humans, and bites are usually attributed to humans who have attempted to feed them. It’s important for the public to know that it is unlawful to feed coyotes in Arizona. To discourage coyotes from visiting your yards, it’s important to remove food sources that may attract them.
Feed pets inside or remove uneaten food from your yard and secure all garbage cans. Keep pets inside or in a secured area; they are also vulnerable to other domestic animals and wild predators. The use of lighting with motion detectors also may discourage coyote presence in your yard.
Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is popular with people and wildlife. Please respect the wildlife in the Riparian Preserve by staying on designated trails and remaining an appropriate distance from wildlife, especially when they have young. Pets are welcome, but by law they must remain on a leash not to exceed 6 feet and must remain under control at all times.
There are several lakes on-site. However, people and pets are not allowed to swim in the lake or enter wastewater basins, even when they are dry.
Should you encounter a coyote, keep your pet close and under control. To scare a coyote, you may shout, clap and wave your arms to appear larger. A simple way to deter coyotes is to make a coyote shaker by filling a soda can with pebbles and
covering the outside is effective when scaring coyotes.
Be sure to allow the coyote space as well as an escape route. Coyotes often use trails to run along until they find a gap in vegetation where they can escape.
If you have any questions regarding living with coyotes, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov or contact me at the Riparian Preserve at 480-797-2019 or via email at Jennie.Rambo@gilbertaz.gov.
Jennie Rambo is the naturalist at Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve.
Website Editor
September 18, 2014
Aubrey Plaza to voice Grumpy Cat in Lifetime movie
In "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever," premiering November 29 at 8/7c on Lifetime, Grumpy Cat stars as a pet store feline who's never chosen for adoption — which leads to her sour outlook on life. Along comes a 12-year-old girl, who can actually hear Grumpy Cat talk. The two eventually go on adventures together and, yes, discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Website Editor
September 16, 2014
Valley braces for another drenching!
Just one week after Valley residents mopped up from record-breaking rainfall and
widespread flooding, weather forecasters warned the state Monday to be prepared for another torrential drenching this week as a Pacific hurricane pushes into Arizona. Fire stations across metropolitan Phoenix were already giving out sandbags to residents Monday as Hurricane Odile battered Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and tropical moisture worked its way toward the southwestern United States.
Hurricane Odile damaged homes and luxury hotels, drove 30,000 tourists into
temporary shelters and closed Los Cabos International Airport. As the outer bands of the hurricane pushed north, the National Weather Service warned rain could come as early as tonight and issued a flash-flood watch for most of Arizona beginning Wednesday. Officials say the storm system could dump as much as 4 inches in parts of Maricopa County. Last week’s storm dropped 2 to 5 inches of rain across the Valley.
Randall S. Cerveny, a professor at Arizona State University’s School of
Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning, said conditions are ripe for a repeat of
last week’s flooding. “The upper atmospheric circulation right now is very similar to last week’s,” he said. “So, the current moisture from ... Odile is likely (to) move up into at least southern Arizona and trigger more heavy rains and floods, just like Norbert’s moisture did last week, possibly as far north as the Phoenix metro area.”
For Tim Adams, whose home near 51st Avenue and Estrella Drive was flooded Aug. 12 and again Sept. 8, it’s the worst possible scenario. Adams went to Phoenix Fire Station 57 at 19th Avenue and Dobbins Road to get free sandbags Monday. By the end of the day, it took 30 bags and 1,800 pounds of sand to plug up his property. “It’s scary when you sit there and you think about all your belongings,” he said. “Water destroys everything.” Adams said the flooding in his neighborhood worsened the second time, when Hurricane Norbert’s remnants deluged the Valley last week. He suspects that with every new flood, the water coming off South Mountain is digging channels that bear straight down on his neighborhood. “The first time, we were able to keep all the water out,” he said. “The water was at the lip of the door. We basically just bailed and bailed and bailed. The one last week, we weren’t as lucky. Water came in the house. But you fight like hell. You do whatever you can.”
City and county officials said there is little they can do before the storm beyond distributing sandbags. Some residents blamed the flooding on Salt River Project, which delivers water to farmers in the area via the Western Canal. The utility was criticized for not draining canals in advance of storms to accommodate floodwaters and divert them from homes. Spokesman Scott Harrelson said SRP this time is draining as many of the channels it can, but he said that SRP is in the midst of a high-demand season and that farmers cannot go without irrigation despite the expected storms.
Arizona Department of Transportation crews were troubleshooting the agency’s 71
pump stations around the Valley to prevent a repeat of flooding that sent vehicles floating down Interstate 10 in west Phoenix last week. Officials say an equipment failure inside one of ADOT's pump stations along I-10 at 43rd Avenue was to blame for the nearly 5 feet of water that accumulated on the interstate Sept. 8. The agency’s pump stations are a crucial part of the drainage system along the interstate.
Mesa said it was carefully monitoring forecasts in anticipation of the storm and
evaluating the city’s drainage system and retention basins. The retention basin at Emerald Park, near the city’s southern edge, filled quickly Sept. 8, and water spilled over its edges and into the streets. On Monday, all of Mesa’s fire stations had sand and bags available. Sand and bags were also available at the LDS Inter-Stake Center, 830 E. Second St.
Phoenix fire stations had plenty of sand Monday but were asking residents to bring their own bags.
Republic reporter Jesse A. Millard and 12 News reporter Trisha Hendricks
contributed to this article.
Website Editor
September 12, 2014
Crash-prone intersections are ID'd
To examine how Southeast Valley cities and towns are responding to high numbers of crashes at certain intersections, The Arizona Republic first had to identify where the most crashes were occurring. Using 2013 data from the Arizona Department of Transportation, which included crashes reported by local law-enforcement officers, The Republic limited the analysis to crashes within 150 feet of an intersection. The analysis excluded freeways.
In general, the Southeast Valley — especially Gilbert — fared better than other parts of the Valley. Chandler’s Price Road and Chandler Boulevard intersection had the most accidents in the region in 2013, with 49 crashes, followed by Tempe’s Rural Road and University Drive, with 48. The intersection with the most crashes Valley- wide, 59th and Olive avenues in Glendale, had 68.
The fact that an intersection has a lot of crashes doesn’t necessarily make it the most deadly, however. Mesa was the only city in the Southeast Valley with intersections where more than one person died in 2013: three people at Brown Road and Alta Mesa Drive and two people at Recker and McDowell roads.
The Southeast Valley intersection that left the most people injured in 2013 was Chandler’s Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, with 23.
Cities use all of these numbers — plus information about visibility issues, aging infrastructure, construction projects and population growth — when prioritizing problem spots and designing improvements to curb crashes. The Republic spoke to officials with each Southeast Valley municipality to see how they’ve tried to make intersections safer and what remains on their to-do lists.
Mesa
Two patterns immediately emerged when examining Mesa’s 2013 crash data.
First, with 23 deaths, the city had more than three times more intersections with fatal crashes than any other Southeast Valley municipality. That figure didn’t stray far from fatality numbers for the previous three years, according to the city. Second, and again mirroring data from previous years, Southern Avenue featured prominently in the list of Mesa’s most crash-heavy intersections.
The city’s most accident-prone intersection was Stapley Drive and Southern, with 43 crashes, followed by Country Club Drive and Southern, with 36, and Gilbert Road and Southern, with 33. Alma School Road and Southern and Val Vista Drive and Southern also appeared in Mesa’s top 10, with 30 and 28 crashes last year, respectively.
Southern Avenue again popped up in Mesa’s lists of intersections with injuries and fatalities. "A lot of those intersections that are along Southern Avenue are really close to the U.S. 60,” said Renate Ehm, Mesa traffic-studies supervisor. “They’re all feeder routes for people getting to the freeway, which are our higher-volume intersections.”
The city, as part of its capital-improvement program, has planned upgrades at Stapley and Southern and Country Club and Southern, which in addition to high traffic volumes have seen collisions because of nearby driveways.
For statistics on other valley communities, go to the Arizona Republic's website and do a search for Crash-prone intersections are ID'd
Website Editor
September 6, 2014
Gonzo adds a save to his impressive list of career stats
My very large (OK, extra large) tortoise, Frankie, decided to go on a great adventure — by himself. While I was crying and searching the neighborhood in vain, something very different was happening a few miles away. There, in Gonzalez’s front yard, the baseball star and the tired tortoise were getting acquainted.
One family member believes Frankie escaped to bring awareness to the Phoenix
Herpetological Society www.phoenixherp.com. I think Frankie did it to remind us that if we could all be neighbors like Gonzalez, then we’ve covered our bases.
Gonzo's record:
Website Editor
August 29, 2014
Reality of ALS hits harder than a bucket of
ice water
On Sunday night, I got a text from Rhonda: "You're welcome." I didn't even have to ask what she had done.
The "Ice Bucket Challenge" to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — or ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the Yankee slugger who died from it — is a social-media phenomenon. If you're nominated, you're supposed to take a dousing, or donate to ALS research. Some do both.
I was icy to it. But I wasn't sure why.
It wasn't fear of getting doused. At our house, surprise hose sprayings and Super Soaker attacks are not unheard of. Sometimes my teenage son gets me too. But he seemed way too eager to help with this. And I was having a great hair day.
The clock was ticking. So I called my friend Jamie to see what he thought I should do. He didn't pick up; I left a message. Rhonda texted again: "Where's your post?" and "I think your 24 hours is UP!"
Sawyer and I talked about it, and made a decision. No ice.
I clicked on the red "donate" tab and gave $100 in Jamie's name.
Because two months ago, Jamie and his wife called to tell me he had been diagnosed with ALS.
Just then, Jamie called me back. I told him I had skipped the ice shower.
Jamie chuckled. "I'd have told you to do it," he said. "I think it's great."
I met Jamie nine years ago when he began dating one of my best friends, Maren. She's also the mother of two of my son's half-siblings. So when Jamie and Maren married a year later, he became family. Jamie is smart, a philosopher of sorts,
author, musician, yogi, drummer, hiker, cyclist, a good listener and business consultant. He is the one at family gatherings who makes the margaritas, cleans the kitchen and launches the kids into the air in the pool. He and Maren come to all of my son's plays.
Jamie has always been active. So when he started feeling weakness in his left arm and pain in his neck, he brushed it off as an old football injury. When he felt more fatigued after a 20-mile bike ride, he figured he was just getting
older. One doctor recommended neck surgery; the surgeon suggested he be checked for ALS first. Nothing conclusive.
But then in the spring, his right calf muscle clenched up; he couldn't stretch it out. By May he was limping; on vacation in Mexico, he started a hike that he realized he couldn't finish.
Jamie went back to the doctor, who told him for sure. It was ALS.
That was June. By August, he was using a cane, could only walk a block or two before he was worn out.
Still, he was out of town on a family trip, so he only had a few minutes to chat. But we both had more to say. The next day, he called me back.
It felt familiar, chatting with my friend, yet grew more difficult as I found myself interviewing him about a disease that will kill the nerves that control his movement in a cruelly short period of time.
"The best way to describe it is like I'm wearing a weight suit," Jamie said. "Everything is just that much harder to do."
The disease is unique to each individual, so Jamie can't know for sure what to expect next. But he had been studying. He spouted statistics as if he were talking sports: Life expectancy of 6.75 months for upper-onset cases that impact
swallowing and breathing first; 3-5 years for lower onset.
His doctor told him he could live that long, maybe longer. It shocked me to hear him say the numbers, so matter-of-fact.
"One day at a time," Jamie said. And again, "One day at a time."
In these last few months, Jamie has been making hard decisions.
"Here's the deal, Kari, for me," Jamie said. "We can't always choose the cards that we're dealt, but the choice we have is how we are going to play them."
I marveled at his attitude, wondered aloud if I would be so brave.
He said he's making a choice.
"I have a chance now to pay attention to how I spend the last three to five to 10 years of my life, and that matters to me," he said.
So he's doing what matters. A reunion with his college football buddies. A visit from his new granddaughter. A trip to Greece and maybe Istanbul. He'll keep working because he likes what he does and believes in it.
And as Jamie loses more movement, there will be harder choices still.
He knows there will be a day when he can't do much of anything, a state he says is called being "locked in." He'll be paralyzed, only able to blink to communicate and breathe.
He'll use a feeding tube — plenty of people do for lots of reasons. He'd even like to try one of those eye-activated communication devices when the time comes that he can't speak for himself. But he won't be put on a ventilator. His choice.
Jamie and Maren first told family and then friends about his diagnosis. Little by little they told others, as the time seemed right.
Together, they went on a pilgrimage of sorts, to see friends and family, to catch a game at Wrigley Field for the first time, and check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
And suddenly, while Jamie was crossing items off his bucket list, the whole world started dumping buckets of cold water over their heads and talking about ALS. Friends and relatives, and some people he barely knew, were dedicating their dousings and donations to Jamie.
"I was delighted and honored and humbled, and I also was a little surprised," he said.
He absolved me for chickening out on the ice-dousing, and told me my money was well-spent. I gave my $100 to the Arizona chapter of the ALS Association, which offers support groups, respite care, transportation, and loans of medical equipment.
They already are helping Jamie. When he gets home from his trip, they're bringing him a motorized wheelchair.
I hadn't seen that coming.
It was hard to imagine my friend in a wheelchair. I could hardly breathe. I realized then why I had been so torn about the ice bucket challenge.
Up until then, I had known about Jamie's diagnosis. But that was all I had to do: know.
Now, I saw, I had to do something. Something more than pouring a bucket of cold water over my head or making a donation. I had choices to make too.
I offered to go with Maren to support-group meetings. I'll help Jamie, when the time comes. I know how — I had cared for my father when he was dying of cancer, and my son is big enough to help, too.
What else could I do? I asked Jamie.
He told me: Remember. Even once he's "locked in" — when he can't do anything else. Remember that he's still in there, whole and alert and aware.
I promised I would.
Website Editor
Read more at karinabland.azcentral.com. Reach Bland at karina.bland@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-8614.
How to help:
August 23, 2014
Ideas for Falcon Field Airport water tower are many!
If the light-blue water tower at Falcon Field Airport in east Mesa was painted or decorated, what would you recommend? That's what city officials are asking and the early suggestions are wide-ranging.
"People are being pretty creative with their ideas," Dee Anne Thomas,
marketing/communications specialist for Falcon Field, said. A giant orange
representing the area's citrus roots, a golf ball on a tee, a space shuttle launch, a lighthouse, a hot air balloon and a light bulb with a filament seen on all sides have been suggested in e-mails to the airport, she said.
"A couple people just said ‘paint it a color that is visible by the pilots' - they don't want it an earth tone. ‘Something to indicate aviation there and reflect the history of the airport,'" she said. "Also, paint American flags on it - patriotic; put Barry Goldwater on it, a pilot who helped found the Arizona National Guard. A couple people suggested instead of painting, do a digital-wrap bright and colored and detailed." Ms. Thomas said before a 9 a.m. August 1 meeting to gather ideas and comments for painting the water tower. It was held at the library of the Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road.
The tower, built between 1959-62 and no longer in use to hold water, is a reference point for pilots arriving at Falcon Field Airport in east Mesa and has bands of telecommunications equipment, Jim Law, airport administration supervisor, said. Airport Director Corinne Nystrom said officials are seeking ideas for the water tower from local residents and tenants at Falcon Field. Funding will be provided through money set aside for a historic zone at the airport, she said. The top two or three ideas will be brought back to the community for a final recommendation to be made to the city council or city manager, Ms. Nystrom said.
The airport's historic zone is bordered by Greenfield, Higley, McDowell and
McKellips roads and includes Falcon Field Park, West Falcon Drive, city-owned
aircraft storage hangars, two historic World War II aircraft hangars, the airport terminal building, the air traffic control tower and privately owned businesses, according to a press release. The theme of the area is focused on the airport's history with a retro look of airport architecture reminiscent of the 1940s when Falcon Field was built, according to the release.
Falcon Field opened in September 1941 to train British Royal Air Force and U.S.
Army Air Force pilots, according to the airport's Falcon Field Website.
"I like the falcon, since that's the historic side of the field. Behind the falcon, crossed U.S. and British flags for the historic aspect," Larry Turner, wing leader at the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing, said at the meeting. "Pilots still use it as a reference point. One said, ‘red, white and blue swirls pattern so you can see it' and ‘no desert tan,'" Mr. Turner said.
"My idea is to paint a huge falcon coming right at you with wings spread, maybe
superimposing a British Spitfire that was used then," Brian Smith of Mesa, flight crew chief at the Arizona wing, said while volunteering at the museum's front desk. "Something that refers back to its roots back to that time would be cool." Recent monsoon storms damaged the museum's POW-MIA flag, which is being repaired, and destroyed its British flag, Mr. Smith said. "We fly the Union Jack in their memory - the 23 cadets who died training on PT 17 Stearman and AT6 Texans," he said of pilots who died at Falcon Field in the 1940s while learning to fly the primary trainer and advanced trainer planes.
UPDATE: The tower will be adorned with a Falcon Field logo on the NE side and
the City of Mesa logo on the SW side facing the intersection of McKellips and
Greenfield.
Website Editor
August 18, 2014
Snowbirds/Staybirds: A change in migratory trends?
Sure, there always will be Americans who keep two homes, one in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, and another in Sun City; one in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and another in Mesa. But for years now, the migratory patterns and numbers of snowbirds have been something of a mystery.
Arizona State University, which used to track snowbirds flocking in and out of the state, no longer does so. The Valley’s proliferation of single-family homes has made research more difficult than it was when snowbirds arrived annually in their RVs, parking for six months or more in places like Apache Junction.
So we are taking on a project to determine whether the term snowbird and all that it implies remains accurate. We want to find out if those we have come to know as snowbirds truly keep two residences and treat them as two homes — half a year in Medford, Wisconsin, and half a year in Gilbert. Or, has that pattern been altered? Are snowbirds now staybirds? Do they live in Arizona most of the year and take off for a few weeks or a month to visit their hometowns or vacation elsewhere when the sun blazes in the Southwest, and then return to their true home here in Arizona? This won’t be an easy task.
Normally a project such as this has a beginning, middle and end. Consider this the beginning. The middle will continue as long as it takes to squeeze out enough information from snowbirds, former snowbirds, businesses who rely on snowbirds and experts in the field of economics and other sciences. In other words, months. As for the end, honestly, we don’t know yet.
But we will work to get to that point, researching and publishing a series of stories that will shed some light on an issue that has a significant cultural, social and financial impact on our state.
We will begin by asking questions of a variety of people, groups and organizations to determine how things have changed since ASU last charted the snowbird pattern. Some of that information will involve hard numbers from government agencies and chambers of commerce. Some of it will be anecdotal,
stories from business owners and others who make their living by providing goods and services to snowbirds and staybirds.
And then there is you. We need to hear the stories of how your lives in the Valley have changed — or not — over the years. Do you stay in your home here longer than you did five or 10 years ago? If so, why?
Have your annual vacations changed over the years? What about those of your friends and neighbors? Also, let us know what kinds of questions you think we should be asking to obtain an accurate definition of “snowbird.”
Keep an eye out for our Snowbird/Staybird logo over the next several months to learn what we have been finding out.
If you have suggestions for stories or comments, contact:
Website Editor
August 14, 2014
HOA Assessments and Collections
The main source of a income for a HOA comes from the annual assessments levied on the community’s homeowners, which are typically collected on a monthly basis. The HOA’s authority to collect these assessments from homeowners is found within the CC&R’s and by Arizona statutes. Specifically, these statutes can be found in the Arizona Revised Statues (“ARS”) §33-1256(A) for condominium communities and ARS §33-1807(A) for other planned communities. In fact, the board of directors of an HOA actually have a fiduciary duty to the association to collect
these assessments.
When a homeowner moves into a community governed by these community documents and statutes, they agree to pay these assessments. Under the law, if a homeowner chooses not to pay these assessments, then the HOA may take certain action to
collect for these delinquent assessments. HOA’s also have the right to charge late fees for those homeowners the fail to pay assessments on time. In addition to late fees, HOA’s may also charge a homeowner for interest associated with delinquent assessments. If a HOA takes collection actions to collect the
delinquent assessments, then the HOA can charge the homeowner for these types of collection fees, which could include management company collection fees, third-party collection fees, attorney’s fees, court fees, and lien and lien release
fees. Pursuant to ARS. §33-1256, for condominiums, and ARS §33-1807, for planned communities, all of these charges may be included in an assessment lien against the homeowner.
If these actions do not urge a homeowner to pay the delinquent assessments, then the HOA may be able to seek a court-ordered personal judgment action against the homeowner. A judgment is a legal action that allows the HOA to seek payment from the homeowner personally by permitting the HOA to garnish employee wages, garnish bank accounts and require the homeowner to appear at a deposition to review assets. A judgment will appear on a homeowner’s credit report and the homeowner must pay the required amount, or make other settlement agreements
with the HOA, to remove the judgment.
Under certain circumstances, the HOA may seek a foreclosure action a homeowner. With the court’s authority, a foreclosure allows the property to be sold with proceeds satisfying the delinquent assessments. A foreclosure is a drastic measure for an HOA take and is rarely used.
In all of these collection actions, it is important for both parties to know their rights and to receive proper legal counsel before making important decisions. It is also important for homeowners to realize that assessments must
always be paid to avoid further fees, collections, and legal actions to come upon them.
Condominium Communities
Website Editor
July 23, 2014
Just sitting around waiting to get hit by lightning!
Is it true? Well, golly, you heard it on TV, didn’t you? So it must be true. And
now you are reading it in the newspaper, and that makes it doubly true, provided
something true can be twice as true. It hardly seems fair, but yes, indeed: You can be sitting around minding your own business and get hit by a bolt of lightning from the other side of town. I don’t think it happens very often, but it could.
If you have time to kill — and I know many of you do — you can go online and find sites that show almost-real time lightning strikes in your neighborhood. Try nwas.org or one of several other sites.
Or if you not only have time to kill but also more money than you really need, you can buy your own lightning detector. Try Googling it.
Next, are two close-but-no-cigar entries in this year’s Really Great Big and
Wondrous Valley 101 Hot Weather Limerick contest.
From the team of Seth and Holly Kaufman:
And from reader Jane Geary:
Website Editor
July 17, 2014
Monsoon rainfall can vary widely throughout Valley
Residents across the Valley have seen the monsoon take off since June 15, but the Weather Service reported less than 0.5 inch of rainfall between the start of the monsoon and July 15.
Rainlog.org shows some clear outliers, areas that were either inundated by water or remained almost completely dry. A gauge in Sun City West on rainlog.org measured 2.1inches of rain since the start of the monsoon, and another gauge in the Chandler area showed 1.44 inches of rain falling. But some gauges in Phoenix showed as little rainfall as 0.04 and 0.06 inch. Although some parts of the Valley have received downpours since the start of monsoon, the overall amount of rainfall is far less in 2014 than at the same time in 2 013 . Through the first six months of 2014, the Valley had received less than half of the rain that came down during the same time in 2013, according to rainlog.org meters. The estimated total average of rainfall in Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe in the first six months of 2014 reached 1.18inches, much less than the 3.05inches that fell in 2013.
So far, Arizona is 2.52 inches below average for precipitation, according to 12
News forecaster James Quiñones. “We started out the year terrible,” he said. “The winter storms were very dry, and that got us into a big hole.” However, Arizona might still experience an average year of rainfall, Quiñones said. It is typical for Arizona to catch up during the monsoon, he said. The amount of humidity in the air provides good potential for the rainfall to pick back up toward the end of the summer, Quiñones said.
This year has been starkly different from 2013, which ended 0.39 inch above
average, he said. But storms toward the end of the year could also help bulk up
precipitation totals. El Niño storms can bring moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico, according to climate analysis by the UA, and Quiñones believes there is a good possibility for one to occur around December.
Website Editor
July 10, 2014
Open Forum: A Misunderstood Gem
Open Forum can be a powerful and valuable part of an orderly board meeting, but it should not be unlimited, nor continuous throughout the agenda.
Here are some tips to enhance Open Forum as a valuable community communications method.
Open Forum is a great time to learn of issues not being addressed by the board; what members think about how the association is doing; and of ideas and suggestions to help the association. Make it an important part of your meeting - you need it.
Website Editor
July 4, 2014
Fireworks shows planned for East Valley
communities
The city of Mesa will host the Republic Services Arizona Celebration of Freedom 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Mesa Convention Center campus, 263 N. Center St. Parking and admission to all activities, including the fireworks show, is
free.
Event activities include a fireworks show, Revolutionary War reenactments, a classic car show, historic flag presentation, a robotics show, inflatable water slides, educational activities and numerous live music performances, according to the event website. The fireworks show will take place 9:45-10:05 p.m.
“Everybody loves fireworks,” Steve Wright, the city of Mesa’s public information director, said in a June 25 phone interview. “But one of the things we do is try to make it educational.” The celebration will have a space called Heritage Lane with inflatable replicas of national monuments and several groups to educate attendees on American history, Mr. Wright said. Guests at the event can also sign a mock version of the Declaration of Independence, he added.
Another educational aspect of the event is the Revolutionary War reenactments taking place at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. This is the first year the celebration will have reenactments, Mr. Wright said. “We have the only reenactment group west of the
Mississippi that reenacts the Revolutionary War,” Mr. Wright said. In between their performances, the reenactment group will meet with attendees to talk about history and answer questions about the Revolutionary War.
This is Republic Services’ first year as the main sponsor of the event; Southwest Ambulance had hosted it since its beginning in 2010, Mr. Wright said. Bands will perform on three stages during the evening. Featured performers include Chad Freeman & Redline, Western Fusion, B-Platinum, Rock Lobster, MC 6, Pat Roberts & the Heymakers and Whiskey Kiss.
The Patriot Car Show will last all evening and feature all kinds of classic automobiles, Mr. Wright said. Guests will vote for the best cars and trucks in various categories and winners will be selected at the end of the night. Car
registration will be accepted until the start of the event, according to the event website. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from food trucks and carnival vendors, Mr. Wright said.
The event will have a number of indoor events to beat the heat, Mr. Wright said, and misters will be set up outdoors to keep guests cool. “We call it the coolest Independence festival in the state,” he said. Mr. Wright said he expects
around 30,000 people to attend the celebration including many families. “It’s very family friendly,” he said. “ We try to have something for everybody to enjoy.”
For more information including a complete event schedule, visit www.azcelebrationoffreedom. org/entertainment.html.
Apache Junction Parks and Recreation will host its annual Fourth of July Celebration 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, July 4, at Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center, 1091 W. Southern Ave., and Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive.
“It’s more of a hometown-feel fireworks celebration,” Chrystal Sawyer, city recreation coordinator, said in a June 18 phone interview. “It’s just kind of a small hometown tradition.”
The day’s events will begin with the annual volleyball tournament at Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center. Registration for the free tournament begins at 7:15 a.m. and is limited to eight teams with up to 10 players per team,
according to a press release. The tournament begins at 8 a.m. and is free for spectators.
The aquatic center will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for swim activities including water games, races and an obstacle course, according to the release. Regular admission rates apply.
Evening events will take place at Apache Junction High School and are sponsored by Republic Services. Gates will open at 6 p.m., according to the press release. Activities will include game booths, water games, bean bag toss, prize ponds, free watermelon provided by the Apache Junction Little League and a bicycle, wagon and tricycle float contest at 6:30 p.m. Reign-N-Country will perform 7-9 p.m. leading up to the free fireworks show at 9 p.m., according to the release.
The city expects between 4,000 and 5,000 people to attend, Ms. Sawyer said.
Website Editor
June 29, 2014
The Lost Dutchman Legend
During the 1840s the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstitions. Their last expedition to carry gold back to Mexico occurred in 1848. According to legend, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for one or two Peralta family members who escaped into Mexico. This area is known today as the Massacre Grounds.
A number of other people were supposed to have known the mine's location or even to have worked it. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. Men who claimed to have found the Peralta mine were unable to return to it or some disaster occurred before they could file a claim, all adding to the lore of a "lost mine."
In the 1870s Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany) was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. Weiser was killed by Apaches, or according to some, by Waltz himself.
In failing health, Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died some twenty years later in 1891. He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Subsequent searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend that surround these mountains.
Many versions of the "Lost Dutchman Mine" story exist, and several books and films have been done on the subject.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOST DUTCHMAN LEGEND:
Legends of the America West
Website Editor
June 25, 2014
Details of June 6th fatals at Recker and Brown
The suspect, of the 6200 block of East Colby Street in Mesa, was arrested on the
charges of two counts of manslaughter, aggravated assault – causes serious physical injury, reckless endangerment – substantial risk; and aggravated Driving Under the Influence, DUI while driver’s license has restriction of ignition interlock device, according to a Form 4 report provided by the Mesa Police Department.
Ms. Morataya had a previous extreme DUI arrest on Dec. 31, 2008, and conviction on March 5, 2009, according to a Form 4 release questionnaire by Mesa Police Detective C. Pesterfield. An iginition interlock device was required as a restriction on her license, according to the form.
Two people died in the vehicle accident shortly after 5 a.m. June 9 at Recker and Brown roads in east Mesa, according to a press release that day from the Mesa Police Department. There were four vehicles with a total of five occupants,
according to the release.
A silver FJ Cruiser traveling at an extremely high rate of speed was traveling
north on Recker when it collided with some other northbound vehicles stopped for
the red light at Brown. The first vehicle struck was a Chevrolet Malibu occupied by 37-year- old Guadalupe Madril, the driver, and 33-year-old Jason Aguilera, the front seat passenger. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene. Two other single-occupant vehicles were also involved with drivers receiving non-life threatening injuries, according to the June 9 release.
The driver of the FJ Cruiser was reported to be exhibiting behavior at the scene
consistent with impairment, Mesa Police Sgt. Tony Landato, public information
officer, said in the June 9 release.
“On the listed date and time above, (suspect) Morataya was operating a motor
vehicle registered in her name, northbound on North Recker approaching stopped
traffic in the No. 1 (fast) lane, in Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ. (Suspect) Morataya was travelling well above the posted speed of 45 mph and based upon vehicle damage the estimated speed was 90 mph,” Mesa Police Detective Pesterfield wrote in the Form 4 signed June 9 and released to the press June 16. “Her vehicle, without any signs of braking, struck the rear of second car back. This collision was so severe, it caused intrusion all the way to the front seats, severing the arm of male passenger. The driver and passenger in this car were killed instantly upon impact. That vehicle in turn struck another vehicle occupied by a driver. Still the momentum caused this vehicle to go all the way across the intersection where it rolled onto its top. The driver was diagnosed with a fractured clavicle. There was a fourth car involved that was sideswiped by (suspect) Morataya’s vehicle causing minor injuries from the shattered glass, but could have easily caused serious injury the driver. (Suspect) Morataya exited her vehicle and began to act extremely strange by doing ‘yoga’ and ‘calisthenics’ on the sidewalk. She was later transported to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken vertebrae. She (told) treating fire personnel she was going 120 mph prior to the crash. Officer Slaughter, a DRE (drug recognition expert) instructor, conducted an interview at the hospital and after speaking with her and noting her vital signs he noticed impairment due to drugs. (Suspect) Morataya admitted to smoking marijuana the night before and that it could have been laced with ‘something.’ Blood sample was collected via search warrant,” he wrote.
Website Editor
June 22, 2014
Top 10 tips to prevent and treat sunburn!
Choose broad-spectrum sunscreen.
SPF should be at least 30.
Don't skimp.
Slather on before heading out.
Apply even when it's cloudy.
Stay in the shade at midday.
Wear protective clothes.
Skip tanning beds.
Treat with pain relievers.
Drink extra water.
Website Editor
June 19, 2014
MCC district board approves property tax increase!
The board approved the new budget unanimously, Mr. Gariepy said. The budget had
been a topic of discussion for some time, he said, which meant little discussion
was needed before the vote. “While it looks like board members are whipping through the discussion, they’ve already heard a lot about this,”Mr. Gariepy said.
The tax levy increase will apply to all property owners in Maricopa County. The
change would result in an increase of $2.51 per year on a $100,000 home, according to a press release. The tax would increase from a total of $125.73 per year to $128.24 per year on a $100,000 home. The levy increase is expected to produce more than $8.4 million in revenue, according to the release. The funds would go toward a variety of projects, including updating information technology systems and improving student services for a projected student enrollment of more than 260,000 across the district.
Maricopa Community Colleges includes the following schools: Chandler-Gilbert
Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, Glendale Community College, GateWay Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. About 60 percent of the district’s operation budget is generated by property taxes, according to a press release.
“There has been as sentiment among board members... that tuition and tax levy
increases are sometimes necessary,” Mr. Gariepy said. He added that the state
directly funds about 1 percent of the district’s budget today while it funded about 25 percent in the 1980s. According to district documents, over the past 10 years the governing board has approved a 2 percent tax levy increase seven times. A 2 percent increase is the largest allowed by law, Mr. Gariepy said. Although he previously had been opposed to the increase, Dana Saar, governing board president, voted in favor of it after some consideration, he said in a May 28 phone interview. He said he researched the district’s performance in various areas and found evidence of progress. “That made me feel better about making more investments in the district,” Mr. Saar said.
Ms. Pearson, the only governing board member to vote against the increase, could
not be reached as of press time. Mr. Saar said she is opposed to property taxes in general.
Despite the tax levy increase, Mr. Gariepy said the overall tax rate is likely to decrease in the coming year because property valuations have increased. When
properties are worth more, the tax rate necessary to get the desired amount ends up being a smaller percentage of the total value, he said. But individual valuations will vary, he added. “People have different experiences,” Mr. Gariepy said.
Approximately 30 people attended the governing board meeting, Mr. Gariepy said. One group of citizens spoke in favor of the tax levy increase while two individuals spoke against it, he said. The funds from the tax levy increase will supplement additional revenue from a $3 per college credit tuition increase that was approved in April, Mr. Gariepy said. Some of the additional funds will go toward built-in increases in the district’s budget, Mr. Gariepy said, including software maintenance and employee incentives. The new revenue will also be used on what Mr. Gariepy called a “seamless student experience,” which streamlines various processes for students.
The project will allow students to register once and take classes at multiple
schools in the district instead of having to register individually at each college, Mr. Gariepy said. Additionally, the project will make it possible to obtain a transcript with combined grades from multiple schools, among other things, he said.
Another portion of the new revenue will go toward upgrading security systems
responsible for keeping student information safe, Mr. Gariepy said. New systems
were deemed necessary after an incident last year exposed the personal information of almost 2.5 million people associated with the district. The school paid for free credit monitoring from Kroll Advisory Services for those affected using funds from the district’s reserve that it accumulated over years of conservative budgeting, Mr. Gariepy said.
Revenue from the tax levy increase will instead go toward new systems as well as
the salary of a new security chief position for the district, he added. The
district also plans to update its human resources, budget and finance systems, Mr. Gariepy said, and increase funding for various student success initiatives such as developmental education and needs-based scholarships.
“On the one hand you have the security issues and the other you have the need to
replace outmoded systems – software mostly,” Mr. Gariepy said. The tax levy
increase will go into effect July 1. For more information, visit www.maricopa.edu.
Post your opinions at arizona.newszap.com. Reporter Alex Ferri can be contacted at 623-445-2746 or via e-mail at aferri@newszap.com.
Website Editor
June 15, 2014
Monsoon, our sensational and savage season!
Whether this is your first Valley summer or your 30th, the rules are the same: Be prepared (flashlights), be smart (don’t try to cross that flooded wash; just don’t), and be ready (you can’t get that great shareable photo if your camera
isn’t charged).
Until the storms start rolling in, we present our Monsoon 101 primer to help you prepare. The 12 News team has put together a quiz to test your monsoon IQ, explanations to help you understand what’s happening and tips on staying safe.
If you think it has been dry over the past couple of months, you are not alone. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has not recorded measurable rain since March 2.
Though more than a hundred days have passed without rainfall, this is not unheard of: April, May and June are the driest months for Phoenix, right before we move into the wettest month of the year, July.
And this monsoon’s July and August are forecast to have above-normal precipitation, which could substantially help drought conditions across the state.
The good news does not stop there, however, as El Niño is forecast to strengthen, continuing the chance of above-normal precipitation through the winter.
TEST YOUR MONSOON IQ WITH OUR QUIZ
Question: What is the monsoon?
Question: How do microbursts happen?
Question: What’s a haboob?
Question: How does hail form?
Question: What is a severe thunderstorm?
Question: What’s the most rain we’ve ever gotten during a monsoon?
Question: Surely, I can drive across that, right?
SAFETY: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Flash flooding: Flash flooding is the No. 1 cause of death related to thunderstorms. Never drive through flooded roadways or let your children play in washes during periods of heavy rainfall. It takes only about 2 feet of flowing water to float a car and just 6 inches of swiftly flowing water to sweep you away.
Lightning: The second-highest number of casualties related to thunderstorms is from lightning. It is important to remember that lightning can strike several miles away from the storm itself. If a storm is approaching, move inside as soon as possible and stay inside until at least 30 minutes since
hearing the last rumble of thunder. If you cannot find shelter, be sure to stay away from tall objects.
Dust: Dust storms are a common occurrence during the monsoon that affect a large number of motorists. If you are caught in a dust storm while driving, pull as far off the roadway as you can, put your car in park, turn off all your
lights and take your foot off the brake. After a large dust storm you should also replace your air-conditioning filters and, if driving your car, the air filter.
To report a power outage: Arizona Public Service: 855-688-2437. Salt River Project: 602-236-8811 Statewide road conditions 888-411-ROAD.
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
» Make sure you haven’t blown a main fuse or circuit breaker.
BE PREPARED
Have these things on hand in case it takes crews longer to restore power than expected:
PROTECT YOUR PETS
Lightning, thunder and down pours can be frightening to family pets. During a storm, try these tips from the Arizona Humane Society:
Website Editor
NOTE: We strongly recommend that you make a copy of this article and share it with your friends and neighbors for use during the Monsoon Season. Click here to print a copy of this article.
June 11, 2014
Summer time and the meetings aren't easy!
Since 2005 the Condominium Act at § 33-1250 (C) and the Planned Community statutes at § 33-1812(A) have prohibited condominiums and planned communities from allowing votes allocated to a unit or lot to be cast pursuant to a proxy
(assuming the period of declarant control has expired). Instead, associations must provide for votes to be cast in person and by absentee ballot, and may also provide for voting by “some other form of delivery.”
The 2014 legislative session created changes with respect to this notion of “delivery.” In general, ballots are “delivered” twice – first by the association to the voting member and then by the member, filled out, to the association. The 2014 changes to the statutes (which will be effective July 24,
2014) address “voting” by a form of “delivery”. Does this solely refer to owners being able to “deliver” their completed ballots to the association via email or facsimile? Or can the association “deliver” the blank ballot to the owner via email or facsimile? The language that the association “may provide for VOTING” by “some other form of delivery including email and facsimile” implies that the “delivery” that is permitted via email and fax is the delivery of the completed ballot to the association.
This was ambiguous in the past and required a best practice of putting in the meeting notice and ballot whether the association would or would not accept email or facsimile ballots. Allowing delivery of ballots via email or fax is the
association’s option. It still does not have to allow it. At a minimum, if an association allows voting by email, the association should require that the ballot be scanned and emailed as opposed to an owner simply sending an email to the association with the text “I vote for Mr. Smith for the Board.....”
It is also important to remember that absentee ballots (and, as of July 24, ballots provided by some other form of delivery) must set forth each proposed action, provide a space to vote ‘for’ or ‘against’ each proposed action, specify the date and time for the ballot to be delivered in order to be counted (which must be at least seven days after the date the board delivers the ballot to the member), and can only be valid for one meeting or specified election.
In recent years other changes to the law have also had an impact on attendance at and participation in meetings. For example, in 2011 the Legislature made it clear that a quorum of the board of directors of an association is permitted to
meet by telephone conference call if a speakerphone is available in the meeting room that allows board members and owners to hear all parties who are speaking during the meeting (for meetings after the expiration of the period of declarant
control) (A.R.S.§§ 33-1248(D)(3) and 33-1804(D)(3)). This tool may be particularly helpful during the summer months when vacations are the norm. Don’t forget, however, that even if the board is participating in the meeting via telephone conference, a meeting agenda still must be available for any members who choose to attend the meeting in person (A.R.S.§§ 33-1248(D)(1) and 33-1804(D)(1)).
Finally, in 2011 the Legislature also clarified that, in addition to members’ meetings and meetings of the board, regularly scheduled committee meetings must also be open to all members. So, to the extent your association’s committees continue their ‘regularly scheduled’ meetings through the summer, those meetings must be open, even if attendance is at
a minimum.
More generally speaking, it is simply a good idea to remember that, even though attendance may be low at summer meetings, associations must still be sure to stay in step with statutory requirements.
Website Editor
June 5, 2014
Facts about Great Horned Owls
The range of great horned owls includes most parts of North and South America. It stretches from the northern boreal forests of Alaska and Canada, southward throughout the United States and Mexico, into Northern parts of South America and throughout Patagonia.
Great horned owls were first described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist who published the 13th edition of Systema Naturae by Carolus Linnaeus. That edition included a description of the great horned owl and gave it the scientific name Bubo virginianus which reflected the fact that the species was first observed in the Virginia colonies.
Great horned owls are one of several owl species that possess ear tufts. Scientists disagree as to the function of these ear tufts. Some suggest that the ear tufts serve as camouflage by breaking the contour of the owl's head. Others suggest that the tufts serve some role in communication or recognition, enabling the owls to convey some kind of signals to one another. Experts agree though, that the ear tufts play no role in hearing.
Great horned owls become active at dusk and hunt throughout the night. In some areas, they have also been known to be active during the late afternoon or during the hours around dawn.
Great horned owls are known to live as long as 38 years in captivity. In the wild, great horned owls live up to 13 years of age. In the wild, great horned owls are most often killed by man, by shooting, trapping, collision with high-tension wires or car strikes. Great horned owls have few natural predators, they are occasionally killed by members of their own species or by northern goshawks, a species that often battles with the owls for available nesting sites.
During mating season, male and female great horned owls hoot back and forth to each other. Their mating rituals include bowing to each other and rubbing bills. When ready to nest, they do not build their own nest but instead seek out existing sites such as the nests of other birds, squirrel nests, tree holes, palm trees, crevaces in rocks and nooks in buildings.
View Apache Wells owl family video
This video was taken on the 15th fairway of Apache Wells Country Club by resident Roger Evans. Roger also recorded his Superstition Mountain hike up the Siphon Draw Trail in 2012.
View Siphon Draw hike to the Flatiron video
Website Editor
June 2, 2014
Is your car ready for Arizona's triple digit heat?
CHECKLIST:
___ Have the air conditioning serviced
___ Replace coolant
___ Check the battery
___ Give tires a once-over
___ Replace windshield wipers
___ Examine all hoses
___ Eyeball all belts
___ Make sure fog lights work
___ Replace all fluids
___ Wash, polish and wax
Website Editor
May 28, 2014
Dog chased away by 'hero cat' has been euthanized!
Scrappy, an 8-month-old Labrador-chow mix, was euthanized by the Animal Care Center in Bakersfield, Calif., on Saturday. The dog's owner voluntarily surrendered the animal for euthanasia on the day of the incident with the young boy, Bakersfield Animal Care Center executive director Julie Johnson told TODAY.com.
The YouTube video of Tara the cat fighting off Scrappy after he attacked 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo in the family's driveway has been viewed more than 21 million times. Tara was even invited to throw out the first pitch at a minor-league baseball game with the help of the boy's father. Jeremy ended up with 10 stitches for lacerations on his left calf from the initial bite before the cat fought the dog off.
“It’s honestly just a blur,” the boy's mom Erica Triantafilo told TODAY.com on May 15, describing the attack she witnessed. “I just remember hearing him and the next thing I know, I see my cat flying out of nowhere, onto this dog, and just remember trying to get my son and get the dog away and back in its yard, away from both of us that it was trying to attack.”
The dog was held in quarantine for 10 days, during which time animal activists and others petitioned to have the animal spared from euthanasia. The owner, whose name has not been released, requested that the dog be put down.
"We have gotten threats and nasty emails from those thinking it was our decision to put the dog down", Johnson said. "That was never the case. We've got 300 dogs we're trying to find homes for who would never bite a soul. In this case, the owner specifically signed over the dog. We went by the owner's wishes."
View viral video of cat saving boy
Website Editor
May 22, 2014
Hackers hit eBay; millions warned!
The company will urge all users to change passwords after a breach that affected a database with encrypted passwords, customers’ names, e-mail addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth. EBay, however, downplayed the attack because the database didn’t include financial information.
As of the end of its first quarter, eBay has 145 million active users.
“It’s substantial,” said Simon Eappariello, senior vice president of engineering at iBoss Network Security. “If they’re going to contact all of their users to change their passwords, that’s a major breach in anyone’s book. That’s a lot of data.”
“This is the new normal,” said Avivah Litan, a security analyst with Gartner, a
technology research company based in Stamford, Conn. “We’ve seen a big rise in the use of stolen passwords at banks.”
At some point, “it could become pretty ominous. All this data’s getting stolen — we have to assume it’s eventually going to be used,” Litan said.
In a statement Wednesday, eBay said it has not found evidence of unauthorized
activity or access to financial information. The company said financial data was
not affected, pointing out that credit card information is encrypted and stored
separately from this database.
“We take seriously our commitment to maintaining a safe, secure and trusted global marketplace,” a company statement said.
EBay is encouraging people who used the same password on other sites to change
those credentials as well. The company said it has seen no proof of unauthorized
access to PayPal, its online payment service.
“PayPal data is stored separately on a secure network, and all PayPal financial
information is encrypted,” it said.
The compromise, which happened between late February and early March, resulted from a cyberattack targeting a small group of employee log-in credentials. The company said it will employ additional security measures going forward.
The eBay breach is the latest targeting customer data. Earlier this month, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel stepped down months after hackers swiped financial information on 40 million customers. In April, AOL confirmed its e-mail service had been hacked.
“This is another wake-up call that organizations need to take an ‘inside-out’
approach to security and assume the bad guy is already on their network,” said
Eric Chiu of security firm HyTrust.
“All this data’s getting stolen — we have to assume it’s eventually going to be
used.”
Website Editor
May 19, 2014
Hackers hold computers hostage!
Cybercrooks use ‘ransomware’ to kidnap hard drives!
Local computer whiz Max Squires quickly identified the culprit: CryptoLocker, computer malware that freezes access to every file, including photos, documents and programs, with a secret pass key known only to the hacker.
Solution: None.
Hackers operating on the Internet’s “Dark Web” are spreading a new, more sophisticated generation of the malicious software known as “ransomware,” anonymously shaking down anyone with an unprotected computer, from lawyers and cops to small businesses. Where small groups of anonymous hackers once hit individual consumers, the hackers have now organized into crime syndicates that boldly launch massive attacks against entire companies, computer experts and law enforcement authorities say.
Some victims get lost in the cumbersome details of the ransom payment process and run out of time, leaving their computers locked forever. Others pay right away and have their computers unlocked. Still others pay up, only to have the hackers run off with the money — and with the secret key.
Computer-threat researchers at Dell SecureWorks, who along with other security companies first identified the CryptoLocker attacks last September, estimate that the virus struck 250,000 computers in its first 100 days last fall.
Crooks getting bolder in attacks!
“The tools are being continuously engineered to be more malicious, more harmful.”
Nick Savage , FBI agent, assistant special agent in charge of the cyberbranch in the criminal division at the FBI’s Washington, D.C., field office had set up more than 2,000 online “wallets” to accept ransoms paid in the digital currency bitcoin. In three months, the researcher traced 771 ransom payments eventually worth $1.1 million as bitcoin rose in value. Those ransoms, the researcher found, were transferred to a central online wallet on Nov. 23 that contained bitcoins worth $6 million.
“This suggests that our estimate of their racket is very conservative,” researcher Michele Spagnuolo wrote.
The amount doesn’t account for ransoms paid through anonymous credit cards, an option also offered by the hackers.
Computer security company Symantec said a Cryptolocker imitator, CryptoDefense, struck computers at least 11,000 times in March alone, extorting more than $34,000 from the owners.
The attacks are frustrating both computer experts and law enforcement agents.
Cyber crooks behind the crimes!
Security researchers believe the latest versions of ransomware were created by hackers in Eastern Europe and Russia. The hackers conceal their identities by deploying the virus through The Onion Router, known by its TOR acronym. TOR allows users to bounce their communications through multiple computer servers to make them nearly impossible to trace.
The crooks infect computers by sending tainted e-mails that appear to come from the FBI, local police agencies or package delivery services such as UPS and FedEx, or in PDF attachments. When the user opens the e-mail or file, the virus invades the PC. The crooks also implant the viruses on websites, called “watering holes,” and then try to lure people there.
“The tools are being continuously engineered to be more malicious, more harmful,” says FBI Agent Nick Savage, assistant special agent in charge of the cyberbranch in the criminal division at the FBI’s Washington, D.C., office.
Ransomware crooks have also become bolder, demanding more money and targeting bigger fish, Savage says.
Victims who have gone public about the attacks include The Yuma Sun , a police department in Massachusetts and LEAM Drilling Systems, a drilling company with 850 employees, based in Louisiana. The attack at the Bennington, Vt., Chamber knocked three computers and a server out of commission.
How it kidnaps your hard drive!
Once a ransomware virus invades an unprotected computer, it worms through the files and then codes them with a complicated encryption so the owner can no longer access his or her data without a key to unlock the code.
Then a pop-up screen appears with detailed instructions about how to pay the ransom and obtain the code to unlock the computer.
The criminals exact their ransoms through anonymous payment systems such as Ukash, PaySAFE, MoneyPak and bitcoin.
“It’s a very cheap and effective way for cybercriminals to make an easy buck,” says JD Sherry, vice president of technology and solutions at Trend Micro, a computer security company based in Irving-Las Colinas, Texas.
Wade Williamson, a senior threat research at Shape Security, says hackers deliberately seek only small sums of money and small- to midsize targets because
that is what the market will bear.
“If millions were stolen per transaction, you see a lot more interest from the FBI, from Interpol,” Williamson says. “This stays underneath the radar.”
At Paul Goodson’s Charlotte law office, the virus came in through a brand new,
top-of-theline service that delivers voicemails directly to employee e-mail. An
employee clicked on it, not noticing a slight alternation in the file name, and
launched the virus.
The screen turned red. The ransom note, in awkwardly written English, demanded $300 to be paid with a Green Dot card within three days or the ransom would double. The IT staff wanted Goodson, a disability attorney, to simply pay the ransom and move on.
“My reaction was not that calm and not one that you can print,” Goodson says. “I’m a trial lawyer. When pushed, we don’t back up. We push back. It’s not in my nature to just roll over and see what happens.”
Goodson never got the chance. The ransom screen did not reappear, and the files
remained frozen. Fortunately, the law office had backup systems.
CryptoLocker placed a coded key on Goodson’s computer network while creating a
different coded key held by the hackers.
Law enforcement discourages victims from paying the ransom since it encourages the perpetrators to strike again.
A decade-long battle!
Ransomware emerged on the scene in 2006 in Russia. By 2009, computer-security
experts had traced it to hackers in Russia and Eastern Europe. Since then, it’s
moved steadily West, in various new-and-improved iterations.
The earliest versions of ransomware did not lock computers. Instead, messages
appeared to come from law enforcement, tax collectors or other official agencies. The messages threatened an arrest if the victim failed to pay a fine for some alleged infraction of the law, usually visiting a porn website.
In February 2013, Spanish police and the European Cybercrime Center arrested a 27-year-old Russian and 10 accomplices who allegedly extorted millions of dollars using ransomware.
U.S. CERT, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team at the Department of Homeland
Security, issued an alert about Cryptolocker on Nov. 5. A day later, cybercriminals shook down police in Swansea, Mass., who were forced to pay $750 in bitcoin to unlock their hijacked police department files.
Panic at the Chamber!
At the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, unflappable director Joann Erenhouse
sprang into action when the virus struck, following the bizarre instructions on the screen.
The note demanded $400 to be paid by an untraceable MoneyPak credit card. Such
cards are outlawed in Vermont. So Erenhouse drove to Massachusetts, purchased the card and raced back to the office to pay the ransom. The credit card didn’t work. “It was such pandemonium,” she recalls.
Squires and Erenhouse tried to e-mail the cybercrook but got no answer.
“Apparently, the crooks don’t work weekends,” Erenhouse says. Next, they tried
purchasing bitcoins, a process that can take up to 48 hours for a new user. The
clock continued to tick down. By the time they tried to pay the ransom, it was too late. The crook had fled without providing the key, leaving the Chamber’s data inaccessible.
“CryptoLocker was nowhere to be found. They completely disappeared … There was no one to pay,” Erenhouse says.
The cybercrooks wiped out the Chamber’s entire database.
“It’s a very cheap and effective way for cybercriminals to make an easy buck.”
Joann Erenhouse said it was “pandemonium” when hit by CryptoLocker in Bennington, Vt.
Bitcoin is a form of digital currency, created and held electronically. No one controls it. Bitcoins aren’t printed, like dollars or euros – they’re produced by lots of people running computers all around the world, using software that solves mathematical problems. It’s the first example of a growing category of money known as cryptocurrency.
Website Editor
May 14, 2014
Bonanza' house in Mesa gets historic
designation!
Mesa finally gives historic designation to home built by TV legend Lorne Greene to promote golf community in 1963. The house that Lorne Green built almost slipped down Mesa's memory hole.
Tucked away on the end of a cul-de-sac and nearly surrounded by a golf course, the home sat all but unnoticed for decades, its grand opening a forgotten footnote in Mesa's story. But now its new owners, armed with an official historic designation from the city, are on a mission to tell the world about Ponderosa II.
Ponderosa I, of course, was pure fiction. It was Ben Cartwright's ranch, a huge spread on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, an empire carved out of the mythical West as the setting for the TV show "Bonanza" that played in millions of American living rooms for 14 seasons.
Much of the action took place in Cartwright's expansive ranch house, in a front room marked by towering ceilings, a massive fireplace and a wide staircase leading to second-floor bedrooms. But in truth, there was no such house. The exterior was a mock-up, the interior just a series of stage sets.
There was no such house, that is, until Greene — the Canadian-born actor who played Cartwright — built one to launch a new subdivision that was then east of a little city whose future seemed as limitless as the Western sky. Like his
fictional counterpart, Greene had a sharp pencil when it came to business.
In 1960, he and five associates created Apache Country Club Inc. "for the purpose of making the newly started Apache Country Club America's finest adult-living community."
"We would like Apache to develop into a community of doers," the group said in a promotional flier. And what better symbol for a "doer" could there be than the house where Ben Cartwright had conquered the American frontier?
Greene built what he called Ponderosa II on the edge of the golf course that is now the Arizona Golf Resort, at Power and Broadway roads. The builder was Nick Donato, whose fingerprints are all over other Mesa developments, including the Apache Wells mobile-home subdivision and the Desert Sands Golf and Country Club.
The interior designer, Lynn Valentine, was a Mesa resident known for some of the quirky architecture at what is now Inside the Bungalow coffee house, in Mesa's downtown. The grand opening of Ponderosa II on March 23, 1963, was a big deal for this small town. Visitors were asked to contribute $1 per adult and 50 cents per child, the money benefiting the new Mesa Lutheran Hospital.
The Mesa Tribune reported a few days later that nearly 3,700 people toured the home the first weekend it was open. Greene, along with his wife, Nancy, and members of the "Bonanza" cast, came to Mesa for a housewarming party that spring. Apache Country Club estates grew into a showcase of classic mid-
century architecture. It remains a virtual time capsule of America's postwar prosperity. But Greene's house slipped into obscurity.
The Greenes lived there part-time for a few years before selling the place. The new owner never tried to capitalize on its history, but Tom and Louise Swann knew who had built it, and why.
The Swanns — both lifelong "Bonanza" fans — met several years ago through their fan-club affiliations. "'Bonanza' is what got us together," Tom said.
Their research led them to Ponderosa II, and they began leaving notes on the door offering to buy the place. The deal consummated in 2011 after the previous owner died.
"This is the holy grail of 'Bonanza' collectibles," Louise said as she showed visitors through the large front room. The exterior had remained largely untouched through the years. But restoring the rustic look of the interior took gallons of sweat. The floors had been covered with beige carpet and every interior surface — even the wood — had been painted white.
"Tom ripped up carpet strips for so many hours that he couldn't snap his fingers," Louise said.
The house became not only their home but the repository of the "Bonanza" collections they had amassed over the decades. And in one corner of the family room Tom has enshrined the TV his dad bought in 1950 — the first one on the block in his hometown of Flat Rock, Mich.
The house is not open for tours, but the Swanns have worked a deal to host Arizona Golf Resort events on their property. The resort brings guests to the back of the house on golf carts for social hours and business meetings without creating traffic that would disturb the neighborhood. The Swanns also approached the city to seek a historic landmark overlay district for the home.
City Council discussions on the request reflected Mesa's civic amnesia about the house. Several members said they never even knew of its existence. The council approved the historic zoning on May 5. It adds layers of city review to any proposed future work on the property to ensure its historic character is preserved.
"We don't want anyone when we're gone to be able to come in here and tear it down and put up a red-tile roof," Louise Swann said.
About Ponderosa II
Note: Ben Cartwright's fictional house had a second story, but the staircase in the Mesa home leads only to an attic. Living areas in the Mesa home were built to upscale 1960s standards and not intended to replicate he "Bonanza"
sets.
Website Editor
May 11, 2014
FootGolf is new, unconventional and a fun way to grow golf!
Just last week in a segment on Golf Channel's Morning Drive, PGA of America President Ted Bishop announced the formation of a PGA Task Force to grow the game through non-traditional means. One of those means, Bishop explained, was through a new phenomenon known as "FootGolf"
So what exactly is FootGolf? It's two sports in one -- soccer and golf. We paid a visit to the official website of the American FootGolf League to learn more. Click here to learn more.
FootGolf Websites:
FootGolf is a combination of the popular sports of soccer and golf. The game is played with a regulation No.5 soccer ball at a golf course facility on shortened holes with 21-inch diameter cups. The rules largely correspond to the rules of golf. FootGolf as a game is played throughout the world in many different forms, but as a sport, it is regulated by the Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG). The American FootGolf League (AFGL) is the exclusive member of the FIFG and governing body for the sport of FootGolf in the United States. The AFGL is organizing tournaments throughout the country working with golf courses to bring FootGolf to their clubs as another avenue for revenue and to develop the game further.
And that's why Bishop and the PGA's Task Force feel FootGolf could be a great new avenue to help grow the game.
"This is something I had heard about at the PGA Show through our player development committee," Bishop said on Morning Drive. "I'll tell you what -- I'm doing FootGolf at The Legends and we're going to premiere it on May 3. The interest that I'm already getting from the soccer community on the sport is unbelievable... I think the thing that excites me, is that you've got the chance here to bring people in who are soccer-crazy and to give them the opportunity to go to the golf course, experience some things at the course and I think it would be ludicrous to think there won't be a percentage of those people that might say, 'Hey, you know what? I think I'd like to try and play golf.'"
There are 10 basic rules to FootGolf:
You can click here to find a list of courses participating in FootGolf.
It's a great, unconventional way to help grow the game. And, arguably the best part for course operators interested in offering FootGolf, but aren't sure where or how to start -- The American FootGolf League does not charge courses for
advice on set up and execution.
Website Editor
May 2, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
May 1, 2014
Summerizing your home checklist
Website Editor
April 28, 2014
Internet Explorer Bug leaves Browsers Open to Hackers
As with many attacks, hackers can start with methods like convincing users to click on fake websites, Microsoft explained. From there, the glitch could allow attackers to run malicious software on the user's computer -- and even gain the same level of access to the computer as the real user.
It's a serious flaw, and a widespread one: Internet Explorer comprised almost 58
percent of all desktop browsers in March, according to analytics company Net
Applications. Even the Department of Homeland Security weighed in with an advisory on Monday, calling on users to run alternative web browsers until Microsoft is able to fix the problem.
The Internet Explorer issue affects the browser's versions 6 through 11, Microsoft said in its post. Microsoft's response came one day after security company FireEye revealed the flaw in a post on its own site on Friday. FireEye said attackers are focusing mostly on newer browsers: Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11, which make up about a quarter of all browsers. FireEye dubbed the attacks "Operation Clandestine Fox" and called the flaw "significant."
Microsoft is still investigating the issue, and the company said it may fix the
problem through either a scheduled or off-cycle security update. Until then,
Microsoft wrote in a separate blog post, the company recommends typical protection steps like installing anti-virus software and being cautious when visiting websites. Microsoft also suggested using Internet Explorer in "enhanced protected mode" and downloading a "toolkit" to help guard against attacks.
FireEye recommended that users disable Adobe Flash, saying "the attack will not
work" in that case.
Those steps could help protect users of newer Windows versions until Microsoft
releases a fix. But the glitch is a sobering reminder that no help is coming for
users of Windows XP, as Microsoft dropped support of that operating system earlier this month.
Website Editor
April 19, 2014
Museum displays Western lore, art!
Which is not too surprising when you consider that the rugged mountains were the setting for the most famous "lost treasure" story of all.
You can learn the story of Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine at the Superstition Mountain Museum, which sits on 12 acres of scenic Sonoran Desert, with the jagged cliffs and deep canyons of the mysterious mountains looming just to the east.
While the exhibit on Waltz and his mine may be the museums main attraction, there's far more to see.
The Native American exhibit holds a slew of Hohokam and Salado artifacts, including beautiful polychrome pottery, an assortment of stone tools and an exquisite turquoise pendant, along with other pieces of jewelry.
Other displays contain ore samples from the region and background on the geological history of the Superstition Mountains.
The museum also offers guided walks and information on native plants.
Outside, you'll find a massive 20-stamp ore crusher, once the epitome of high-tech mining equipment. This particular mill was painstakingly disassembled and moved from New Mexico.
There are also a couple of buildings salvaged from the nearby Apacheland Movie Ranch, much of which burned in 2004.
Scads of Western movies and TV shows were shot at Apacheland over the decades, including "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "Have Gun - Will Travel".
The Elvis Memorial Chapel was built for the 1969 movie "Charro!" Although much of the original was blown up in the film, it was rebuilt and moved to the Superstition Mountain Museum, along with the Apacheland Barn, which appeared in a bunch of Westerns.
You'll also find a re-created stagecoach, barber shop, Wells Fargo office and a few othe businesses one might have seen in a 19th-century mining town.
APACHE TRAIL ATTRACTIONS
Website Editor
April 15, 2014
Mesa considers raising utility, property taxes as budget fix!
Cannistraro in February forecast a $9 million shortfall. But it’s the first time Mesa residents have been told their wallets will be affected as a direct result of the city’s latest bout with its all-but-chronic budget problems. “The recommended solution package provides for a balanced budget while maintaining the targeted reserve-fund balance,” Cannistraro said. It was only last year that Mesa, for the first time in more than half a decade, went through a budget cycle without facing a major shortfall. The city had hoped for that again this year, but Brady said the economic recovery hasn’t unfolded fast enough to keep Mesa out of pain.
The utility-rate hikes, affecting water, sewer and residential trash pickup, are a surprise because a year ago, residents were told that probably wouldn’t happen. Mesa had saved so much money from refinancing previous bond issues that the city could afford to leave utility rates flat not only for this fiscal year but also for 2013-14, Brady said at the time.
Now, the council is being asked to approve 2 percent hikes for water, sewer and garbage service in the new fiscal year. Electric and gas rates would remain steady, but rates for all city utilities are scheduled to climb more steeply in fiscal 2014-15 and beyond. The council, short on time, truncated its budget talks before the utility-rate hikes could be discussed. They will be on the agenda at the next study session.
Mesa property owners also face a property-tax increase beyond what had been expected after voters approved a $70 million parks-bond package last November. The reason for that is rooted in Mesa’s past policies for paying off general obligation bond debt. Those are the kinds of bonds issued for streets, public-safety projects, parks and other non-utility infrastructure.
Before 2008, Mesa’s policy was to pay general-obligation debt from general city revenues instead of levying a secondary property tax for that purpose. Mesa is believed to be the only large U.S. city to have handled bond debt that way, and over the years that practice put enormous pressure on the general fund, which covers day-to-day city operations.
In 2008, the City Council told voters that general-obligation bonds approved that year and thereafter would be paid with a secondary property tax. The city also imposed small levies on some pre-2008 debt to pay for operating infrastructure approved by voters that year — fire crews, for example, to
staff new stations. That was legal because although Mesa had not previously imposed a secondary property tax, pre-2008 bond elections had authorized such a tax should it ever be needed.
Now, the city is proposing a larger property-tax levy to cover more of that old debt — $2.2 million for fiscal 2013-14. Brady said it would add about $10 to the tax bill levied on an average Mesa home. That will still leave $8.6 million in old bond debt to be paid from sales taxes and other kinds of revenue.
In addition to the property-tax boost, Brady and Cannistraro want to bolster the general fund with $6.4 million a year from the so-called enterprise fund. That basically is the account sustained by the city’s business activities — utilities for the most part.
For years, Mesa has funneled money from the enterprise fund into the general fund. The practice reflects a decision made by city leaders in 1945 to eliminate city property taxes and use utility income for the general fund. But it also has drawn the ire of residents who asserted over the years that utility-rate increases were tax increases in disguise.
The city decided several years ago to freeze the enterprise-fund transfer at $83.6 million a year. Subsequent utility-rate increases, therefore, went directly into supporting the utilities rather than other city operations. The adjustment, if approved by the City Council, means that Mesa’s business
operations will be supporting the general fund at about $90 million a year.
Brady said it might have been possible to eliminate employees and programs in order to cover the 2013-14 shortfall. But he said residents and council members have indicated in recent years they want a robust array of services to maintain Mesa’s quality of life. He said the strategies outlined to the council this week are important to maintaining the city’s fund balances into future years.
Website Editor
April 12, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 040314
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
April 10, 2014
How to Attract HOA Volunteers
The following community organizing tips can help HOAs attract volunteers to participate in a number of roles, including board and committee memberships.
Tip #1: Communicate the importance of participation to HOA members. It could be homeowners just don't understand the consequences of what happens when the board suffers a shortage of volunteers. For example, the board may have to reiterate
the legal quorum requirements. If members understand how they might be directly impacted, they might be persuaded to
participate.
Tip #2: Clearly and regularly explain what the board does. To get volunteers, members first need to understand what the board has accomplished. If homeowners have no idea what the board does, they probably won't be motivated to get involved. Therefore, it's important the board not assume everyone in the community will know how their assessment on HOA dues are being spent. HOA boards must not be afraid to highlight all of their accomplishments so members realize the services being provided. When homeowners see all the good being done, they're more likely to volunteer. Regular communication is vital to keeping members informed and hopefully getting them involved. Excellent communication tools include open meetings, posted meeting minutes, newsletters, websites and e-mail.
Tip #3: Always run the board professionally and like a business. Nothing will scare volunteers off more than in-fighting. A well-run board should always be recruiting for board positions that will be open in the future. However, those positions will be difficult to fill if conflict exists among the board and membership. Most members lives are already busy and they have no room for dealing with board member friction, especially in a volunteer setting. It's up to the HOA board to curb bad behavior and promote professionalism if it wants to not only keep existing directors, but attract new volunteers. Meetings should also be run with an agenda and in a businesslike manner. Board meetings must not be allowed to go on indefinitely. Two hours usually provides ample time for an organized, decisive board meeting.
Tip #4: Create a formal recognition system for volunteers. Everyone likes to feel appreciated for a contribution they've made. So, it's important that all volunteers within the HOA, including board directors, committee members and homeowner volunteers, be recognized for their efforts. Acknowledgement should take place at all available opportunities, including meetings, meeting minutes, newsletters, websites, e-mails, events and more. And, most importantly, appreciation should be shown for even the smallest of tasks.
Tip #5: Host social events to create a more comfortable environment. Some homeowners will be more apt to volunteer if they know their neighbors. Not everyone is extroverted and comfortable around strangers. But, if people get to know each other in a casual environment, it may be easier, and enjoyable, for them to volunteer for the HOA. The board can host social opportunities like potluck dinners, pool parties, ice cream socials or any number of other events. If the HOA is large, the board may decide to make the social events more
intimate by inviting smaller groups. Volunteering for an HOA can be a fun and rewarding experience for homeowners. And, it's essential to building strong neighborhoods. By following a few community organizing tips, HOAs can help attract volunteers for the many available projects and positions.
Website Editor
April 1, 2014
Price your home right... the first time!
An analogy often used compares real estate to the stock market in terms of what a
seller can reasonably expect to realize from their sale.
For an investor who owns stock in Yahoo that was originally purchased in 1999 for over $100 a share and who wants to sell it today, they are certainly within their rights to ask their broker to place a limit price of $100 that will be good until they cancel it.
Sadly, however, because the stock is trading today at around $35 a share, they are going to be waiting a long time to realize that $100 price assuming that it
actually ever happens at all.
Real estate is really not that much different! For homeowners who may have
purchased their house prior to the financial crisis in 2007 for $500,000, they more than likely don’t want to hear that it is only worth about $400,000 today. They know that they want to sell but they also know that they really don’t want to lose money in the process.
This is where a real estate agent has the opportunity to either tell the homeowner what they want to hear or to tell them what is actually the reality of the situation.
The vast majority of agents will be upfront and honest while trying to instill a
sense of reality in their potential client while others, the vast minority, may
take the listing at the higher price to the detriment of the client.
From an article at MarketWatch by Jonathan Burton, this is the quote from the section of the article titled, “Your home isn’t worth as much as you think.”!
Some real estate agents joke that there are two types of home sellers: Those who
want more money than their house can fetch, and those who refuse to back off that position.
Some agents won’t take a listing from a seller who wants more than the market will bear. Other agents aren’t so choosy, even though overpricing can come back to bite the seller by lengthening the amount of time the house sits on the market.
These agents encourage a seller to have surreal expectations, by promising to get top dollar for the house. The wide-eyed seller then signs with the agent who talked up the listing, and the house comes on the market at the seller’s dream price. But after a few weeks with no serious offers, the agent advises cutting the price.
At that point, a seller has little choice but to drop the asking price to a more
realistic level — and is none the wiser to the agent’s tricks. “Human nature is you want the top." An agent’s job is to set a seller’s expectations, not to follow them and create disappointment later.
Website Editor
March 26, 2014
What to do if your engine dies!
First of all, keep your eyes on the road and look for a place to pull over and stop if you have to.
If the engine quits while you're under way, the car will lose power steering and
soon power brakes. But you can still guide and stop the car, even if it takes
longer and requires much more effort.
The car can lose engine power for many reasons, from running out of gas to having a faulty fuel pump, alternator, or other failure. In the case of the recalled 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHRs, Pontiac Solstices, and Saturn Skys, the problem was an ignition switch that was flimsily made and easy to switch off inadvertently if the driver brushed against the key.
If you're driving and the ignition key moves or is moved to the accessory position accidentally, try putting the gear lever into neutral and restarting the engine. Then shift back into drive and you're good to go.
If the engine won't restart or has stalled for some other reason, apply the brakes and steer gradually to the side of the road. As you slow down, the steering will feel increasingly heavier, but it will still be possible to steer.
You should also expect the power boost for the brakes to disappear after one or two applications, so try to stop as soon as you can, using the emergency brake if necessary.
Then turn on the emergency flashers and summon help.
GM says it will contact owners of the recalled cars in April, advising them to use the ignition key alone, without any fob or key ring. Once GM has lined up
replacement parts, another letter will instruct owners to have the repairs done. To find recalls on your vehicle, see our special search tool.
Website Editor
March 17, 2014
Do you have Windows XP on your PC?
“If new security issues are discovered, they’re not going to create a patch,” said Ken Colburn, president of Phoenix-based Data Doctors.
“So, you’ll have no protection against these newly discovered issues that are bound to happen.”
ATMs, medical devices, small businesses and home computers across the country use Windows XP.
In fact, Data Doctors estimate 30 percent of globally connected computers use the 14-year-old operating system to do business. So, after April 8, if your bank no longer receives updates to its software for some ATMs or if you go to a doctor’s office that no longer has tech support for the program that holds your medical records, consider your information vulnerable.
Of course, Microsoft might agree to extend support to some key customers, like banks. And businesses and individuals still can change platforms and use other Windows programs. The problem lies within the time and cost to make that change. Each ATM and computer will have to be updated individually.
It’s a big task for big and small businesses alike. It may also be tough for people to make the change at home. But if it’s not completed in time, the threat is real.
“There’s still a large number of people out there that just don’t realize how big of a security threat this is,” Colburn said. “And after April 8, the first time they discover any kind of issue, these hackers can come knocking, and you’re going to be defenseless.”
So, you have to protect yourself. Ask your banks or your medical providers if they’re making the switch.
If not, you may want to think about making a switch. Remember, April 8 is less than a month away. The hackers may very well have that date marked on their calendar. So, you should, too.
Website Editor
March 14, 2014
Feds still reviewing patient ID flub!
Banner Health might face sanctions in magazine label error.
Banner is offering a free year’s membership to a credit monitoring program for
those whose private information was published, according to letters sent March 5 by Banner CEO Chuck Lehn.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not yet determined whether it will direct Banner to take additional corrective measures or whether the agency will impose sanctions against the Phoenix-based non-profit health care
organization, said agency spokesman Jack Cheever.
We’re still reviewing Banner’s corrective action plan,” Cheever told The Arizona
Republic in an e-mail on Wednesday.
Banner obtained the Social Security numbers from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is responsible for the administration of several federal healthcare programs. Banner printed the numbers on address labels affixed to Smart & Healthy, its quarterly magazine. It sent the magazines to Medicare recipients in Maricopa and Pinal counties on Feb. 21 and learned about the mistake when the magazine’s recipients notified Banner days later.
“Banner Health has no information that leads us to believe that any personal
information was actually viewed or used in any way,” he stated in the letter,
obtained by The Republic .
Out of an “abundance of caution,” Lehn stated in the letter, Banner arranged to
provide the Medicare beneficiaries with the credit monitoring service administered by Experian, a company based in Dublin, Ireland, with operations in the United States. The service helps detect possible misuse of personal information and provides $1 million in identify theft insurance.
Banner executives are reviewing the organization’s mailing procedures to prevent
similar occurrences, Lehn stated in the letter. Executives also are evaluating
safeguards to protect patients, he said.
Some retirees who spoke Wednesday to The Republic said they remain concerned.
Mesa resident Barbara Ricker said she believes Banner’s response has been inadequate.
“I’m very disappointed in them,” said Ricker, a retired legal secretary. “They’re supposed to be a major corporation who really cares. That’s the business they’re in — caring.”
Ricker said she worries that potential identity thieves could sit on the
information for years before striking.
“They’ve exposed us to a world that a lot of us are really afraid of. I don’t have Twitter. I don’t have Facebook. I don’t have all that stuff. I have an e-mail account that I protect like a mother hen, because I’m terrified,” she said.
Gold Canyon resident Bill Owen, a retired Scottsdale teacher and basketball coach, said he, too, is concerned that identity thieves could wait years before acting.
“My wife and I were totally mind-boggled when we saw our Social Security numbers on that magazine. There was a lot of fear that went through our thought process in regard to our future,” Owen said.
Website Editor
March 11, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 030614
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
March 10, 2014
TAXABLE... OR NOT?
Job pay is usually taxable. Wages, salaries and commissions are taxable.
That includes income from minor and even part-time jobs such as baby-sitting for
relatives or neighbors. Bonuses or awards you receive at work for being a top
performer also generally are taxable, but awards you receive for achieving a
certain length of service on the job usually are not.
Fringe benefits: It depends. The taxability of workplace benefits varies.
For example, if your employer gives you a Christmas turkey or ham, you don’t have to declare its value as income. But cash, gift cards or gift certificates are taxable. If your employer helps pay for college, the first $5,250 in education assistance you receive isn’t taxable, but financial counseling fees paid by your employer are taxable. Meanwhile, the use of an employer operated gym is a tax-free benefit, but you must pay taxes on the value of off-site fitness programs paid for by your employer.
No taxes on gifts received. Recipients don’t face taxes on gifts of any
amounts. Donors usually don’t face tax consequences either, unless the gift is
large – more than $14,000 per recipient per year if given by a single person (or
$28,000 per recipient if given by a married couple). But donors never can deduct
personal gifts, unlike with donations to charity, which generally are deductible.
Tips attract the IRS. All tips are taxable, whether received directly in
cash or distributed by an employer from credit or debit card transactions. If you receive more than $20 in tips per month from any single employer, you are subject to payroll taxes and withholding on the amount.
Report your gambling winnings. Gambling winnings are fully taxable, and that includes cash or other prizes such as cars. You may deduct gambling losses against winnings if you keep a log of your expenses and the dates, places and other details of your gambling ventures. But you can’t deduct gambling losses that exceed your winnings.
Cashless bartering is taxable. Bartering, or the trading of goods or
services for someone else’s goods or services, is taxable. You must declare the
fair market value of anything you receive as taxable income. Thanks to the
Internet, it’s easier now than ever to find a plumber, dentist or someone else or barter with, but the same tax rules apply.
Mortgage forgiveness is taxable. Any type of debt cancellation generally
becomes taxable income for the borrower. While the federal government made an
exception and didn’t tax forgiven mortgage debt on primary residences from 2007
through 2013,that exception has expired. That means forgiven mortgage debts are
taxable income again.
Insurance proceeds: It depends. If you receive life insurance benefits
following the death of a parent, spouse or someone else, proceeds are not taxable. Insurance reimbursements received for property casualty damage or losses also generally aren’t taxable. But if you sell or surrender a life insurance policy, the proceeds could be taxable, to the extent they exceed what you paid for the policy.
Jobless benefits are taxable. In 2009, Congress excluded up to $2,400 per
person in jobless benefits from tax, but that’s no longer the case. If you don’t
plan ahead and withhold taxes from your benefits, you could be in for a nasty tax surprise at the end, including a penalty.
Survivor benefits: It depends. Generally, payments that an employer makes
for a worker’s death are counted as taxable income to survivors. But this generally doesn’t apply for public-safety workers killed in the line of duty, including police officers, firefighters, ambulance crews, members of rescue squads and chaplains. For their spouses or other survivors, such payments are tax-free. This issue came up when 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots died battling Arizona’s Yarnell Hill Fire in 2013.
Alimony, child support and welfare. The law treats these types of payments
differently. Alimony is taxable for recipients, but child-support payments are not. People who receive government payments based on need generally don’t face taxes on them, but taxes do apply in cases where welfare benefits were obtained
fraudulently.
Social Security: It depends. Social Security retirement income generally
isn’t taxable for most retirees, but it could be for those with a lot of outside
income. To figure this, add one-half of your Social Security benefits to all your other income sources. Taxes could apply on some Social Security proceeds if the total exceeds $25,000 for singles or $32,000 for married couples. Supplemental Social Security income isn’t taxable.
Check type of legal awards, damages. Several types of awards are taxable as ordinary income. These include compensation for lost wages/profits, punitive
damages and interest. But compensatory damages for physical injury or sickness
aren’t taxable. Awards for emotional distress tied to a physical injury or sickness aren’t taxable, either. So, if they are taxable really depends on the facts of each case.
Retirement accounts: It depends. The money you withdraw from a retirement
account might be taxable, depending on the type of account and other factors. Money from deductible Individual Retirement Accounts and workplace 401(k)-style plans generally comes out as taxable income. But distributions from Roth IRAs usually are tax-free. Complicating matters, a 10 percent penalty could apply if money is withdrawn too early – generally before age 59½. Retirement rules are complex, and this is just a sampling.
Website Editor
March 3, 2014
Apache Wells holds Gold Plus Banquet
The event, which was held at the Apache Wells Country Club, 5601 E. Hermosa Vista Drive, was decorated with white and gold linen. Hurricane globes atop mirror bases held red roses and were surrounded by scattered rose petals and golden rings. A wedding arch was decorated in white tulle, white lights and roses for accents. Other décor included a large 50+ sign that was lit in white lights. Bob Armstrong played wonderful music for the evening. The night began with appetizers and a cocktail hour that was followed by a chicken dinner and ended with a decorated cake.
The program consisted of a renewal of vows and an exchange of rings followed by a program where each couple came forward and had their photo taken while standing in a wedding arch while their wedding photo was shown on a large screen. They were introduced by emcee, Rod Thorsell, who shared interesting stories shared by the attendees on their registration forms. Resident Jim Tilbe prepared the slide show using actual wedding photos of the honorees.
Co-chairs of the event were Rod Thorsell and Marge Filkins.
Website Editor
March 1, 2014
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home broke through
Chris’ ‘shell’
But change came slowly. He was sullen and withdrawn. “I had grown a pretty thick shell,” Apodaca recalls. “I felt alone, and that became an excuse. But I felt safe and loved for the first time in my life.”
Then, when he was 13, he learned that his parents had been murdered in a drug deal gone bad.
“That was the thing that really changed me,” he says. “I had never wanted to live that kind of life; now I knew I had to change to have a better future.”
Apodaca started opening up to the caring staff at Sunshine Acres and to the message of faith and hope that is central to the home’s Christian teachings. His behavior improved and he did well in school. He encouraged his sister, who also was at Sunshine Acres. When he left at 17 to strike out on his own, he stayed connected with his house parents and other staff.
“It’s not like when you leave here they forget about you,” Apodaca says. “They were very supportive even after I left. They let me know that they always would be there for me.”
He supported himself, met the love of his life, got married and started a family. Then, three years ago, he decided he wanted to give back to Sunshine Acres, to help children the way he had been helped as a child. He was offered a job in the donation warehouse, plus a mobile home on the grounds where he, his wife and two children live today.
Now, at age 28, he leads a youth group every Friday evening that has grown to 50 of Sunshine Acres’ 78 children.
“We include kids of all ages and have open gym,” Apodaca says. “I wanted to give them something they could look forward to on Fridays where they could interact and feel that they were part of a family, like brothers and sisters. The house parents have gotten involved too.”
Shortly after moving back to Sunshine Acres with his wife and first child, Apodaca wrote a letter of thanks to the home’s president and CEO, Carol Whitworth, daughter of its founders, the Rev. Jim and Vera Dingman. Whitworth, who was recently named Mesa’s Woman of the Year, treasures his and many other letters she has received over the years from former residents.
“I sit here once again reflecting on my life battles,” Apodaca wrote, “how I once was someone with no morals, no respect for myself and for others. You know the type of child I was when I came into Sunshine Acres and what I have become today.”
“Back then as a child and as a man today, I can’t begin to thank Aunt Vera enough for what a wonderful life she has given me here at Sunshine Acres. I also praise you in my heart so much for your love, dedication and passion to continue loving these children of God that come from many bad broken homes, off the streets. Thank you for everything you do.”
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home sunshineacres.org, which has been home to more than 1,600 children since it was founded in 1954, is one of 28 organizations that receive funding from Mesa United Way. To read more “Faces of Need and Hope” stories or to help, visit mesaunitedway.com.
Website Editor
February 24, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Apache Wells Newsletter Issue 149
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
February 20, 2014
Have you checked your property for violations?
If you plan to make any exterior improvements to your property, you must
submit a Project Approval Request Form to our committee at least 3-5 days prior to a scheduled meeting for approval and above all before you make any changes. Failure to do so may constitute a violation of our Architectural Control Rules and Policy and/or our CC&R’s. Forms are available in the office. The ACR&P Committee meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 2:00PM in the Hopi Room. During the summer months we only meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors who may not be aware of our HOA restrictions. Copies of our calendar of meeting dates can be obtained in the office.
All homeowners are encouraged to take the time to become familiar with what you can and can't do on the exterior of your home. What you do inside your home is up to you, but changes you wish to make on the outside of your home are controlled by the Architectural Control Rules and Policies (ACR&P's) and our Fourth Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R's) for Apache Wells. Keep in mind that you have chosen to live in an HOA and that failure to follow the rules may result in fines and penalties. Please read your community documents in the Apache Wells Directory so that you know what is allowed and what isn't. Again, please share this information with your friends and neighbors.
We appreciate your cooperation and feel free to contact any member of the committee if you have a question on a project you may be planning. Most homeowner projects are approved promptly.
Apache Wells Architectural Committee
February 15, 2014
HOA Newsletter Tip of the Week!
In this week's tip, we weigh whether the Board at the Highland Park North
Neighborhood in Pflugerville, Texas, went too far when it reportedly used
Google Earth to "search" its owners' yards for violations of its HOA rules.
When Gavin Henry bought his home in Pflugerville, he liked that there was a
shed on the property, reports KXAN.com. Three years later, he received a notice from his HOA that the shed was a violation of the governing documents. They ordered him to remove it or bring it up to code, or they'd place a lien on his property.
One of Henry's first thoughts? Since the shed wasn't visible to the public,
and he hadn't permitted an inspection, how did the HOA know of the shed?
That's when they admitted they were looking into backyards via Google Earth
to identify violations. Henry considers that a violation of privacy.
Contacted by KXAN, the management company noted the Board that performed
the search has since been changed. It also stated that the current board has
offered to grandfather in the shed if Henry follows the architectural
review process.
Our experts have a number of concerns about this Board's activity. "I'd say
it's generally not a good idea to go out looking for violations whether
you're using high tech or low tech," says Matthew A. Drewes, a partner at
Thomsen & Nybeck PA in Minneapolis, who represents associations
throughout Minnesota. "I don't generally regard that to be the role of the
Board or the Architectural Review Committee, to turn themselves into more
of a police force. I can see the possibility of using unusual measures to get a
bird's eye view if you have reason to believe there are violations already.
Investigating a report or a known issue may be different. But if you're out
there looking for violations, I have concerns the board is going beyond
enforcing their governing documents and becoming more of a police entity
patrolling for violations - you could even say trolling for violations."
What do you think? Email us at the bottom of this page.
Website Editor
February 14, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 020614
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
February 10, 2014
Is an HOA Director personally liable?
Over the last several years much has been debated about whether a board member should be personally liable for certain things. For example, in Arizona , a few lawmakers recently tried to pass a few bills that would make directors personally liable for attorney fees if their association lost a case against an owner. Thankfully, it did not pass and become law.
Most of the time the law protects directors from individual liability. The legal terminology for this is called indemnification or the corporate shield. The vast majority of HOAs are a non-profit corporation, meaning that only the corporation itself can sue or be sued. On occasion, a director can be liable for committing heinous acts. For example, a board president that kills cats in the community because he is a “dog person” will very likely be personally liable.
Most of the time directors are covered by the association’s D&O policy (Directors and Officers Policy). When a director is named in a lawsuit by a homeowner the D&O policy kicks in to cover the defense. If a director acts intentionally to cause harm to a member, or knowing acts contrary to legal advice or the law, D&O may not cover the defense and that director may have to pay for his or her own attorney. It is very important that boards confirm their policies have the appropriate coverage.
In summary, it is highly unlikely that a director would ever be personally liable for anything in an HOA as long as the director did not commit some criminal act or knowingly go against legal advice. If you have been personally sued you should seek out the services of a highly qualified attorney that focuses his or her practice on association law.
Website Editor
February 2, 2014
HOA bans medical pot in home yards!
The board at Carrillo Ranch, a homeowners association in Chandler, has ruled that residents cannot smoke marijuana — medical or otherwise — in their backyards, front yards and patios. Some residents say the decision is absurd, while lawyers are questioning whether the rule can be enforced.
A Phoenix lawyer who represents some homeowners associations that do not include Carrillo Ranch said HOAs are beginning to evaluate what they can and can’t do in response to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.
“Here’s the elephant in the room when it comes to medical marijuana: A homeowners association is subject to federal and state fair-housing laws,” attorney Augustus Shaw said. Those laws say an association must provide a reasonable accommodation to allow disabled individuals the right to use their property.
“In order to get a medical marijuana prescription, you must have some type of ailment or disability,” Shaw said. “If you have a prescription ... you are most likely covered by the Fair Housing Act.” Carrillo Ranch resident Julieta Desrosiers said HOA board members spending time discussing the issue is useless. “They waste their energy trying to see what their neighbors are doing in their backyards. Marijuana doesn’t bother me at all if it’s used for that medicinal purpose,” she said. "There are worse problems at the development, east of Rural Road between Ray Road and Chandler Boulevard, that the HOA board ignores".
“What really bothers me is when there are burning restrictions and people use their fireplaces,” said Desrosiers, who has children with asthma and who says smoke from fireplaces is more dangerous than medical marijuana smoke from a neighbor’s yard.
Trying to avoid disputes
Curtis Ekmark, whose Scottsdale law firm Ekmark & Ekmark drafted the medical marijuana rules for Carrillo Ranch, said HOAs around the country are trying to head off disputes.
“They’re trying to draft policies or rules and regulations before it becomes an issue,” he said. “It’s difficult with the conflict in federal and state laws, and that creates a dilemma for everybody.”
It’s a case of several laws coming into play, including fairhousing laws; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Arizona law saying medical marijuana is legal; and federal law saying marijuana is illegal.
Ekmark said homeowners associations are mainly concerned with smoking in common areas and the possible presence of people who don’t want to be around smoke. “The general consensus is the association boards don’t really care what people do in their units... but if it affects neighbors, it becomes a community issue.” He said residents give up some rights when they move to a neighborhood governed by an HOA.
“I may have the right to have a dog, but if I move into an association, I lose that right if the documents prohibit dogs,” he said.
The Carrillo Ranch president is Michael Herrmann, according to the Arizona Corporation Commission, and Herrmann won’t talk about the rule, established last year. But some of the residents say the board has overstepped its bounds. Dorice Exline, a 21-year Carillo Ranch resident, said it’s “an outrage that an HOA would think they have the authority to tell people what they can and can’t do on their own property.”
“That’s going too far,” Exline said. “They seem to think they can supersede the law.”
Keith Stefanczyk, who shares ownership of a house with Exline, said in an e-mail, “Medical marijuana is legal in Arizona and the federal government has given its tacit approval. What I don’t get is why the board is doing this.
“What about ‘enforcement’? Is the board going to hire professional sniffers? It’s a petty and inchoate approach to solving a problem that doesn’t even exist.”
Common areas vs. yards
Attorney Jonathan Dessaules, who represents homeowners in disputes with HOAs, said of the Carrillo Ranch ban, “My reaction is that it’s probably not a valid rule. I would like to see where they think the authority for that rule comes from. It’s like somebody saying they can’t sit on their porch and drink lemonade. If its use is legal, they shouldn’t be allowed to regulate where or how or when you are taking it.”
He predicted more HOAs will be addressing the issue.
“Medical marijuana has only taken off the ground here, and I suspect the more it starts getting traction, the more likely we’ll see these types of cases,” Dessaules said. “In my experience, it’s usually a combination of a board being controlled or directed by a lawyer or a law firm, and that combination adds a lot of power, and the homeowner generally doesn’t have any. We’ve seen that a lot over the years, the little guy being taken advantage of.”
Ryan Hurley, a partner with the Rose Law Group, said HOAs can prohibit marijuana in common areas, “but prohibiting people from smoking in their backyards, an enclosure in their own private property, is an overreach. “It would be awfully hard to enforce, particularly in the backyard... It’s not like they’re having a bonfire.”
The Carrillo Ranch board also has forbidden the smoking of medical marijuana in common areas, which it is entitled to do, said Brian Lincks, president of City Property Management, the community’s management company.
Carrillo Ranch’s HOA documents give the board authority to govern behavior on residents’ lots. Although boards can govern appearances of houses, it’s unusual that the board can govern lots, Lincks said.
“This policy was adopted lawfully,” Lincks said. “Residents can’t use marijuana in open areas of their lot because the CC&Rs do allow the board to make rules on the lot... Who knows where that will go if courts ever challenge that?”
Some HOAs have a lot of authority, and others have none, Ekmark noted. “It’s something people should check into before they buy,” he said.
UPDATE: The Board of Directors of Carrillo Ranch in Chandler have rescinded their policy that prohibited residents from smoking marijuana on their property.
Website Editor
January 29, 2014
Windows vs. Ford
At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If Ford had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000
miles to the gallon."
In response to Bill's comments, Ford issued a press release stating: "If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics.
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash......... perhaps twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation" warning light.
7. The airbag system would ask, "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10.You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.
PS - I'd like to add that when all else fails, you could call "customer service" in some foreign country and be instructed in some foreign language how to fix your car yourself!!!!
Please share this with your friends who love - but sometimes hate - their computer!
Website Editor
January 24, 2014
Protect our earned pensions!
Congress recently held hearings on the solvency of multiemployer pension plans.
These are benefit plans in which many employers contribute to a common fund, typically maintained jointly by unions and union employers under collective bargaining agreements. These plans cover over 10 million American workers and are found in industries like construction, arts and entertainment, retail and
communications.
The plans are beneficial to both employers and workers. They are portable, allowing people to earn and retain their benefits when working for different employers in an industry. And individual employers can pool costs of managing the plans. Most of these plans are in good financial shape, but some were hit hard by the recession.
Under a proposal being discussed in Congress, many retirees covered by these plans could see significant cuts to their benefits. The proposal, intended to save the distressed plans from insolvency, would change the law to allow severely underfunded plans to slash the benefits of people who are already retired and relying on their pensions. A pension earned by a lifetime of hard work would be reduced to an empty promise.
This is unacceptable. There has long been a consensus that any proposed changes to retirement plans — whether public or private — should only be for future retirees, and that those in and near retirement should not have any reductions in benefits. Retirees are already living on fixed incomes, and most cannot return to the workforce. And it is too late for older workers to change retirement plans.
Unfortunately, this is only one of the latest efforts to back out on promises made to retirees.
President Obama and many in Congress have proposed, as part of a budget deal, a cut in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security, veterans' benefits and other programs. That would make retirees poorer as they grow older. Seniors deserve better than having their benefits used as a bargaining chip in a budget debate.
State and local government pension plans are also under attack. In early December, a federal judge approved Detroit's bankruptcy plan, endangering the pensions of retired firefighters, police officers and other city workers. Detroit is not alone. Recently, the city of Central Falls, R.I., cut pensions for workers by up to 55 percent in its bankruptcy proceeding. Rhode Island effectively ended COLAs for retirees in 2011. That could cut benefits for retirees by as much as 40 percent
over the long term.
In the private sector, some companies have underfunded their pension plans, then declared bankruptcy and dumped their obligations on the doorstep of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (which insures pensions, often for a lesser amount than earned). Many of these companies will emerge from bankruptcy pension-free, while
some pensioners will get less than they were promised.
AARP strongly objects to any cuts to the pension benefits of current retirees, many of whom live on $20,000 per year or less. AARP will continue to fight for solutions that keep the retirement promises made to older Americans.
If you agree that it is wrong to cut benefits for those who are already retired, whether it's Social Security or earned pensions, then sign up today to be an e-activist. We will let you know the best time to communicate with your elected
representatives.
Website Editor
January 13, 2014
10 things you didn’t know about colds!
A sniffle, a sneeze — you know all about the common cold, right? Or do you? We
scoured the latest research and talked to experts to dig up the most surprising
things you may not have known about catching and recovering from the common cold.
2. The best cold-fighting weapon may be your tennis shoes.
3. Late nights could be contributing to your sniffling and sneezing.
4. A tall glass of orange juice isn't a cold cure-all.
5. There’s a flower that may help fight cold viruses.
6. A cold virus could make you fat.
7. Hot drinks can help zap the symptoms of cold viruses.
8. An ingredient found in breast milk can make you feel better fast.
9. The average person gets 200 colds in his or her lifetime.
10. Colds are really not that contagious.
Sarah Jio is the health and fitness blogger for Glamour.com.
Website Editor
January 8, 2014
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 010214
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
January 7, 2014
Steven Seagal for Arizona governor?
I’ve done nothing to deserve such generosity, but I happily accept this unbelievably generous bit of largess. In an interview with a local TV station, Seagal said that he’s thinking about entering Arizona politics.
The actor is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s latest celebrity BFF and business partner. The newest Jerry Lewis to Arpaio’s Dean Martin. The new Abbott to Arpaio’s Costello. The new Cheech to Joe’s Chong.
The two of them have been filming a reality show called “Steven Seagal — Lawman: Maricopa County” that will soon be available on one of those cable channels that most of us don’t get.
After that, our next governor might be a 61-year-old “action” star. I know, there should be a joke here, but I’m dangerously close to that age myself and I’ve got plenty of ACTION, mister. If you don’t believe me, just give me five minutes to rest up and I’ll show you. Maybe.
However, early reports indicate that Seagal may not technically qualify as an Arizona resident. That’s against the rules in our state, where we prefer to elect certified residents who are not qualified for office.
Hopefully, slick Hollywood lawyers working for the actor will find some loophole that will allow Seagal to enter Arizona’s political campaign and the star of “Under Siege” will get a chance to find out what those two words really mean.
I’ve seen early indications that Segal can handle the job.
On Election Night 2012, Sheriff Joe brought Segal with him to The Arizona Republic’s building, where we all sat down for an interview, about which I recall nothing even remotely important or interesting being said.
In other words, the man is a natural.
Plus, he’ll have the sheriff in his corner. And in front of him. And behind him. And on the side. It all depends where the cameras are pointed. Smile... it’s Christmas in January! At least for news writers.
Reach Montini at 602-444-8978 or ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
Website Editor
January 1, 2014
Pros and Cons of a Homeowners’ Association!
The HOA’s purpose is to help maintain a certain consistency, conformity, capital improvements, and conveniences for the neighborhood, with an eye toward protecting property values. The collected dues are used toward the maintenance of the common areas or community property, or for other services. It is not meant to be a profit-making venture in most cases.
Is living in a community governed by a HOA right for you? Know before you enter in a home purchase agreement, as your decision affects your bottom line. Here are some positives and negatives to consider as you weigh your options.
Pros
Cons
Tip: If you are considering buying a home with an HOA, ask to get a copy of the rules, regulations and bylaws before you sign the purchase agreement, or make your offer contingent upon your receipt and acceptance of the rules. (The latter is harder to do). Also look at the budget, financial records and minutes from the board meetings. These will all help give you some indication as to how well run the association is, and if you can live with the rules that are already in place.
Website Editor
December 30, 2013
No playoffs, but Cardinals have standard on
which to build!
"It doesn't feel good," Fitzgerald said. "But it doesn't diminish what we were able to accomplish as a unit, as a team. Coach (Bruce) Arians hit it on the head. He said, 'It's just the beginning.'"
Everyone would have left Glendale feeling a little better had the Cardinals beaten the hated 49ers to even their division record at 3-3 and finish the season at 11-5. But the ultimate goal was the playoffs, and that possibility died quickly when the Saints jumped to an early lead and rolled over the Buccaneers 42-17.
The Cardinals insisted they weren't paying any attention.
"It didn't matter," Arians said. "This was the only game that mattered in town."
But the Saints score kept flashing up on the stadium scoreboard, and there was a noticeable lack of energy in the building for long stretches, even when the Cardinals mounted a gutty comeback, because the fans knew the score.
Surely, the Cardinals were aware that their season was ending, regardless of their own outcome. Phil Dawson's game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired was just the final aspect of that unwanted outcome.
"It hurts," center Lyle Sendlein said. "We knew that we didn't start the year like we wanted, but we fought like we weren't going to let that be the deciding factor in us making the playoffs. We came out with the attitude that we weren't going to be saying, 'What if this game, what if that game.'"
A 7-2 closing stretch wasn't enough to save the season, but there were some tangible gains from the franchise's fourth winning season since arriving in the Valley in 1988.
"A strong finish like we had, it sets the standard, and that's what our expectations are going to be for the beginning half of next year," Sendlein said. "You've got to have a winner's attitude going into the offseason and prepare like you are going to win and going to be a favorite."
You can debate the validity of momentum from one season to another, but there is a comfort level now that didn't exist when a new coaching staff, a new GM and a roster that eventually turned over more than 50 percent of its personnel opened training camp in this same building five months ago.
"I think it's more about better knowledge, because it won't be the Cardinals again until September," Arians said. "We will have 90 guys pretty soon, and starting with a new football team, but again, as many of the core guys as we can keep together, the better that momentum can be. You lose 25 guys, it's different."
Those evaluations and decisions will begin immediately after the Cardinals clean out their lockers Monday in Tempe. General manager Steve Keim must decide what to do with, among others, free agent Karlos Dansby, who had a Pro Bowl-caliber season despite the snub.
He must decide if the big contracts of Fitzgerald and Darnell Dockett are still tenable. He must find a left tackle. He must find a young quarterback for the future. He must find a strong safety. He must assess all of his draft needs.
There are no guarantees that the Cardinals will build on this season. Injuries, defections, personnel and coaching decisions, even single plays could alter the course of this franchise.
But the Cardinals have something to build on after three straight disappointing seasons. And they delivered more than anyone outside the organization ever imagined possible.
"If we can keep the core of our players together, I think we will have a firm belief going into *OTAs that this works, the system works, the way we practice, the way we work, training camp," Arians said. "All the way through, they know it works now and they know the process.
"You never know what's going to happen next year with injuries and everything else, but we should be able to build and have a heck of an offseason from this."
*Organized Team Activities
Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter.
Website Editor
December 20, 2013
Protect yourself from Identity Fraud
__ 1. Protect your personal details. Keep your ID and credit cards away from prying eyes when out shopping or dining, and shred any sensitive paperwork you are ready to discard.
Website Editor
December 12, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 120513
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
December 9, 2013
2014 Budget approved by the Board of Directors!
Per the letter, the 2014 General Assessment is $624 for the year or $52 monthly. This amount is not in addition to the $49 per month you are currently paying, but it is in place of. With Board approval, the Assessments have been raised $3 per month, per person, so the total amount each lot is required to pay is $624 per year or $52 per month.
There are a few options to choose from when paying your Assessments:
You may pay by mail, or in the office with American check, cash or money order. Pay monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.
Have your bank automatically send the Association payments**
Sign up for Surepay in the Association office (we automatically deduct the amount from your checking account)
**IF YOUR BANK AUTOMATICALLY SENDS PAYMENTS, REMEMBER TO ADVISE THEM OF THE INCREASE, AS LATE FEES WILL BE ASSESSED TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT PAID IN FULL FOR THE MONTH BY THE 20TH**
All payments are due on the first of the month and are late after the 20th of the month. A $15.00 Late Fee will be assessed to all lots that do not have their payment in the office by the 20th of each month. Please be aware of your account status, as there are no late policy exceptions.
Annie Colegrove, CAAM®
Website Editor
December 7, 2013
10 unexpected costs of driving!
The price of hitting the road
2. Accidents that aren’t your fault
3. Maintenance
4. Repairing luxury electronics
5. Parking tickets and traffic violations
6. Wear and tear
7. State fees
8. Parking permits
9. High deductibles
10. Fluctuating fuel prices
Website Editor
November 22, 2013
Thanksgiving at Plymouth
Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see
their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English. Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years and tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.
In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”, although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time, the festival lasted for three days. While no record exists of the historic banquet’s exact menu, the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote in his journal that Governor Bradford sent four men on a “fowling” mission in preparation for the event, and that the Wampanoag guests arrived bearing five deer. Historians have suggested that many of the dishes were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies, cakes or other desserts, which have become a hallmark of contemporary celebrations.
Website Editor
November 16, 2013
Pickleball enthusiasts gather in Buckeye
Pickleball fans from across the country have converged on Sun City Festival in Buckeye this week to compete in the Nationals Tournament, the largest such event to date. The event, which ends Sunday, will determine the top players in 10 categories, including men, women and juniors in singles and doubles play. Championship games for the top men and women singles players are on Sunday. Spectators can watch matches for free.
The Buckeye tournament is the biggest in the U.S. so far, according to the national governing body of the sport. This year’s national tournament had 640 sign-ups, up from 425 for the 2012 tournament, said David Jordan, president of the Surprise-based USA Pickleball Association. The next largest was the 2011 Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, which had 545 players in the pickleball competition, the association said. There are 100,000 to 150,000 players nationwide, Jordan said.
Enthusiasts call pickleball America’s fastest-growing sport. It blends tennis, badminton and pingpong. Participants play with large paddles like those in pingpong and a ball that resembles a smaller Wiffle ball. The game is played on a badminton- size court. While matches resemble tennis, the sport is less physically taxing, players say.
The Buckeye tournament’s brackets are organized by age, starting with players under 19, up to players 85 and older. This week, players from as far away as the Netherlands vied for a spot in championship matches or came to play for fun. The event also includes players from 39 states and Canada.
It’s easy to find the Nationals Tournament inside the sprawling Sun City Festival community. Follow the chorus of “thwaks” as players volley balls across dozens of nets. Hundreds of fans have lined the courts’ fences to watch matches from lawn chairs.
Brian Ashworth, a 29-yearold pickleball player from Billings, Mont., traveled to Buckeye to play. “It’s fun to compete with everyone,” said Ashworth, who started playing at his local YMCA. “I’ve been beat by older people.” The West Valley is a hub for the sport. Sun City Festival has hosted each of the past five national tournaments, said Ruth Rosenquist, the USA Pickleball Association’s media-relations chair.
Sun City Festival is also an ideal location because pickleball’s appeal to older players has made West Valley communities that have many retirees, such as Buckeye and Surprise, hot spots for the growing sport, Rosenquist added. Some pickleball players say they have moved to the West Valley just to pursue their passion.
Steve Wong, a 35-year-old former Seattle resident, moved to Surprise three years ago because of the opportunity for pickleball growth. Wong’s life is immersed in the sport. In 2012, he won gold medals in open men’s doubles, doubles for men 19 and older as well as open mixed doubles. He owns the pickleball pro store in Peoria, Onix Sports. He is also the founder of the non-profit Surprise Pickleball Association. “It’s multigenerational; it’s a fun sport and people have a great time without even knowing that they’re getting some exercise,” said Wong, a pickleball fan since eighth grade. Through his non-profit, Wong holds pickleball clinics across the nation and in metro Phoenix to introduce people to the sport. The Surprise Pickleball Association raised more than $35,000 last year to build pickleball courts and improve the lighting in Dreamcatcher Park in Surprise. Wong believes the sport helps the local economy, in part because of transplants like himself.
Snowbird Jeannie Branin, 68, splits her time between Bend, Ore., and Buckeye since she bought a house in Sun City Festival in 2008. Branin was primarily a tennis player before she moved to the West Valley, where she soon picked up pickleball. “There weren’t many people playing tennis, but there were many people playing pickleball,” she said. Branin said she enjoys pickleball’s social side. Since the game goes to only 11 points, players regularly get to switch courts and meet other players. There were few signs of pickleball’s popularity in Bend in 2008. Now when Branin goes back, she’s greeted by a 600member pickleball club, she said. “It’s growing like mad,” Branin said.
There are eight pickleball clubs in the West Valley, and the newest was established in Verrado over the summer, Rosenquist said. An average of 39 new clubs across the country come to the USA Pickleball Association’s attention each month. The association also awards $20,000 in grants every year to develop courts and has more than 700 ambassadors nationwide to promote the sport, Jordan said.
Wong works closely with Surprise to promote pickleball and to help execute fundraisers.
While Surprise’s youths still gravitate mostly to traditional sports such as football and basketball, the Surprise Pickleball Association’s efforts to raise the sport’s profile have been successful, according to Mark Coronado, Surprise’s director of community and recreation services. The city also has been interested in bringing international tournaments to the West Valley and eventually Surprise, Coronado said. “Our courts are well-utilized every morning, every weekend.” he said.
Website Editor
November 15, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 110713
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
November 4, 2013
Social Security checks to edge up in 2014!
The increase is one of the smallest since automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) were adopted in 1975. It affects Social Security benefits for some 58 million Americans, as well as benefits for millions of disabled veterans, federal retirees and people who get Supplemental Security Income.
"The COLA announced in October of this year is vital to millions, but at an average of just $19 per month, it will quickly be consumed by the rising costs of basic needs like food, utilities and health care," AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said.
"Seniors know all too well, their living costs often outpace the COLA increase, and a 1.5 percent increase is anything but too generous," added Max Richtman, the president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM).
LeaMond also took issue with proposals to include a *chained CPI in a budget deal, thereby changing the method for calculating cost-of-living adjustments. "The chained CPI," she said, "would further lower the COLA for Social Security and veterans' benefits with cuts that would start now and grow larger every year."
Edward F. Coyle, the executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, said he hopes the small COLA this year will persuade politicians not to make the change. "How can anyone look at an increase of around 1.5 percent and think 'That's too big', he said. "Clearly, these politicians need to spend more time talking to seniors who are struggling."
*What is the chained CPI? Some proponents of entitlement reform say that to hold down Social Security costs, future benefit increases should be tied to something called the chained CPI. That could mean lower benefit increases would be more common in the future. The chained CPI is a remodeled Consumer Price Index based on the idea that when prices rise, consumers will shop around and cut their spending. This reasoning links actual price increases with theoretical compensatory behavior — with the very real result that if the chained CPI is used to calculate Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, they won't go up as much each year. Since the COLA was established in 1975, annual increases have averaged 4.5 percent. Lately, with inflation low, the COLA has been smaller. So it doesn't seem like, on a year-to-year basis, switching the way the Consumer Price Index is formulated would be such a big deal. But if you are in your 40s or 50s now, the chained CPI will have your benefits lagging appreciably behind the real inflation rate by the time you are old enough to collect.
Social Security Administration Website
Website Editor
October 22, 2013
Property protection tips on how to secure your home!
2. Outside Your Home:
3. Miscellaneous Property Protection Tips:
Thus, by making use of property protection products such as motion detectors, electronic barking dogs, voice alert alarms etc. in addition to having a quality security system in your home, and by altering your behavior as shown above, you can protect your home and its occupants from harm.
Visit James Fenske's website article
Website Editor
October 16, 2013
The Middle Child Syndrome
As it turns out, middle-wage jobs have been on the decline for a number of years. The share of middle-wage or middle-skill jobs in the United States has fallen from 25 percent in 1985 to just about 15 percent in the present day, according to research from the Federal Reserve.
More specifically, middle-wage jobs — defined as ones that pay between $13.84 and $21.13 an hour — accounted for 1 in 4 (25 percent) of all new jobs that have been added in the United States since 2010. That number lags behind the 29 percent of high-wage jobs added and the 46 percent of low-wage jobs.
Click here for
video to learn more about the job market
Website Editor
October 10, 2013
The Arizona Swing Kids to perform at Apache Wells
Complimentary tickets for the show will be available at the Welcome Back Coffee on November 8th and in the Activity Office beginning November 11th. A Free-will
offering will be collected during the show.
The Arizona Swing Kids Patriotic Show organization was established in 1999 to provide free lessons with no auditions to youths K-12. The Swing Kids learn skills in dance, singing, generation connection, organized teamwork and community service, along with the associated benefits, which have formulated into a show for seniors in nursing homes, veterans and retirement communities, state-wide and year-round.
They are now in their 14th season of providing the same program with a lesson structure that addresses their goal of succeeding in the focus areas mentioned
above. They have had over 3000 youths participate in the program since 1999, while performing over 715 shows during this span. The Swing Kids are going to one day catch up with Bob Hope in the spirit of entertaining our troops, past & present.
This years touring group features numerous youth performers who are new to the
program and come from all backgrounds, races and economic standing, including a few who would qualify for the ‘At Risk’ label. They prefer not to mention the ‘At Risk’ in their program hand outs as in their opinion as it creates an impression that it is difficult for the affected youths to shed this label. They treat all youths in the same manner and expect successful results for each case. At the present time, they have over 50 performers K-12, who come from the Metropolitan Phoenix area.
They also serve thousands of seniors throughout the valley, who are in care homes, adult daycare centers and other senior related venues, with free shows for many of these groups, including non-profit organizations, the Veterans Hospital and Arizona State Veterans nursing home.
Their program is built on interaction between the youths and seniors, which is rewarding for all parties involved, resulting in life lasting memories and generation connection. There is no other program like theirs in the United
States. They book shows up to a year in advance due to the popularity of the Swing Kid youths and performances.
The Arizona Swing Kids program just completed a season that included their 700th show since December 19, 1999. They are the only youth program in America that travels year-round bringing the fond memories of music and dance from the WWII & Doo Wop eras, back to the home front, aka Bob Hope and entertainers of his era. In rewarding their youths for excelling in school and social behavior, they have
issued $28,000.00 in EE Bonds to these performers who earned Service Points since 2003, to be used for college, all of which were paid for by community donations.
Website Editor
October 9, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Board Meeting Minutes 100313
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 2, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 150
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 1, 2013
More bills on HOAs expected next year!
The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Jan Brewer in June, contained a half-
dozen new rules, some favoring HOAs and some not. State Rep. Michelle Ugenti, R-Scottsdale, had first brought forth the diverse HOA-related issues in an omnibus
bill earlier in the session. Her goal was to bring together the various ideas being floated in separate bills by other lawmakers to encourage debate, said Brian Townsend, a House majority policy adviser.
However, her bill stalled in the Senate. The day before state lawmakers went on
recess, Ugenti added an amendment with similar language to an unrelated elections bill, which legislators approved without debate.
Staropoli challenged the law as a violation of the Arizona Constitution, which
prohibits an act from containing two unrelated topics, in this case HOAs and
elections. A House rules attorney had advised that the last-minute additions would be permissible because one of the rules pertained to campaign signs, Townsend said.
However, the state Attorney General’s Office disagreed with the House attorney and offered to settle, awarding Staropoli and another complainant $7,500 for attorney fees. A Maricopa County Superior Court order struck all but one of the HOA provisions — the one related to campaign signs — from the law.
After the judgment, various interests in the HOA debate are expected to lobby again in the next legislative session. The Community Association Institute’s Central Arizona Chapter was neutral on the law, but Josh Bolen, president of the Phoenix-based group, said the measure would have clarified existing law to allow management companies to represent HOAs in small-claims court under certain circumstances.
Allowing experts at the management companies to file property- assessment liens or handle other small-claims matters benefits HOAs because it saves attorney fees and is more efficient, he said. “It was a way of helping out communities,” according to Linda Lang, president and CEO of the Phoenix-based Arizona Association of Community Managers.
But Mary Arnold, despite serving on the HOA board for the Arrowhead Ranch Phase III community in Glendale, sided with Staropoli. “The HOA could have the manager go in there, and they’re going to be face to face with a homeowner who is there alone, who may have never been in court before and it just isn’t fair,” she said.
The law also contained rules that benefited homeowners and their ability to rent
property without HOA interference.
For instance, the law would have limited the amount of information the HOA could
request about a renter and it would have prohibited HOAs from imposing rules on
renters that were not imposed on homeowners.
Michelle Lind, chief executive of the Arizona Association of Realtors in Phoenix, said all too often HOAs impose stipulations that make it difficult for property owners to rent their homes. Some HOAs require landlords to hand over tenants’ Social Security numbers and credit reports, causing landlords to lose prospective tenants who balk at sharing such information, Lind said.
Pat Haruff, president of the Coalition of Homeowners for Rights and Education in
Mesa, said homeowners should decide who they rent to, not HOAs.
Dave Russell comes at the issue from a different perspective. He is the community manager for Circle Tree Condominiums in Mesa, and he’s responsible for keeping tenants happy. To do so, his condo community prohibited property owners from renting to people with criminal records, which could not similarly be enforced for homeowners.
Russell said enforcing this rule in his community turned his “D-minus” neighborhood around. “I had a 98-year-old lady come up to me and say, ‘Thank you, I can finally take my trash out after dark,’ ” he said.
The law, had it stood, would have eliminated his ability to enforce that rule.
Staropoli, who has written books about HOA law and maintains an online blog on the issue, isn’t satisfied. He wants to see Ugenti censured for the last-minute amendments.
The purpose of the state Constitution’s provision prohibiting legislation with two unrelated subjects is to prevent “surprise and surreptitious legislation,” he argued in his court filing. Ugenti did not return a call from The Arizona Republic but instead had Townsend address the matter.
Rep. Phil Lovas, who is chairman of the House Ethics Committee, said Staropoli’s
complaint does not qualify as an ethics violation. “A member can offer an amendment on any subject. Just because it was later ruled unconstitutional does not make her action rise to the level of disorderly behavior. From time to time, courts will invalidate laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor. Just because they do, does not mean the sponsor of the bill committed an unethical act,” he wrote in an e-mail to The Republic.
Visit George Staropoli's Online Blog
Website Editor
September 23, 2013
Enforcement is a Duty, Not an Option!
An association that chooses not to enforce its governing documents exposes the association and its board of directors to two distinct forms of risk. First, another owner in the community may file a lawsuit against the association and allege that the board has failed to enforce the governing documents. This type of lawsuit could include a personal claim against a member of the board for the board’s breach of duty to the association. It is only logical that other owners purchase homes in the community with a reasonable expectation regarding the governance and look of the community. An association’s governing documents set forth these expectations. If a board chooses not to enforce or abide by the governing documents, a claim can be made that the board has failed in this simple legal requirement: follow the documents.
Second, if the board chooses not to enforce the governing documents now, the Association may lose its ability to enforce certain terms of the governing documents in the future, either in individual cases or even in a broader sense. Failure to consistently enforce the governing documents exposes an association to an owner’s equitable defenses such as *abandonment, waiver, estoppel, selective enforcement, discrimination, and laches. These defenses are all somewhat different; nevertheless, all of these defenses can prohibit or severely restrict an association’s claim against an owner to enforce the governing documents. If your association has not been enforcing its governing documents, it is never too late to start.
With this all of this in mind, we understand that budget constraints are an obstacle to enforcement. However, the law does not recognize this financial obstacle as a free pass to avoid enforcing the documents. Even in these challenging times, we have found that associations that are aggressive and consistent in enforcement are actually expending fewer funds. Being aggressive and consistent creates deterrence for other owners’ violations and raises the overall outlook of the community. Owners that see violations within a community are more likely to ignore their own obligations and mimic those violations. Stopping violations before problems spread among other owners is the key. Therefore, we encourage boards to adopt an efficient and aggressive enforcement and fine policy. Much like collections, delaying enforcement action delays compliance.
*Legal Terms:
Website Editor
September 14, 2013
Abused pit bull remains loving despite it all!
View video of Cadence's amazing recovery
Website Editor
September 4, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 149
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
September 2, 2013
Architectural Control Rules and Policy for Apache Wells
Rules are intended to carry out the "Architectural Theme" of Apache Wells and
enhance overall appearance and property values, and promote harmony within the
community. Over the next several months we will review the rules which homeowners need to be aware of to remain in compliance with the ACR&P's.
E. Altering an Existing Structure
F. Height Restrictions
G. Miscellaneous
Note: These ACR&P documents contain some of the revisions recommended by the AWHA attorney and following a meeting of the ACR&P Committee on 3-21-12.
Website Editor
August 26, 2013
Architectural Control Rules and Policy for Apache Wells
Rules are intended to carry out the "Architectural Theme" of Apache Wells and
enhance overall appearance and property values, and promote harmony within the
community. Over the next several months we will review the rules which homeowners need to be aware of to remain in compliance with the ACR&P's.
Website Editor
August 19, 2013
Architectural Control Rules and Policy for Apache Wells
Rules are intended to carry out the "Architectural Theme" of Apache Wells and
enhance overall appearance and property values, and promote harmony within the
community. Over the next several months we will review the rules which homeowners need to be aware of to remain in compliance with the ACR&P's.
Website Editor
August 14, 2013
The game of golf
Website Editor
August 10, 2013
10 dumb things you might be doing with credit
cards
Like it or not, we are a credit card culture. They seem to be
everywhere. They are on TV, being promoted by the likes of
Jimmy Fallon, Alec Baldwin and “Ogre” from Revenge of the
Nerds. The imagery is pervasive, and some places only take
credit or debit cards.
There are an estimated 1.5 billion credit cards in use in the United States and that can make them seem pretty much everywhere. Nevertheless, access to credit cards is a privilege not a right, and if you make mistakes, you’ll pay a price -- sometimes a hefty one.
With that in mind, we offer this list of serious credit card
mistakes and their equally serious repercussions.
The CARD Act factsheet
Website Editor
August 1, 2013
Architectural Control Rules and Policy for Apache Wells
Rules are intended to carry out the "Architectural Theme" of Apache Wells and
enhance overall appearance and property values, and promote harmony within the
community. Over the next several months we will review the rules which homeowners need to be aware of to remain in compliance with the ACR&P's.
Website Editor
July 26, 2013
Know skin cancer risks and protections!
The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
___ Basal cell carcinoma is skin cancer that forms in the base
of the small, round cells of the outer layer of skin.
In Arizona, we know how powerful the sun can be. Skin cancer
diagnoses are on the rise. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), in 2009, more that 1 million people
were diagnosed with skin cancer. It is estimated that 1 in 5
Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
Most cases of skin cancer are caused by prolong and
unprotected exposure to the sun. Here are a few tips to help
keep your skin protected:
Risk factors vary with each type of skin cancer. However,
people with a family history of skin cancer, have light skin
or fair skin tones, endure excessive sun exposure, and/or have
a history of sunburns are more likely than others to develop
skin cancer.
While avoiding and protecting yourself from the sun are
critical to preventing skin cancer, so is early detection.
Check moles regularly, noting any changes in size, color or
shape of the mole. If you notice any changes, contact your
doctor or dermatologist.
The earlier the detection and treatment, the better the chance
for a full recovery from any form of skin cancer.
The Skin Cancer
Foundation
Website Editor
July 22, 2013
Migrant bill could allow Canadians longer stays
Fortunately for them, a provision tucked in the immigration reform bill passed by
the U.S. Senate would allow many Canadian retirees to stay south of their border up to 60 days longer per year — a total of 240 days rather than 180 days.
Arizona tourism and economic officials have lauded the provision, which was
incorporated into the bill’s Jobs Originating Through Launching Travel Act, to
ostensibly boost travel and tourism to the United States.
With its balmy winters and affordable housing, Arizona has one of the largest
markets for overnight stays among Canadian travelers, tourism officials say. In
2012, Arizona ranked third, after Florida and California, in the number of nights that Canadians spent in the state, according to data from Statistics Canada.
Extending the time for Canadians to stay, shop and dine here means more dollars
flowing into Arizona’s economy, not to mention the extra tax-related revenue for
the state and local governments, according to state tourism officials. “Any
opportunity that makes it possible for visitors to extend their stay in Arizona is always going to be good for our state,” said Kiva Couchon, spokeswoman for the Arizona Office of Tourism. In 2011, Canadians spent an estimated $816 million in Arizona, said Evan Rachkovsky, a research officer for the Canadian Snowbird Association. Nearly 704,000 Canadians spent an average of $1,126 per visit during that year, according to the most current figures from the Arizona Office of Tourism.
The impact of the provision on the state’s economic well-being “would be
phenomenal,” Rachkovsky said. “It’s hard to see any downside to letting snowbirds spend more time in the country,” said Pederson, who operates websites for snowbirds and promotes RV resort parks in the Southwest. For some Canadians, the big issue “is not so much wanting to spend more than six months in Arizona but wanting or needing some days to allow for summer travel to and through the U.S.,” Pederson said. There are drawbacks. As it stands now, some Canadians would lose their provincial health coverage if they stayed in the United States longer than six months a year, said Dale Walters, a partner and chief executive officer of KeatsConnelly, a wealth-management firm for Canadians and Americans that has offices in Arizona, Florida and Calgary, Alberta.
“Basically, there are different rules depending on what province you live in,”
Walters said. The Toronto-based Canadian Snowbird Association has successfully
lobbied British Columbia and Manitoba to extend the limit on their residents to
seven months, from six months, Rachkovsky said. Residents from those provinces, as well as from Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, can be away for longer than six months and retain health benefits, he said. Meanwhile, residents of Alberta — who logged the most visits to Arizona out of all Canadians in 2011 — are still limited to half a year. The Canadian Snowbird Association is lobbying officials in Alberta to change that, Rachkovsky said.
Under current language, only Canadian citizens age 55 or older and their spouses
would be eligible for the extension. They would have to maintain a Canadian
residence and own or rent a U.S. residence, according to the legislation.
Arizona tourism officials say that the positives would far outweigh any negatives. In Scottsdale, which relies heavily on tourism for tax dollars, Canadians make up the largest international-visitor market, said Rachel Pearson, vice president of community and government affairs for the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Senate’s legislation “would provide a wonderful opportunity for additional Canadian visitors to come to Scottsdale, as well as keep many of our current visitors in Arizona longer,” Pearson said.
In 2011, more than 14 percent of all overnight Canadian visitors stayed in Arizona for at least 31 days. Glenn Williamson, founder and chief executive of the Canada Arizona Business Council, called the provision “a great thing for Arizona and Canadians that want to spend more time in the state.” “During the recession, Canadians were the largest international group buying houses in the state,” he said. “Now that it has slowed down, they are going to want to use them, more especially to come down and go to the hockey games.” "It’s hard to see any downside to letting snowbirds spend more time in the country.”
LYLE PEDERSON: Canadian resident who, along with his wife, spends part of the year in Arizona and supports the longer limit included in the comprehensive immigration-reform bill for Canadian snowbirds to stay in the United States.
Residency rules snowbirds need to know
Website Editor
July 14, 2013
Medical marijuana now in Mesa
Giving Tree Wellness Center opened in late June at 938 E.
Juanita Ave., just the sort of industrial park setting that
the City Council envisioned two years ago when it approved
zoning restrictions for such businesses.
It is Giving Tree’s second facility in the Valley; the other
is in north Phoenix.
Both are under the medical direction of Dr. Gina Berman, an
emergency-room physician who believes traditional Western
medicine can go only so far in helping some patients.
“I see a lot of patients ... who have had organs removed or
they have chronic pain, they’re on patches and ... they’re on
all these different things and they’re not getting any better
and they’re going down the rabbit hole of narcotics,” Berman
said. “So, I thought it would be interesting to try to open
people’s eyes to other alternative therapies.”
She was especially interested in acupuncture and acupressure
massage.
“I thought it would be nice to have a whole center where patients could come and really try out those other modalities,”
Berman said. But one problem with that is chronically ill
patients may not have the money to experiment with therapies
that may or may not help them.
Berman said approval of Proposition 203 in November 2010 opened her eyes to the possibility that a medical-marijuana facility could financially support those other services.
Finding a location in Mesa was tough, however.
Early plans for a site near Country Club Drive and Baseline
Road fell through, as did Berman’s first choice in the
industrial park just east of Horne and south of U.S. 60.
The lobby looks like any medical office. Patients must pass a
security check before they’re allowed into the locked
dispensary, where they can inspect and smell samples displayed
in petri dishes.
There’s a microscope so customers can look at the marijuana
plant’s tiny “trichomes,” the appendages that contain the
active ingredients. Blowups of microscopic marijuana photos
adorn the walls.
The dispensary has some vacant rooms that Berman hopes will
someday accommodate a yoga studio, a naturopathic physician
and other forms of therapy.
Paul Morris, a Mesa resident who manages the facility, said
about 50 patients came through during its first week. Morris
said he got interested in the business because several family
members have suffered chronic illnesses, including an uncle
whose doctor told him to use marijuana for cancer-induced
nausea. “I’m kind of sympathetic to the cause,” Morris said.
Patients must have state-issued cards before they can
patronize a medical marijuana shop. The limit is 2 1 ⁄ 2
ounces every two weeks. Berman said the most common purchase
is a bag containing an eighth of an ounce, about a quarter or
half-cup in volume.
It’s not a cheap alternative, medicine-wise. Giving Tree’s
website lists five strains of marijuana, ranging from $390 to
$430 an ounce. The drug must be grown in Arizona because
transportation across state lines violates federal law.
The material in her shop is tested for contaminants and
strength, Berman said. The same would apply to any marijuana
donated to the store for free distribution, although Berman
said no such donations have come in.
When asked directly whether, as a physician, she is convinced
marijuana is a valid treatment for some conditions, Berman
said, “I am.”
“I can’t see how anybody who’s looked at the research and the
evidence can say otherwise,” she added. “I’m not saying it’s a
panacea. And I’m not saying it’s the best thing for
everything. That’s ridiculous.”
But, she said, the mostly middle-age patients who come to her
center deserve an opportunity to find a treatment that works.
“They are ill people,” she said. “They’re not potheads that
are looking to have fun. The people that come in here really
do have medical issues. ... You can’t treat the patients
automatically like they’re criminals. They’re trying to make
their lives better.”
She said marijuana must be treated as carefully as anything
else people consume.
“Everything you put in your body can have a downside,” she
said. “Caffeine, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, fat, high-fructose
corn syrup. You name it, if you put it in your body you need
to know what its effects are and what the bad things are about
it. And then moderation is the key.”
Patients, she said, will be responsible for making sure they
don’t violate the law after they use marijuana.
“I know there’s a lot of concern about people smoking and
driving,” Berman said. But she said the same level of concern
should apply to people who drive after drinking, or when
they’re tired or on medication.
Berman said she’d eventually like to move to a more visible
location, something she thinks is possible as Mesa gets used
to medical marijuana facilities and as zoning laws evolve.
“I think it’s wise to take it slow and then we can open things
up as people become more comfortable,” Berman said.
Several other entities are planning to open medical marijuana
dispensaries or cultivation sites in Mesa.
According to city records they are:
Website Editor
July 12, 2013
More Proof That an Active Brain Slows
Dementia!
Researchers found that being “cognitively active” both early
and later in life was tied to better performance on memory
tests among people in their 80s, Reuters reported.
Even when brain autopsies were done on study participants who
passed away, researchers found those who kept mentally busy
showed less brain damage than those who didn’t.
Molecular Time Machine: Turning Back Brain Age
“The beauty of this study is that they tested people at
different points and followed them [through to] autopsy,”
Prashanthi Vemuri with the Mayo Clinic, who wrote an
accompanying editorial but was not otherwise associated with
the study, told Time.
“People need to know this and be aware that it is possible to
slow down the decline of dementia,” said Vemuri, an
Alzheimer’s expert.
The research helps address the debate over “why a cognitively
active lifestyle is associated with (a lower risk of)
cognitive decline,” study author Robert Wilson, a
neuropsychologist with Rush University’s Alzheimer’s Disease
Center in Chicago, told Reuters.
One theory has been that it was encroaching disease that
caused cognitive inactivity, said Wilson. The new research
suggests it’s the other way around — that keeping
intellectually stimulated can help slow memory loss and lessen
the onset of dementia.
The study, published in the journal Neurology, found that
older adults who were most active in late life showed a 32
percent slower rate of decline compared with those who
maintained an average level of mental activity. And those who
were the least active had a 48 percent faster fall into
dementia, reported Time.
Wilson and his colleagues began studying and testing more than
1,600 older adults in 1997. This study focused on nearly 300
who died at an average age of 89 and underwent a brain autopsy
to look for changes associated with cognitive decline.
Even after adjusting for the effect of disease as well as for
age and education, researchers still found that those who had
engaged in mentally stimulating activities showed less brain
damage.
The study doesn’t prove that being mentally active wards off
cognitive decline, but Wilson said it’s another step toward
that conclusion.
He also told Reuters that keeping one’s brain active should be
enjoyable, not a chore. Book clubs, quilting, photography are
all ways people can keep their minds busy and their brains
healthier, he said.
AARP Article with
related links
Website Editor
July 1, 2013
Superstition Lakes condo owners oust HOA Board!
“With recalls in particular, it’s rare to find that amount of agreement in the community,” said Kellogg, of Metro Property Services. “And if there is a recall election, it’s typically for a rogue board member, one in particular that is completely out of bounds. Very rarely do you find a community getting rid of their whole board.”
Metro Property Services began managing Superstition Lakes on May 1, after PMG Services severed ties with the community April 30. Homeowners had been circulating a petition questioning the validity of thousands of dollars in board expenditures and reimbursements to Cassady, including several meals and alcoholic drinks consumed on the association’s dime.
The incumbents’ opponents also claimed they’d been blocked from seeing a full set of financial records and generally participating in the board’s decisions, alleging “election interference” in the selection of its members.
The group took the HOA officers to court in May in an unsuccessful attempt to get the board placed into receivership. Erting and Cassady testified that the meals were justified by the hard work and long hours they put in throughout the year; an accountant who had previously audited the association’s finances said the board was financially strong despite the “few items ... coming into question.”
While rejecting receivership, the judge ordered the HOA board to address the residents’ petition to remove them and allow a recall election. The meeting to review the votes and announce the results, held last Friday, lasted six minutes, according to homeowners.
“I was absolutely thrilled with the participation in the voting,” said Kathleen Daurio, who supported the recall and had testified at the receivership hearing. “There were some people that were emotional (after the results were read). We were almost giddy.”
Jan Stuart, who helped to organize and lead the opposition and eventually brought on an attorney for help, called the recall a “huge victory.”
“I think, in total, I’ve spent about 400 hours working on this since December,” she said. “One of the reasons I started to do this was because I wanted to draw awareness. I’d like people to know they can fight back against these bully HOA boards, but to do it they have to demand their rights, and sometimes, unfortunately, they have to go to court to get them.”
Homeowners interested in replacing one of the board members have 30 days to nominate themselves. Ballots based on those nominations will go out July 21, and the new board will be announced August 21. Metro Property Services will serve as the community administrator in the interim, Kellogg said.
“We’ll facilitate emergency repairs ... but we don’t necessarily have the ability to make any big decisions,” he said. “As far as firing or hiring a vendor or something like that, that always requires some kind of board approval. All of those things will have to wait.”
It also will be up to the new board to decide whether to hire a forensic, or investigative, auditor and pursue charges against the former board members.
Website Editor
June 24, 2013
A Special Nextdoor announcement
If you are a member of Apache Wells Nextdoor you should have received an email announcement of this new feature.
Nextdoor is excited to announce that your neighborhood will be receiving the Nearby Neighborhoods feature in the next week!
Nearby Neighborhoods allows you to:
Simple personalization options give you complete control over which neighborhoods are included in your set of nearby neighborhoods. View and personalize your list of nearby neighborhoods.
It is important to note that Nearby Neighborhoods will not compromise your privacy. Your neighborhood's private content and member directory can never be seen by nearby neighbors. We're excited to share the feature with you and look forward to hearing your feedback.
If you have additional questions about Nearby Neighborhoods, you can learn more in our Help Center.
Coming soon: Nearby Neighborhoods
Helpful
Private
Personalized
You control which neighborhoods are included in your nearby neighborhood set. You can turn neighborhoods on or off, and control email volume.
View your nearby neighborhoods
If you have additional questions about Nearby Neighborhoods, you can learn more in our Help Center.
Website Editor
June 15, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 148
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
June 12, 2013
How to minimize those senior moments!
"The key issue is whether cognitive changes are significantly interfering with daily activities," says Kirk R. Daffner, M.D., chief of the division of cognitive and behavioral neurology at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. If that's happening, you should consult your doctor. Your lapses may well have very treatable causes. Severe stress, depression, a vitamin B12 deficiency, insufficient sleep, some prescription drugs and infections can all play a role.
Even if these factors don't apply to you, your memory isn't completely at the mercy of time. Studies have shown that people who exercise, stay mentally active, socialize regularly and eat a healthy diet can minimize memory loss.
Still worried? See below for six types of normal memory lapses that are not signs of dementia — plus tips on how to counter them.
1. Absentmindedness. Where in the world did you leave your keys? Or why the heck did you walk into the living room anyway? Both of these very common lapses usually stem from lack of attention or focus. It's perfectly normal to forget directions to somewhere you haven't visited in a while. But "if you've lived on a block for 10 years, and you walk out the door and get lost, that's much more serious," says Debra Babcock, M.D., of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
2. Blocking. This is the frustrating tip-of-the-tongue moment. You know the word you're trying to say, but you can't quite retrieve it from memory. It usually happens when several similar memories interfere with each other. A 2011 study, published in the journal Brain Research, showed that elderly participants had to activate more areas of the brain to perform a memory task than the study's young subjects. "We're all accessing the same brain networks to remember things, says Babcock, "but we have to call in the troops to do the work when we get older, while we only have to call in a few soldiers when you're younger."
3. Scrambling. This is when you accurately remember most of an event or other chunk of information, but confuse certain key details. One example: A good friend tells you over dinner at a restaurant that she is taking out a second mortgage on her home. Later, you correctly recall the gist of her news but think she told you during a phone conversation.
Research points to the importance of the hippocampus — a region of the brain crucial in the formation of memories about events, including the particular time and place they occurred. Scientists estimate that, after the age of about 25, the hippocampus loses 5 percent of its nerve cells with each passing decade.
4. Fade Out. The brain is always sweeping out older memories to make room for new ones. The more time that passes between an experience and when you want to recall it, the more likely you are to have forgotten much of it. So while it is typically fairly easy to remember what you did over the past several hours, recalling the same events and activities a month, or a year, later is considerably more difficult. This basic "use-it-or-lose-it" feature of memory known as transience is normal at all ages, not just among older adults.
5. Retrieval. You were just introduced to someone, and seconds later, you can't remember her name. Or you saw a great film, but when you tell a friend about it the next day, you've completely forgotten the title. Aging changes the strengths of the connections between neurons in the brain. New information can bump out other items from short-term memory unless it is repeated again and again.
6. Muddled multitasking. Call it demitasking, when the number of things you can do effectively at one time diminishes. Maybe you can't watch the news and talk on the phone at the same time anymore. Not such a bad thing, really.
Studies show that, the older we get, the more the brain has to exert effort to maintain focus. Further, it takes longer to get back to an original task after an interruption.
Mary A. Fischer is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor to AARP The Magazine.
Website Editor
June 1, 2013
Get to know your HOA State Statutes (Part 4)!
33-1816. Solar energy devices; reasonable restrictions; fees and costs
Website Editor
May 24, 2013
The HOA Maintenance Plan
An effective preventive maintenance plan should satisfy the following five key goals:
The objective of the Maintenance Plan is to provide clear direction to the board and/or management on how and when to provide repairs to building and grounds components. If consistently followed in conjunction with a properly prepared reserve study schedule, the components will enjoy their maximum useful lives and related repair costs kept to a minimum. This is how successful homeowner associations operate.
Website Editor
May 15, 2013
Broadcasters worry about 'Zero TV' homes!
Winning back the Zero TV crowd will be one of the many issues broadcasters
discuss at their national meeting, called the NAB Show, this week in Las Vegas.
While show creators and networks make money from this group's viewing habits
through deals with online video providers and from advertising on their own
websites and apps, broadcasters only get paid when they relay such programming
in traditional ways. Unless broadcasters can adapt to modern platforms, their
revenue from Zero TV viewers will be zero.
"Getting broadcast programing on all the gizmos and gadgets - like tablets, the
backseats of cars, and laptops - is hugely important," says Dennis Wharton, a
spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters. Although Wharton says
more than 130 TV stations in the U.S. are broadcasting live TV signals to mobile
devices, few people have the tools to receive them. Most cellphones require an
add-on device known as a dongle, but these gadgets are just starting to be sold.
Among this elusive group of consumers is Jeremy Carsen Young, a graphic
designer, who is done with traditional TV. Young has a working antenna sitting
unplugged on his back porch in Roanoke, Va., and he refuses to put it on the
roof. "I don't think we'd use it enough to justify having a big eyesore on the
house," the 30-year-old says. Online video subscriptions from Netflix Inc. and
Amazon.com Inc. - which cost less than $15 a month combined - have given him and
his partner plenty to watch. They take in back episodes of AMC's "The Walking
Dead" and The CW's "Supernatural," and they don't need more, he says. He doesn't
mind waiting as long as a year for the current season's episodes to appear on
streaming services, even if his friends accidently blurt out spoilers in the
meantime. With regular television, he might have missed the latest developments,
anyway. "By the time it gets to me to watch, I've kind of forgotten about that,"
he says.
For the first time, TV ratings giant Nielsen took a close look at this category
of viewer in its quarterly video report released in March. It plans to measure
their viewing of new TV shows starting this fall, with an eye toward
incorporating the results in the formula used to calculate ad rates. "Our
commitment is to being able to measure the content wherever it is," says Dounia
Turrill, Nielsen's senior vice president of insights.
The Zero TV segment is increasingly important, because the number of people
signing up for traditional TV service has slowed to a standstill in the U.S.
Last year, the cable, satellite and telecoms providers added just 46,000 video
customers collectively, according to research firm SNL Kagan. That's tiny when
compared to the 974,000 new households created last year. While it's still 100.4
million homes, or 84.7 percent of all households, it's down from the peak of
87.3 percent in early 2010.
Nielsen's study suggests that this new group may have left traditional TV for
good. While three-quarters actually have a physical TV set, only 18 percent are
interested in hooking it up through a traditional pay TV subscription.
Zero TVers tend to be younger, single and without children. Nielsen's senior
vice president of insights, Dounia Turrill, says part of the new monitoring
regime is meant to help determine whether they'll change their behavior over
time. "As these homes change life stage, what will happen to them?"
Cynthia Phelps, a 43-year-old maker of mental health apps in San Antonio, Texas,
says there's nothing that will bring her back to traditional TV. She's watched
TV in the past, of course, but for most of the last 10 years she's done without
it. She finds a lot of programs online to watch on her laptop for free - like
the TED talks educational series - and every few months she gets together with
friends to watch older TV shows on DVD, usually "something totally geeky," like
NBC's "Chuck." The 24-hour news channels make her anxious or depressed, and buzz
about the latest hot TV shows like "Mad Men" doesn't make her feel like she's
missing out. She didn't know who the Kardashian family was until she looked them
up a few years ago. "I feel absolutely no social pressure to keep up with the
Joneses in that respect," she says.
For Phelps, it's less about saving money than choice. She says she'd rather
spend her time productively and not get "sucked into" shows she'll regret later.
"I don't want someone else dictating the media I get every day," she says. "I
want to be in charge of it. When I have a TV, I'm less in control of that."
The TV industry has a host of buzz words to describe these non-traditionalist
viewers. There are "cord-cutters," who stop paying for TV completely, and make
do with online video and sometimes an antenna. There are "cord-shavers," who
reduce the number of channels they subscribe to, or the number of rooms pay TV
is in, to save money.
Then there are the "cord-nevers," young people who move out on their own and
never set up a landline phone connection or a TV subscription. They usually make
do with a broadband Internet connection, a computer, a cellphone and possibly a
TV set that is not hooked up the traditional way. That's the label given to the
group by Richard Schneider, the president and founder of the online retailer
Antennas Direct. The site is doing great business selling antennas capable of
accepting free digital signals since the nation's transition to digital over-
the-air broadcasts in 2009, and is on pace to sell nearly 600,000 units this
year, up from a few dozen when it started in 2003. While the "cord-nevers" are a
target market for him, the category is also troubling. More people are raised
with the power of the Internet in their pocket, and don't know or care that you
can pull TV signals from the air for free. "They're more aware of Netflix than
they're aware over-the-air is even available," Schneider says.
That brings us to truck driver James Weitze. The 31-year-old satisfies his video
fix with an iPhone. He often sleeps in his truck, and has no apartment. To be
sure, he's an extreme case who doesn't fit into Nielsen's definition of a
household in the first place. But he's watching Netflix enough to keep up with
shows like "Weeds," ''30 Rock," ''Arrested Development," ''Breaking Bad," ''It's
Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Sons of Anarchy." He's not opposed to TV per
se, and misses some ESPN sports programs like the "X Games." But he's so
divorced from the traditional TV ecosystem it could be hard to go back. It's
become easier for him to navigate his smartphone than to figure out how to use a
TV set-top box and the button-laden remote control. "I'm pretty tech savvy, but
the TV industry with the cable and the television and the boxes, you don't know
how to use their equipment," he says. "I try to go over to my grandma's place
and teach her how to do it. I can't even figure it out myself."
Website Editor
May 7, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 147
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
May 4, 2013
Americans Face Shorter Life Span!
Wonder why this is happening? So did the National Institutes of Health, which ordered a broad study of U.S. deaths involving drugs and alcohol, obesity and diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, infant mortality, injuries and homicides, and HIV and AIDS. Researchers found what they
called "a pervasive pattern of shorter lives and poor health"
crossing all socioeconomic lines.
Although the United States spends nearly twice as much on health care as other countries, Americans eat too much, rely on cars too much and get medical care that is often inaccessible and unaffordable. More specifically, the study cited the lack of access to primary care physicians and Americans' relatively unhealthy behaviors. While Americans drink and smoke less than their peers, they eat more calories per person, use seat belts less, are more prone to gun
violence and have higher rates of drug abuse. Demographic trends and next year's expansion of medical coverage will put even more pressure on the shorthanded U.S. medical workforce. Our dependence on cars gets special attention, too, for helping create neighborhoods that discourage walking and
contribute to obesity.
The study concludes, "The tragedy is not that the United States is losing a contest with other countries, but that Americans are dying and suffering from illness and injury at rates that are demonstrably unnecessary. Superior health outcomes in other nations show that Americans also can enjoy better health."
These trends affect all age groups. "Americans who do reach age 50 generally arrive at this age in poorer health than their counterparts in other high-income countries," the study found, "and as older adults they face greater morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases that arise from risk factors (e.g., smoking, obesity, diabetes) that are often established earlier in life."
What to do? Steven H. Woolf, professor of family health at Virginia Commonwealth University and director of the NIH study, has a suggestion: Just as important as eating well, exercising, driving safely and avoiding smoking, Americans
over 50 "can help address the larger problem by encouraging their elected officials and neighbors to address the root causes of the health disadvantage … which threatens not only their health but that of their children and grandchildren."
That's a plan. It's a simple call to action that mobilizes the real possibilities for older Americans — individually and collectively. We must live smarter and pass the word.
Website Editor
April 26, 2013
Get to know your HOA State Statutes (Part 3)!
33-1804. Open meetings; exceptions
Website Editor
April 17, 2013
SRP lowering its electricity rates!
In a press release sent out by SRP, the utility company said the price decrease will lower bills by an overall average of 1.1 percent. It should save the typical residential customer about $1.72 per month. “We structured the decrease to occur during the six summer months in order to provide a meaningful decrease to customers during the time of year when electricity bills are highest and customers need it most,” Scott Harelson of SRP said in an e-mail to the Independent. In order to monitor energy use, Mr. Harelson recommends visiting http://www.savewithsrp.com/ for money-saving advice and offers and to make sure customers are on the right price plan to save the most on their monthly bills.
“I use it as I need it and I don’t worry about the cost,” Mr. Whiteman said about his electricity use. He doesn’t believe living in a mobile home like he does offers cheaper utility bills than a standard home, he said.
SRP is the third-largest public power utility in the country, serving about 970,000 electric customers, according to the press release. It provides power for much of central Arizona.
Although rates will go back to normal in November, it’s typically a time customers use less electricity, Mr. Harelson said. The decrease came as a result of SRP having $20.5 million lower-than-expected costs for fiscal year 2013. Cost savings from a short-term sale of energy from a geothermal plant, lower than anticipated program costs and lower than planned natural gas costs are all contributing factors, Mr. Harelson said.
Although expected to save the average household nearly $10, Mr. Whiteman said he didn’t celebrate when he heard the news. “It sounds good but practically it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference,” Mr. Whiteman said. “I probably won’t even notice it.”
News services assistant Pilar Arias can be contacted by calling 480-982-7799, via e-mail at parias@newszap.com or on Twitter @PilarArias_MMJ.
Website Editor
April 12, 2013
Snakebite season begins with a vengeance!
Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal but are extremely painful and destructive to surrounding tissue, said Dr. Aryn O’Connor, a medical toxicologist. She said pain, swelling and occasional bleeding complications are the most serious outcomes, assuming a victim gets care quickly. In Tucson, at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, Director Keith Boesen says his first two victims came in on Monday. He said he expects the numbers to grow in a few weeks.
Last year, 270 snakebites were reported statewide, with 116 of them in Maricopa County. The last fatal snakebite in Arizona was a 63-year-old Chino Valley woman, who died in October after a bite from a Mojave rattlesnake. The last death in Maricopa County was in 2005. But the patient had other medical complications, officials at the Good Samaritan poison center said.
Dale DeNardo, director of the DeNardo Lab at Arizona State University in Tempe, says rattlers and other snakes are on the move at this time of year, returning to home ranges from winter den sites. They are active during the day, when people are outdoors. He argues that people fail to see 95 percent of rattlesnakes they pass in the desert. Most of those who are bitten are young men who are bitten on the hand. “Rattlesnakes don’t jump,” he said. “These bites result from people trying to play with them.”
DeNardo said people who are bitten should get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. Forget about the snake, he says. There is no reason a doctor needs to see it or know what it is. “The treatment is the same regardless of what kind of rattlesnake bites you,” he said. DeNardo says Mojave rattlesnakes have the worst venom, causing possible effects on the nervous system. The Arizona Game and Fish Department says Western diamondbacks are most common, biting more people than any other rattler. Both are present in the deserts around Phoenix. Game and Fish says Arizona has 13 rattlesnake species; six of them are found in the Phoenix area. DeNardo said people who are bitten should get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. Forget about the snake, he says. There is no reason a doctor needs to see it or know what it is.
Rattlesnake Video #1
Website Editor
April 10, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 146
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
April 6, 2013
HOAs Acting Transparently!
There are other controls. The governing documents can only be amended by the
members, not the board. That is real power. With other forms of governments,
voters have little control over what their elected representatives do, so most
don't pay much attention or develop an attitude that "I can’t do anything about
it anyway." Of course, that kind of thinking is exactly why elected officials
get away with what they do.
HOAs have actually brought us much closer to the way things used to be when
democracy was more accessible. An HOA board is only able to lord over the
members if the members let it. But HOA members have a real and viable way to
gain relief from oppressive government.
Fortunately, the majority of HOAs are relatively well run and the community
harmonious, in spite of being run by amateurs. And the amateur boards that get
educated on the process really shine! But most boards still have room for
improvement in the communication department. The core philosophy here is
“transparency.” Do not operate behind closed doors or withhold information that
every HOA member is entitled to see. There are exceptions to this rule, but the
list is short: ongoing litigation, employment issues, and competitive contract
bidding.
Here are several ways to keep the body politic transparently in the
know:
Finally, board transparency can and will reap great rewards by building confidence and trust.
Website Editor
March 25, 2013
Lakes stud Apache Trail drive!
The Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountains is a classic scenic drive. When Theodore Roosevelt drove there in 1911, he compared the region’s beauty to that of Yellowstone or Yosemite national parks. Saguaro-covered hills and deep canyons stretch for miles, broken by red-rock cliffs and hoodoos. The area is a favorite of sightseers, boaters, hikers and anglers.
The Apache Trail, aka Arizona 88, is not for the squeamish or those afraid of heights. At first, it cuts through the desert, but before long it begins to turn sharply, rising and falling with the hills and valleys of the landscape. It helps to have a truck to cover all of the graded dirt road, but a car will make it.
Things to see along the way:Take a hike: Follow Forest Road 78 (you can’t miss the sign between mile markers 201 and 202) to First Water Trailhead. Examine the map at the trailhead to plot any route that suits you. The numerous crisscrossing trails lead past beautiful scenery and give views of Weavers Needle. You can do anything from an easy half hour stroll to a strenuous 9-mile loop.
Enjoy the lakes: If you arrive from the west, you’ll come to Canyon Lake first, then Apache Lake, then Roosevelt Lake. Each lake has a marina where you can rent a fishing or pontoon boat. The lakes hold bass and crappie.
Explore ruins: Tonto National Monument contains cliff dwellings occupied by the Salado people during the 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries. Long and short hikes take you to the lower or upper ruins. The upper ruin is open from November through April, and reservations are advisable for the 3-mile hike. There is a visitor center and picnic facilities. The monument is 4 miles east of Roosevelt Dam on Arizona 188.
Total miles: About 175 miles round trip from central Phoenix. Take U.S. 60 east to Idaho Road (Exit 196) and go north to Arizona 88, the Apache Trail. Follow Arizona 88 northeast through the Superstitions (the pavement ends shortly after Tortilla Flat) to Arizona 188 at Roosevelt Lake. Take Arizona 188 southeast to Globe, then U.S. 60 back to the Valley.
Don’t miss Tortilla Flat: A century ago, it was a change station where mules pulling loads of construction material for Roosevelt Dam were switched for fresh animals. Today, there’s a museum, an old post office and a popular restaurant and watering hole, the Superstition Saloon. Don’t miss the prickly-pear ice cream.
View/Print Apache Trail Circle Route
Website Editor
March 18, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 145
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
March 17, 2013
HOA dog rules: all bark or all bite?
Answer: Many states have passed controversial breed-specific legislation, or BSL, or laws that aim to reduce dog attacks by either regulating or banning certain breeds. Arizona does not have BSL, but a strict liability statute A.R.S 11-1025. Under the statute, a dog owner is liable for damages for a dog bite regardless of the former viciousness of a dog or the owner's knowledge of its viciousness.
Although Arizona does not have BSL, your HOA may have the authority to adopt breed restrictions under the community's documents. HOAs commonly ban large breeds such as Pitbulls, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, German shepherds and Doberman pinschers.
Dogs that attack people pose serious safety and liability problems for HOAs. Beyond safety and liability concerns, HOAs also restrict pets in the interests of regulating cleanliness, landscape standards and noise levels in the common areas. Some HOAs even adopt pet restrictions upon recommendation of their insurance carriers. Dog-bite claims substantially affect insurance premiums for both HOAs and individual homeowners.
You should carefully review your community documents and understand the specific rules in your community before the purchase of a pet, especially a large-breed dog.
Check Section 3.6 Pets on P. 9 of our CC&Rs
Website Editor
March 10, 2013
Enforcing restrictions in HOA Community Documents!
Effective covenant enforcement preserves property values. The first step is to identify the violation, and communicate the violation to the homeowner. Under Arizona law, a homeowner must receive notice and an opportunity for a hearing, before a HOA can fine the homeowner for a violation. However, proceeding directly to a fine letter will fuel the emotional content of the enforcement action. In order to cure the violation, the HOA must diminish the emotional content of the action.
The first communication should be a neighborly, friendly communication. It should use words such as “home”, “community”, “pleasing” and “neighbor”. It should avoid words such as “dwelling unit” and “penalty”. The first letter should invite the recipient to agree that preserving property values by maintaining the appearance of the homes is a goal shared in the community.
Violators can be lumped into three categories: 1) procrastinators; 2) hardship cases; and 3) defiant homeowners. Enforcing the covenants against the defiant homeowners is the most challenging. A threatening initial communication to a defiant homeowner will cause that homeowner to become defensive and aggressive. Only the neighborly initial communication has a hope of obtaining compliance by the defiant homeowner.
The neighborly initial communication has little chance of obtaining compliance by the procrastinator. It may open up communication with the hardship cases, and the defiant homeowners. If communications open, the HOA should obviously work with the homeowners to solve the problem. If not, continued enforcement is required.
I recommend that the second notice should not threaten a fine, unless the violation is egregious, or poses a danger to the community. The second notice should again be neighborly. It should assure the homeowner that the oversight was not intentional. These communications can become trial exhibits for a judge and jury to evaluate. The tone of the violation letters can sway the opinions of a judge or jury.
The third letter should threaten a fine, and invite the homeowner to a hearing before the Board. The term “hearing” is contained in ARS sections 33-1242(11) for condominiums, and 33-1803(B) for planned communities. “Hearing” was an unfortunate choice of words. The Board should try to negotiate a resolution at the hearing. HOAs should approach a hearing as an opportunity for a discussion to obtain compliance, rather than only a procedure for weighing testimony and evidence.
Arizona law only provides that the amount of a fine must be “reasonable”. The HOA should calculate the amount as a sufficient incentive to obtain compliance. Fines should never be used as revenue enhancers. Factors to consider are: 1) the seriousness of the violation; 2) whether it is a first violation or a continuing violation; 2) whether the violation is a danger to person or property; and 4) whether the Board believes the homeowner will fulfill a promise to comply. In a recent case where a homeowner was operating a business from a home, the Board properly considered the amount of the profit, and calculated the fine in an amount sufficient to render the business unprofitable.
Boards should always consider waiving the fines, if the homeowner cures the violations. Boards may decide to waive the fines only after a period of compliance. For example, if a homeowner has repeated trashcan violations, the Board may consider waiving the fines, but only after six months or one year of compliance. Resales are also an opportunity to obtain compliance. Under ARS sections 33-1260(A)(3)(e) for condominiums and 33-1806(A)(3)(e) for planned communities, a HOA must provide a statement to the buyer a statement whether the records of the HOA reflect any violations. Again, HOAs should use the resale as an opportunity to waive fines, in exchange for compliance. Waiving the fines in exchange for compliance will inform the buyer that compliance is required in the community, and that the HOA uses fines for compliance, rather than for revenue enhancement.
View Carpenter Hazlewood video seninar on enforcement of restrictions
Website Editor
March 6, 2013
Annual spring garden railway open house!
In addition to monthly meetings, which are held to advance the camaraderie of
its membership, discuss ideas and to work together on model railroading
projects, the group hosts two open house tours annually – one at Christmas time
and one in the spring. While no fees are charged, tax deductible donations will
be accepted at each home and will be used to support ABTO activities throughout
the valley, including the maintenance of the train layout at the Cardon
Children’s Medical Center at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa.
As part of the spring tour, the public is invited to visit the Medical Center
as well to see the railroad there, which has three trains plus a trolley
running through a large display of well-designed scenery.
The tour will run two days, with the 15 East Valley layouts open from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Locations in Phoenix and Glendale are open 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.
For more information, including addresses, maps and videos of the locations,
visit www.azbigtrains.org.
Complete East Valley Tribune article
and photos
Website Editor
March 5, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 144
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
March 3, 2013
Get to know your HOA State Statutes (Part 2)!
A.R.S. 33-1803. Penalties; notice to member of violation
Website Editor
February 27, 2013
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
SPECIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Special Board Meeting 2-26-13
Website Editor
February 23, 2013
Suspending Arizona HOA Membership Privileges!
A growing number of Arizona boards and managers wonder whether the association must first provide the member with “notice” and “an opportunity to be heard” before suspension can be issued. To answer this question, the board should run through a “check list” of sorts to ensure it follows proper procedure and protocol.
__ 1. Review the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (governing documents). The governing documents are generally the starting point of any inquiry. Suspension is no different. If the governing documents require notice and an opportunity to be heard before a suspension, the inquiry is over.
We next turn to the Arizona Non-profit Corporation Act ARS 10-3621 for answers. That statute says that no membership in a corporation may be suspended except pursuant to a procedure that is set forth in the articles of incorporation, bylaws or an agreement between the member and the corporation or a procedure that is otherwise appropriate. It goes on to say that if the governing documents are silent as to a procedure for suspension, the following method shall be deemed “appropriate:” either (1) the corporation send the member a written notice at least fifteen days before the suspension and the reasons therefore, and an opportunity for the member to be heard, orally or in writing, at least five days before the effective date of the suspension, or (2) the suspension is fair and reasonable taking into consideration all of the relevant facts and circumstances. If the corporation chooses to notice the member of the proposed suspension, the written notice must be sent to the last address of the member shown on the corporation’s records. Any proceeding challenging a suspension, including a proceeding in which defective notice is alleged, shall begin within six months after the effective date of the suspension. ARS 10-3621 is the only statute in the Non-profit Corporation Act that refers to suspension.
Some attorneys argue that this statute does not apply to “suspension” of the right to use the facilities but only the membership in the corporation itself. And, because homeowners are automatically mandatory members of the association by virtue of the CC&Rs, this statute is irrelevant in the context of community associations. Others argue that this statute does apply and provides guidance for the way in which a board or manager may suspend a member’s voting rights or use of the common areas. The Courts have not ruled on this specific issue. It may not matter though because ARS 10-3621 gives an and/or scenario for suspension. The or does not include notice and an opportunity to be heard but that the suspension simply be fair and reasonable under the circumstances.
__ 3. The board, with the help of its management company if it has one, or its Association Attorney, should adopt a resolution to deal with the suspension of HOA Membership Privileges.
NOTE: The link below will take you to the Amended Apache Wells CC&R's. Be patient as there are 34 pages to download. Check out 6.10 (P.19), 7.11 and 7.12 (P.23), 7.13 and 7.14 (P.24), 10.1 (P.30) and 10.18 (P.33) as they relate to the above article.
Fourth Amended CC&R's for Apache Wells
Authored by Clint G. Goodman
Website Editor
February 13, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 143
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
February 12, 2013
Cultivating HOA Volunteers
There is an art to recruiting volunteers. Posting a notice is not the right approach. You must woo them on many levels and over time. Here are a couple of proven methods:
Communicate Regularly A frequent complaint of members is not being kept informed. To draw out volunteers, it's critical that they know there is an ongoing need. Also, some members develop a suspicious nature about board motives when kept in the dark and use it as an excuse not to be involved. Let them know what you're up to early and often! Repeated pleas for help will have their effect. A newsletter and flyer distribution box (the kind used by real estate agents) is an inexpensive and convenient way to get the word out.
Getting the ball rolling to increase participation is one of the most rewarding efforts a board can achieve. In a motivated homeowner association, a synergy develops with a result that far exceeds the sum of the parts. Get out your hoe and start cultivating.
Apache Wells 2012 Committee Reports
Website Editor
February 6, 2013
Get to know your HOA State Statutes (Part 1)!
A.R.S. 33-1805. Association financial and other records
Website Editor
February 1, 2013
Hike the Grand Canyon on your home computer!
Still, the canyon’s remote location in the southwestern state of Arizona, make it hard for many to make the trip. Now, thanks to Google Maps, anyone with an internet connection can take a virtual hike through the rugged terrain.
According to the Google Maps blog, the images cover 75 miles of trails through what is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The Google team members strapped 40-pound, 15-lens cameras called Trekkers to their backs to capture the more than 9,500 images, according to the blog.
Take a virtual hike through the Grand Canyon
January 28, 2013
Three Types of Arizona HOA Meetings Defined
Member meetings may include member voting. For example, annual meetings and elections are considered member meetings. A good rule of thumb is that if members are voting on an issue, it is a member meeting.
Board meetings are meetings where association business is discussed by the board and decided on by the board. While members have the right to comment at these meetings, they are not entitled to actually vote on the issues-that is a function of the board at these meetings. For example, the monthly board meeting is set to discuss vendors, community maintenance issues, review the last month expenditures, and so on.
Committee meetings are those meetings in which committees meet to discuss the specific items they are assigned to handle. Like board meetings, portions of committee meetings may be closed to the members to discuss confidential items set forth in ARS 33-1248 and ARS 33-1804.
Author: Clint G. Goodman
Website Editor
January 21, 2013
Mesa activates new flashing yellow left-turn arrow signals!
This is the fourth location in the city to receive the safety improvement. Flashing yellow left-turn arrow signals are also operating at Gilbert Road and Inverness Avenue, Ellsworth Road and U.S. 60, and Signal Butte Road and U.S. 60.
“A left turn can be one of the most difficult movements a driver has to make so these devices will assist our city goal of providing safer left turns for our driving public,” Transportation Department Traffic Studies Supervisor Renate Ehm said. “An extensive study conducted by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program concluded that the flashing yellow arrow is safer and more effective than the simple circular green light at conveying to drivers that they need to yield before turning left.”
Other flashing yellow left-turn arrows in Mesa are also being considered for the following intersections:
The traffic signal looks slightly different adding another arrow indicator. When the yellow arrow is flashing, that means left turns are permitted, but motorists must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians before proceeding through the intersection. The flashing yellow arrow does not replace the solid yellow arrow and its meaning but it does replace the green “ball” indication as an indication for a yielding left turn. Drivers should always remember that a flashing yellow arrow means turn with caution.
Website Editor
January 17, 2013
Death-row inmate 74 dies of natural causes!
A jury sentenced Glassel to death on two counts of first-degree murder in 2003.
On April 19, 2000, Glassel opened fire at a Ventana Lakes Property Owners Association meeting, killing Esther La Plante, 58 and Nila Lynn, 69, and wounding three others.
Glassel was a former resident of the retirement community. Two years earlier, Glassel had threatened the HOA board president because he was reportedly disgruntled after the HOA sent crews to trim his shrubs.
The association hired an off-duty police officer to provide meeting security for a time, but he was dismissed after members decided Glassel was no longer a threat.
Glassel is the second death-row inmate to die recently of natural causes. David Lamar Anthony died Dec. 7 of natural causes.
Read Republic follow-up story on Ventana Lakes POA shooting
Website Editor
January 15, 2013
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
HOMEOWNERS ANNUAL MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Homeowners Annual Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
Website Editor
January 11, 2013
How to tell a cold from the flu!
Colds:
Flu:
Prevention:
Treatment:
Website Editor
January 7, 2013
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 142
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
January 3, 2013
HOA Board encourages members to donate to project!
Funding Campaign for Aquatic/Fitness Center
Recently the Homeowners Board of Directors approved the building of a new two story facility for the Aquatic and Fitness Center to be built on the existing footprint. The addition of this new structure will enlarge the fitness area about 5 times and also double the area of the men’s and ladies’ change rooms for the pool. The new center will, as has the new Country Club building, entice new retirees to our community, thus making your property more valuable. But the best part of this venture is the added space for more people to work out, thus adding years to our wonderful life in Apache Wells.
The Board of Directors desires not to impose an assessment and stated so at the December Homeowners meeting. However, it was suggested that if every unit in Apache Wells was to donate $360.00 (which would be like a monthly assessment of $30 per month for 12 months) we would be able to pay for the new center without financing a bank loan.
The purpose of this short note is to request a donation from you. The amount of $360 is a suggested amount, however, lesser or greater amounts will gladly be accepted. The amount we feel that will be necessary to complete this structure is around $600,000 and to date we have approximately $120,000 in the reserve fund. The timeline for the construction is approximately 5 to 6 months from April 15th, 2013. We can likely be using our new Center by November 2013.
Please make your checks payable to AWHA and return them to the Admin Office in the attached envelope. If you are desirous of more information please contact any of the board members or the following Construction Committee members: Sharon Gordon, Pete Eikren, Babs Bastedo, Hideo Fukushima , Dan Phillips or Jim Bonnell. The architect’s renderings are available to view in the Administration Office.
The Homeowners Board of Directors
Editor's Note: The above information entitled "Funding Campaign for Aquatic/Fitness Center" came from a flyer that was inserted in the January Roundup. Additional information on the proposed facility can be accessed by going to our December 6, 2012 posting below.
January 2, 2013
Helpful Hints for Architectural Review
First, it is essential to be aware of whether there is a deadline or time limitation on the committee’s review of an architectural application. Many governing documents specify that if an owner’s application is not reviewed and approved or denied within a specified amount of time, the application is deemed approved. Failure to keep these deadlines in mind could result in an owner receiving approval for a modification that the committee may have otherwise denied. If too much time passes without a decision from the committee, an owner
may rely on the language in the governing documents that indicates that the application is deemed approved, and proceed to make those improvements. It is quite possible that in those circumstances a court would find that owner’s reliance justifiable, leaving the association with little recourse against that owner.
Second, many boards and committees run into trouble when decisions are made without sufficient information. Perhaps in large part due to a time limitation imposed by the governing documents as discussed above, committees may be inclined to make rushed decisions without all of the relevant details, or to let the time allotted lapse while the committee further investigates the intended modifications.
Take, for example, a committee that is reviewing an application of an owner that would like to install new landscaping. The application fails to specify the particular types of plants to be installed, or the effect of the landscaping on the lot’s drainage. The committee may issue a letter to the owner requesting additional information. In the mean time, the deadline for approval or denial passes, and the application is deemed approved. The committee may also conditionally “approve” the application, pending the receipt of additional information from the owner. This, too, could lead to bad results or confusion because of the “approval”. If a committee is reviewing an application and is unsure about particular aspects of the proposal and/or requires more information, a best practice would be to deny the application due to insufficient information, and invite the owner to submit a new application with the additional details or supporting information. This protects the committee from the looming deadline, while still allowing the application process to continue.
These are just some of the many considerations that come into play when boards and architectural committees review architectural applications. To best protect the interests of an association, it is important to keep these types of issues in mind. Doing so will encourage a more uniform process, better results, and consistency throughout the community.
AWHA Architectural Control Rules and Policies
Website Editor
December 28, 2012
Take a train ride down memory lane!
In 1952, he made his way to Nashville at a time when the use of piano
accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. Before long, Cramer
would become one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano
for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim
Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers, and many others. It is
Cramer’s piano that is heard, for example, on Presley’s first national hit,
“Heartbreak Hotel.”
However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to anyone but music industry
insiders until he recorded a 45 rpm single in 1960 called “Last Date.” An
instrumental, the music exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing
known as the “slip note” style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard
Hot 100 pop music chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a respected
performer, making numerous record albums and touring with guitar maestro Chet
Atkins and saxophonist Boots Randolph.
Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 64 and was interred in
the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville suburb of Madison, Tennessee.
Wait for the pictures to come on and have your volume on. Vaya Con Dios was
popular when some of us who aren’t quite dead yet were teenagers. It came out
in 1953 with Les Paul and Mary Ford who were popular at that time. It was a new
sound for that time with multiple recordings on one. Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Click here for your train ride down memory lane
Website Editor
December 24, 2012
Fiscal Cliff: What the heck is it?
Short of a miracle to break Washington D.C. gridlock, on January 1, 2013 the $7 Trillion ‘Fiscal Cliff’ will take place. This is what I anticipate:
Defense will be cut $55 billion in 2013, 10%. I believe our defense department is overloaded with inefficiency and waste beyond 10%. Perhaps this will help our defense department to become more efficient in the expenditure of tax payer funds.
Non-defense will be cut $55 billion in 2013, 10%. Non-defense includes education, Medicaid, food inspections and air travel safety and Medicare. Perhaps this will help all of these departments to become more efficient in the expenditure of tax payer funds.
Bush era tax cuts will end. These tax cuts were stupid and reckless and should never have been implemented. In view of the poor state of the American economy, they should end.
Obama’s Payroll tax holiday will end. The Social Security tax rate reverts to 6.2%, up 2%. This tax cut was stupid and reckless and should never have been implemented. It has robbed the Social Security trust fund and shortens the time before the fund become insolvent. This reduction was stealing promised receipts from Social Security trust fund of all elderly Americans. This tax holiday must end.
Unemployment benefits will revert back to the old norm of 26 weeks, down from the current 99. It worked for the better part of the last century. It can work again. The solution to put America back to work will not be accomplished by providing long term unemployment benefits. We need a plan to grow our economy, which will create new jobs.
Medicare Doc Fix expires. Payment to care providers will drop 2%. This is not a problem for people on original Medicare..... only those that subscribe to the plans offered by the insurance companies..... ones I think should be put out of commission or figure out a way to provide Medicare for the same price the government pays for original Medicare..... without the 20% subsidy the insurance companies are receiving now.
The bottom line is that America has been floating on so much fat for so many years. We can and should give up the fat. The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ will have a large impact on those who abuse tax dollars. It will have a minimal effect on honest, hard-working Americans.
It is no secret that America has been living ‘high on the hog’..... well beyond its means for many years. The time has come to pay the price. We either do it now in a constructive manor or pay a much steeper price later..... one that could convert the United States of America to a third world country in the not to distant future.
Website Editor
December 17, 2012
Keep Social Security card secure!
Do you know your Social Security number? Chances are you have it memorized. If you know your number, you may never need your card again. It is the number, not the card, that is most important.
In the event that you lose your card and need a replacement, you can find out how to obtain a replacement and what documents to provide at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
As you prepare for tax season, make sure all dependents that you list on you return have Social Security numbers including a dependent parent who lives with you and receives support from you.
Learn more about Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov. And learn more about your card and number at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber, where you can print an application and find out everything you need for your situation.
Kimberly Yellow Robe is a Social Security Administration public-affairs specialist.
Website Editor
December 11, 2012
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
HOMEOWNERS GENERAL MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Homeowners Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
December 6, 2012
Board votes 8-1 to approve new Aquatic/Fitness Center!
The Apache Wells Board of Directors voted 8-1 on Thursday December 6th to approve plans and seek bids to build a new Fitness Center on the site of the current facility. The plans from Richardson & Associates Architects of Scottsdale call for a 2-story building with an elevator.
First floor plans show 2,120 sq. ft. which includes locker rooms, office/massage space, storage, elevator/lobby and hallway. The locker rooms would provide bathroom and shower facilities for residents and their guests using the pool and spa.
Second floor plans show 3,933 sq. ft. which includes exercise area, restrooms, elevator, stairs and storage space.
The shuffleboard courts would remain in their present location.
The Board is currently looking into options for financing the project. It is estimated that construction would take 5 1/2 months and could be available for use in September 2013.
It was pointed out at the meeting that the project may or may not be built depending on cost. Additonal information on the Acquatic/Fitness Center Project is available below to homeowners.
View/Print Aquatic/Fitness Center Presentation
FITNESS COMMITTEE
Website Editor
December 4, 2012
Avoiding aggressive bees starts with awareness!
Question: What kind of precautions should people take to avoid encounters with aggressive bees?
Question: What should hikers who are well out on the trail do to protect themselves if confronted with a swarm of bees?
Question: What are the first indicators that you might be dangerously close to a swarm of aggressive bees?
Question: Are there particular kinds of areas outdoors people and hikers should avoid?
Question: Is there anything you can carry with you on a hike that can protect you from bees?
Question: In recent incidents people have been stung as many as 300 times. How many bee stings does it take to kill an adult or child?
Question: What should homeowners do if they find a hive in their yard or attached to their home?
Question: How does Phoenix Fire Department typically deal with bee swarms?
Question: Are we seeing more or fewer incidents involving aggressive bees in Phoenix?
Website Editor
November 27, 2012
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
HOMEOWNERS GENERAL MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Homeowners General Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
November 26, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 141
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
November 26, 2012
HOAs struggling with apathy!
But there is help for HOAs struggling and fearful that they may lose their board because of apathy.
Cynthia Dunham, founder of The Leadership Centre, which teaches classes on how HOAs operate, said that going door to door can encourage more involvement among residents who are likely leading busy lives. “It is amazing how many folks will respond, especially if it’s for a defined period of time, so they’re not joining the board for the rest of their life,” she said.
That’s also important because Arizonans tend to move frequently and new neighbors sometimes need a nudge, she said.
Scottsdale resident Terry Benson, who performs outreach to HOAs on neighborhood issues, said it’s important community members understand that serving on the board is not just about enforcing rules, a tough task that can scare some away. Keeping residents informed of meetings and feeling like they’re a part of the community is key to the many HOAs that flourish, she said.
Town Councilman Steve Urie used a more creative approach to get residents to attend HOA meetings in his community. “What we did, was to announce that we would increase dues $200 to $300, making it the second-to-last thing on the agenda,” Urie said. “Just to get everyone there. Then, we’d announce that based upon the response we wouldn’t need to increase the dues.”
Website Editor
November 20, 2012
The Cab Ride I'll Never Forget!
Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked.
"Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice.
I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.
"It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."
"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice."
I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said.
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers."
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware—beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
Official website for author Kent Nerburn
Website Editor
November 14, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 140
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
November 12, 2012
Senior drivers need to evaluate driving ability!
To learn more about your ability to drive safely, check out the resources below. They range from self-screening exercises to professionally administered assessments and feature a variety of tools that rate everything from driving habits to physical limitations and medical conditions. The look on the dog's face shows his concern for his owner's driving skills. He should also be wearing a restraint in the event of an accident!
Do you know the rules of the road? Test your driving knowledge by taking this brief interactive quiz.
CASE STUDY 1
CASE STUDY 2
All senior drivers need to evaluate their driving ability to ensure that they remain safe as well as the other drivers who share the roadways with them. How do you rate? Click on the link below, print out the Driver 65 Plus Evaluation Form and see if you are a safe senior driver, need to be evaluated or should be taken off the road.
Driver 65 Plus Evaluation Form
Website Editor
November 8, 2012
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 30, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 139
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 28, 2012
Robocalls: A Major Annoyance Gets Worse!
Not likely, I know, and despite all the national “Do Not Call Registry” efforts, the number of these unwanted calls is increasing, according to a recent story in the New York Times.
Writer Alina Tugend had written an earlier column about whether she should give up her land line phone as a way to escape the telemarketing calls and robocalls she kept getting. That sparked a huge response from equally frustrated, enraged readers, who told her that the calls, particularly those that offer lower interest rates for credit cards and mortgages,”are becoming more frequent, despite using every tool available to block them.” As Tugend wrote, “Reporting such calls to the Federal Trade Commission, as I suggested, was an exercise in frustration and futility, many readers told me.”
Back in 2003, the “Do Not Call Registry” seemed to work at blocking these calls, and the effect continued for several years. Most legitimate companies still obey the Registry, but it’s the fraudulent calls that are increasing, driven by unscrupulous organizations using technology to work around safeguards.
William Maxson, a staff attorney with the FTC, told the Times: “The technological advances in the past 18 months have allowed illegal dialers to increase the number of calls they can make and to spoof — that is, use fake caller IDs.”
Thanks to voice-over-Internet protocol, robodialers can blast out millions of calls cheaply from anywhere in the world. If you answer and take the bait to talk to someone, your number will then be sold to other telemarketers. The scams these calls are promoting usually involve so-called lower credit card interest rates or mortgage rates or phony payment plans or debt avoidance. If they can get you to cough up your credit card number (don’t do it!!!), they’ll use it to make fraudulent charges.
In my own case, I use caller ID on my land line phone and don’t answer numbers I don’t recognize. I have entered a list of 30 telemarketing numbers my phone automatically blocks, and yet every day, we get at least three or four more of these evil, annoying calls. Most I don’t answer, but I still regularly get suckered into picking up the phone.
To relieve their stress over these calls, some readers told the Times writer that they have been driven to extremes. Some have blown a whistle into the receiver, while others pretend
they don’t speak English. And one reader admitted that she snapped after receiving two such robocalls. “I pressed 1, put the call on speaker phone and screamed into the phone. It had no impact,” she wrote.
I know the feeling!
AARP BulletinOnline
Website Editor
October 17, 2012
A.C.E. Express Recycle Event!
If you can't make it to the October 20th event, the City of Mesa will also be accepting these items at its Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday October 27th. Visit mesarecycles.org for more details.
The City of Mesa and AzCFTB Document Destruction & Recycling Services will be hosting a Shred-A-Thon on Saturday November 17th at the East Mesa Service Center 6935 E. Decatur St. from 8 a.m.-Noon. Materials will not be accepted after 12:00
noon.
Note: A.C.E. stands for Appliances, Computers and Electronics
Website Editor
October 13, 2012
Your Social Security card and identity theft!
Answer: First, don't carry your Social Security Card in your wallet or purse. Keep it at home with your other important papers. Second, avoid giving out your Social Security number. While many banks, schools, doctors or landlords will request your number, it is your decision whether or not to provide it. Ask if there is some other way to identify you in their records.
To report identity theft, fraud or misuse of your number, the Fedral Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, recommends you place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the following companies (the company you contact is required to contact the other two, which will then place alerts on your reports)
Step 1: Review your credit report for inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you did not open and debts on your accounts you cannot explain.
Mesa Social Security Office Website
Website Editor
October 9, 2012
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
HOMEOWNERS GENERAL MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Homeowners General Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 6, 2012
Selective HOA enforcement unlawful!
The HOA must also allow a uniform process for covenant enforcement or an enforcement policy. The board should comply with the process set forth in the community documents and Arizona law. Both the Arizona Planned Communities Act and the Condominium Act require the HOA to provide an opportunity for a hearing with the board before levying fines.
The most emotional cases I have seen as an HOA attorney involve enforcement issues. Your HOA can avoid going to court by fostering an environment of fairness and consistancy in enforcing your community documents.
Website Editor
October 4, 2012
Latest Apache Wells News Now Available!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
View/Print Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
October 1, 2012
Can the Absentee Ballot Be “Saved” If No Quorum?
Answer: According to the planned community and condominium statutes, the absentee ballot is “valid for only one specified election or meeting of the members” and “expires automatically after completion of the election or meeting”. Therefore, if the meeting has been held and “completed”, the ballots have expired.
Some sets of CC&Rs have provisions for meetings that first have a high quorum requirement, and if the quorum is not achieved, “another meeting shall be called” with the same notice to all members, but with a reduced quorum requirement. Unfortunately, where a totally new meeting must be called, the absentee ballots from the first try cannot be used. The first meeting was effectively completed by virtue of the absolute requirement to call a new, different meeting with a totally different quorum.
Contrast that situation with the normal one: governing documents without the foregoing “reducing quorum” language. If the association has a 10% quorum requirement, and if the meeting is called to order and there is no quorum, there is a way to utilize the absentee ballots by avoiding “completion” of the meeting. The meeting must be “continued” as an “adjourned meeting”.
The typical “motion to adjourn” means it is a motion to terminate the meeting under Robert’s Rules of Order, which would complete the meeting. However, an “adjourned meeting” according to Robert’s Rules is a continuation of the same meeting and meetings may be continued. Therefore, an association can legitimately continue the same meeting to try and meet quorum. Arizona statutes do not address (or prohibit) such a practice.
The best way to approach this is by setting up the adjourned (continued) meetings in advance by either:
Before the date of the continued meeting, you can mail notice of the continued meeting and absentee ballots to those that did not attend the first meeting in person or by absentee ballot with enough time to meet statutory or bylaw requirements. However, a continued meeting should generally be held within a relatively short time frame. Check your governing documents for requirements, if any, for continued meetings.
Related Arizona Revised Statues
Website Editor
September 22, 2012
The Importance of Community Association Committees!
Association Committees are functions of the Association’s Board of Directors.
Committees can come in the form of an Architectural Control Committee, Landscaping Committee, Welcome Wagon Committee, etc. In most Associations, committee members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors; meaning that
the Board of Directors has the power to appoint or remove committee members with or without cause.
While Association Committees may have a vital role, there role (with the exception of the architectural/design review committee) is advisory; meaning
that the committee makes suggestions to the Association’s Board of Directors. Committees rarely have the authority to bind the Association without prior board approval.
Most Association Committees meet on a regular basis. If an Association Committee meets on a regular basis, the Committee must meet in the State of Arizona (A.R.S. §33-1804(B) (Planned Communities) and A.R.S. §33-1248(B) (Condominiums)). Also, association members or their designated representatives have the right to attend and speak at Committee meetings (A.R.S. §33-1804(A) (Planned Communities) and A.R.S. §33-1248(A) (Condominiums)).
View/Print a complete list of 2012 Standing and Ad Hoc
Committee Members
Website Editor
September 15, 2012
What about Board business via e-mails?
Answer: House Bill 2609 (ARS 33-1804 and * ARS 33-1248) was passed into law by the Arizona legislature. The new language leads to questions about whether director to director, director to committee, or director to manager emails are considered association discussions subject to the open meeting and notice provisions. Admittedly, the language of the law is ambiguous and open to interpretation but many attorneys in the industry believe it means that any discussions between directors (sufficient to establish quorum) about “open meeting topics” may not be discussed in email communications but should be reserved for discussion in the next open meeting. Of course, email communications between directors about confidential items are not subject to open meeting laws but it is this attorney’s opinion that discussions about association business be reserved for either a regular/emergency executive meeting (if the topic is time sensitive/confidential) or the next open meeting (if the topic is does not fall under one of the exemptions provided for in ARS 33-1804(A)(1-5) or *ARS 33-1248(A)(1-5).
This leads us to the next question…are emails “association records” governed by ARS 33-1805's and *ARS 33-1258's disclosure requirements? In order to say “yes, they are,” one would have to conclude that emails are “records” of the “association.” The legal definition of “records” may be defined to include emails under a liberal interpretation. A
strict interpretation may not be so supportive. Until the higher courts rule on this issue we are left with arguments for or against their disclosure. Some courts may require disclosure if the issue were to be litigated and others may not.
Unfortunately or fortunately, the law is not black and white until an issue is decided by the higher courts.
*Applies to condominiums
Author:
Website Editor
September 10, 2012
Arizona Republic to charge for AZCentral.com content!
Arizona's largest newspaper, The Arizona Republic, is rocking the boat with the announcement that they'll put a *paywall on their website starting in early September. That means if you want full access to their website, you'll have to pay for it.
"I hear everywhere that print is dead, that everyone's going to social media," said Kim Hall, who gets her news from the internet.
The Arizona Republic, which is owned by Gannett, will now charge you if you want full access to their website, azcentral.com.
"I find it kind of absurd that they're going to charge for information that should be widely available to all people everywhere," said Jeremy Root.
According to the article, they say while the news era has changed, their business model hasn't - until now.
"That's how I heard who won the latest medal at the Olympics, someone would post it on Facebook," said Hall.
"More people online, it's probably cheaper," said Linda Cook.
"Everyone has a computer, so when they go online, it's right in their face," said Annette Malone.
If you want access to all their digital platforms - that is, for your computer, tablet or smartphone - it'll cost $10. If you want the paper, it'll cost more. You can still view their website, but you'll only be able to read a certain number of articles.
Regular subscribers with home delivery of the print version of the Republic will have full access to the website version included in their monthly rate which will go from $18.99 to $25.65, an increase of $6.66.
Gannett said they've unveiled these paywalls at other newspapers they also own and added subscriptions usually take a dive immediately, but start to pick up. Either way, it's clear to news consumers that something's got to give.
"I think they need to evolve if they're going to keep their business open," Hall said.
The New York Times and LA Times have paywalls, too. So while they're not the first to do this, they also likely won't be the last.
*What is a paywall? A paywall is a system that prevents Internet users from accessing webpage content (most notably news content and scholarly publications) without a paid subscription.
KPHO Channel 5 article and reader comments
Website Editor
September 8, 2012
Giant dust storms becoming more frequent!
A dust storm roars through the East Valley. That means more deadly accidents, more harmful pollution and more health problems for people breathing in the irritating dust particles. But one leading researcher says there also needs to be a lot more study of the effects of the tons of dust being kicked up into the air, especially the hidden health costs for millions of people living in Arizona's dust zone.
"We already know the cost of these storms in general," said William Sprigg, a research professor in the University of Arizona's Institute of Atmospheric Physics, who is working on ways to predict the storms. "I would like to see a much more thorough examination of the effects of the dust on the region."
That is particularly pressing because some scientists are predicting more frequent and larger dust storms as a result of climate change, which one environmental expert says will cause more powerful and more erratic weather patterns in the Southwest.
Sprigg notes that potential health problems go far beyond common respiratory ailments. Dust storms carry a noxious mix of fungi, heavy metals from pollution, fertilizers, stockyard fecal matter, chemicals and bacteria, which can cause cardiovascular disease, eye diseases and other illnesses.
And while bigger, more frequent storms are only likely to increase the number of people suffering from diseases that health officials know are linked to dust, and possibly amplify their effects, medical science still does not have an accurate accounting of the full effects of breathing those pathogens.
The phenomenon is hardly new, but the impact hit home a year ago, when a major dust storm -- the largest many observers have ever seen -- rolled through Phoenix on July 5, 2011. That storm spawned a wall of dust almost 1 1/2 miles high and 100 miles wide that deposited an estimated 40,000 tons of sand and dust in just two hours. It looked like something from a science-fiction movie and was partly blamed on drought-parched ground.
Dust storms typically develop when cold air in thunderstorms plummets to the ground, driving in front of it a wall of dust. But it is not just giant dust storms that pose a problem. Starting last Saturday September 1, 2012, the Phoenix area saw dust storms three days in a row, which is relatively rare. The maximum wind speed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport during Saturday's storm was 51 mph, nearly the same as it was for last year's big dust storm.
Read complete USA Today article on dust storms
Website Editor
September 5, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 138
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
September 1, 2012
The changing face of Apache Wells!
Out with the OLD and in with the NEW. These scenes have become a common site around our Apache Wells Community. Protest singer Bob Dylan said it best in the 1960's, "The times they are a-changin'!" As evidence, check out the photos in our August 26 posting entitled "A brief history of Apache Wells!"
When you get the chance, take a casual tour of our community and note the changes that are occurring almost daily. Apache Wells is a community in transition. This is likely not news to most of you, especially our full-timers. The sound of heavy equipment machinery devouring older single or double-wide homes can be heard in most sections of our park, especially in the summer. Huge trucks carry off the remains of what was once a mobile home. The crawl spaces that most of us would never dare venture into are revealed. Bulldozers can be seen clearing desbris and leveling lots. Backhoes excavate trenches for cement footings. Concrete is seen being poured for pads or in some cases the occassional cellar. PVC pipe springs up like the weeds of our Monsoon season. Truckloads of building materials appear and the skeleton of a new home takes shape. Soon the carpenters, roofers, dry wall crews, plumbers, electicians and other tradesmen appear in choreographed succession that is needed to give birth to a new home.
The appearance of Apache Wells is changing, but hopefully not the quality of people who make their home here. In the ten years that I have been a resident, I have found that most of the residents are warm, generous and caring people. I for one can't think of a community where I would rather be living.
LIST OF MAJOR HOME BUILDERS IN APACHE WELLS
NOTE: For more information about Apache Wells visit www.apachewells.com.
Website Editor
August 26, 2012
A brief history of Apache Wells!
Homeowners organized to protect their interest and in 1980 a group of homeowners bought the golf course, the club house and part of the adjoining parking lot. Shortly thereafter, the homeowners organization, at that time known as the Apache Wells Recreation Center, acquired title to the property.
Seven years later, the Apache Wells Homeowners Association purchased the commercial and recreational building, five acres of undeveloped land south of the building and most of the parking lot from the Hughes family.
In 1995, the Elson Building was constructed on the vacant land, which today provides facilities for meetings, horseshoes and softball equipment storage and a garage for use by the Beautification Committee.
In 1998, our Gazebo area, complete with picnic area and gas grills, was constructed.
A beautiful new Library/Multi-Purpose building opened in 2005. In 2006, the original bank building was purchased and now houses the administration offices and meeting rooms.
In March 2011, AWHA purchased the last building owned by the Hughes family. Members of the Beautification Commitee spent the summer months renovating the building for multi-faceted use by residents and guests.
Apache Wells has been built on the strength and loyalty of our many and varied volunteers, without whom our general assessment fee would be much higher than it is. We continue to grow and thrive because of these wonderful people who we love and appreciate, our volunteers! So if you have a heart for this type of work, you will be welcomed with open arms.
View a slide show of our Apache Wells Community
Website Editor
August 20, 2012
Sunshine Acres home moves closer to total solar power!
The home, which currently serves about 70 children and has 40 buildings on its 110 acres, has plans to expand to 65 buildings to serve 250 kids. To keep expanding utility costs down, the home began looking for ways to develop a master plan for solar installation. “The project, first of all, is to have zero cost for our power,” Sloan said. “So that our funds go to programs for the children, no to cover overhead. And also, we’re Sunshine Acres; we want to be powered by the sun.”
Electricity costs for Sunshine Acres runs about $1,150,000 a year, Sloan said. In the next 10 years, they hope to have that cost down to zero, meaning that the facility will generate all of its power needs through solar electricity. Sage Lopez, an Arizona State University master’s student, began working with the committee charged with ensuring the home’s future utilities needs would be met. The program I’m in is amazing, but as far a job hunting, there wasn’t a lot of hands on experience, Lopez said. Sunshine Acres and its solar master plan provided that experience for the professional science master’s degree in the Solar Energy Engineering and Commercialization program student. Lopez installed monitors to provide real-time performance information for the power system.
By working with Salt River Project and the City of Mesa, Lopez was able to help clear the way for the future installation of a “solar loop,” which will distribute power throughout the site. “I was able to ride the goodwill in a lot of ways,” Lopez said. “A lot of doors open just because it was Sunshine Acres.”
A grant from the Arizona Department of Commerce gave money for the technology to produce 8.2 kilowatts of solar power for Sunshine Acres offices and solar water heaters, Sloan said. TUV Rheinland donated solar modules and SRP donated a 10-kilowatt system through its Earthwise Project to provide power for a dining hall. It’s a project that Sloan described as “piecemeal,” completed slowly as funding, grants and technology are donated. In addition, a 300-kilowatt system was installed through a lease agreement with Green Choice Solar company and solar panels that provide 167-kilowatts were donated by Solon, a solar technology manufacturing company. “We have the choice in five years to buy the system from them, but until then, we can buy our electricity at a lower rate than what SRP has,” Sloan said of the lease agreement. For that and the completion of the solar master plan, the home has set up a solar fund, which will go toward future investments.
“If someone gave $1,000 to solar, that’s an investment that will have a future return of more than what they gave,” Sloan said. And while the solar is just one way the children’s home has looked to decrease costs, they’ve also created a more sustainable atmosphere, Lopez said. “They’ve created a culture of sustainability,” he said. That includes other improvements, such as updating insulation and installing more energy efficient windows. For Sloan, it’s about using what they are given in a responsible way.
“Everything we have here is through donation,” Sloan said. “It’s a fairytale and it shouldn’t even work. We are run entirely through donations, but we don’t have any fundraisers.”
As of now, it’s too early to know exactly how much the energy costs have been reduced, but Sloan believes it is a significant jump in the right direction. “I can’t overstate the value of Sage’s and all of the donors who have made this a possibility,” he said. Now the next challenge is ahead, and that’s finding someone who is willing to pick up where Lopez left off after graduation. “There’s still so much more to do,” he said. “It’s not an internship, but there’s still so much real-world experience.”
Sunshine Acres Children's Home Website
NOTE: The annual Apache Wells fund drive for Sunshine Acres Children's Home takes place each January. This has been a favorite project for many years. Our residents do all the leg work. In February of 2012 a check for $20,687 was presented to Sunshine Acres.
Website Editor
August 11, 2012
New HOA law to affect Architectural Committee!
A.R.S. 33-1817. Declaration amendment; design, architectural committees; review
2012 ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Website Editor
August 6, 2012
10 Scams Targeting Seniors
Financial scams targeting seniors are grabbing a larger share of the headlines these days, as law enforcement and government, including the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, seek to squash this growing crime. Almost daily, there's a new ploy that emerges, seeking to tap into the large amount of money older Americans have in their bank accounts.
"I call it the 'scam du jour syndrome'," says Bob Blancato, the national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition. "New ones pop up on a regular basis, often tied to local or national events, investments or the well-being of a family member." Annual losses from elder financial fraud jumped 12% to $2.9 billion in 2010 from $2.6 billion in 2008, according to the MetLife Study of Financial Elder Abuse.
How to recover from identity theft:
In the interest of spotting scams before they happen, MSN Money asked some of the country's top experts on elder financial abuse to identify common scams and provide advice on protecting elderly people's assets.
Here, in no particular order, are some of the most prevalent scams:
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB)
Website Editor
July 30, 2012
Nextdoor is now available in Apache Wells!
TESTIMONIAL: “We have an elderly woman living alone in the neighborhood who has cancer, and is undergoing treatments, and is quite frail and vulnerable. She recently had a security issue, and when neighbors got wind of it through Nextdoor, they came out of the woodwork to offer assistance.” (Bob Thornburg, Santa Fe, NM)
What can you do with Nextdoor?
Nextdoor is a powerful tool for making neighborhoods safer places to call home. Get all the details about that recent break-in. Join your neighbors to organize a neighborhood watch. The possibilities are endless. Join the 48 Apache Wells residents who have already joined Nextdoor.
Information and Video on Nextdoor
Website Editor
July 24, 2012
Architectural Control Rules and Policy
NOTE: Remember that what a homeowner chooses to do inside their home is at the discretion of the homeowner. What a homeowner chooses to do to the outside of their home and on their lot is determined by the Architectural Control Rules and Policy which can be found in the Apache Wells Homeowners Association Inc. Directory. A completed and approved Project Approval Request Form is required before starting any exterior change, addition or improvement.
Here are a few of the rules to remember:
View/Print Complete Architectural Control Rules and Policy
Website Editor
July 16,2012
Arizona Weather: Monsoon pattern shifting away
We have been on a roll lately with our Monsoon and keep rain chances in the forecast through Monday night. By Tuesday, we start to see dry and hot air move in, and shut down the Monsoon for the lower deserts. Today and Tuesday should see a high below 100 due to the increased humidity and lows in the 70s. Wednesday we start to warm up and stay above 100 through next weekend. The average high is 106 and we see max temps on Thursday and Friday near that number so while it will be hot, this will not be excessive heat.
Locally a strong storm hit Apache Wells with over 1 1/2" of heavy rain on Saturday evening July 15th that caused minor flooding and wash-outs, damaged trees and collapsed several carports that couldn't handle the quantity of rainwater and high winds in such a short period of time.
View Channel 12 video of July 14, 2012 Monsoon storms
Website Editor
July 13, 2012
What is an executive session?
Many other states, however, permit use of executive session in specific circumstances.
"There are times when boards can and should go into executive session depending on state
law and the governing documents," says Elizabeth White, a shareholder and head of the
community associations practice at the law firm of LeClair Ryan in Williamsburg, VA. "In
Virginia, we have open meeting requirements, which compel boards to meet in the open. So
members should have notice of the meeting and an opportunity to attend and observe. Then
there's a list of exceptions, which say a board may go into executive session to discuss
things like legal advice, pending litigation, contracts under negotiation, and anything
required by law to be confidential." Minnesota's law is similar, but has fewer and
different exceptions to the open meeting requirement. "Typically in Minnesota, a board
meeting held in person is required to be open to owners to attend," says Matthew A.
Drewes, a partner at Thomsen & Nybeck PA in Edina, MN, who represents associations. But
he explains that there are three basic scenarios in which a Minnesota board can close
the meeting: when the board will discuss personnel matters; pending or potential
litigation or other adversarial proceedings as long as they involve unit owners or the
board and the board decides it's important to protect the privacy of the board or unit
owner; or if there's criminal activity in the community and the board decides that it's
necessary to protect the privacy of the victim or to not jeopardize the investigation.
Arizona Revised Statute 33-1804. Open meetings; exceptions
Complete Arizona Revised Statute 33-1804
Website Editor
July 6, 2012
Malware could knock thousands off Web Monday!
The problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of more than 570,000 infected computers around the world. When the FBI went in to take down the hackers late last year, agents realized that if they turned off the malicious servers being used to control the computers, the victims would lose their Internet service.
In a highly unusual move, the FBI set up a safety net. They brought in a private company to install two clean Internet servers to take over for the malicious servers so that people would not suddenly lose their Internet. And although it was the first time they'd done something like that, FBI officials acknowledged that it may not be the last, because authorities are taking on more of these types of investigations.
The temporary Internet system they set up, however, will be shut down at 12:01 a.m. EDT Monday (9:01 p.m. Sunday, Arizona time).
Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their online surfing and disabled their anti-virus software, making their machines more vulnerable. But popular social-networking sites and Internet providers have gotten more involved, reaching out to computer users to warn of the problem. According to Tom Grasso, an FBI supervisory special agent, many Internet providers are ready for the problem and have plans to try to help their customers. Some, such as Comcast, already have reached out.
Grasso said other Internet providers may come up with solutions that they will put in place Monday that will either correct the problem or provide information to customers when they call to say their Internet isn't working. If the Internet providers correct the server problem, the Internet will work, but the malware will remain on victims' computers and could pose future problems. In addition to individual computer owners, about 50 Fortune 500 companies are still infected, Grasso said.
Both Facebook and Google created their own warning messages that showed up if someone using either site appeared to have an infected computer. To check whether a computer is infected, users can visit a website run by the group brought in by the FBI: dcwg.org. The site includes links to respected commercial sites that will run a quick check on the computer. It also lays out detailed instructions if users want to actually check the computer themselves.
STEPS TO CHECK YOUR COMPUTER FOR DNS CHANGER MALWARE:
Had your computer been infected with **DNS changer malware you would have seen a RED background. Please note, however, that if your ISP is redirecting DNS traffic for its customers you would have reached this site even though you are infected.
For additional information regarding the DNS changer malware, please visit the FBI's website at www.fbi.gov/news/stories.
RELATED: Internet doomsday malware explained in helpful video
Website Editor
July 3, 2012
Fourth Amended and Restated CC&R’s approved!
It was pointed out in the CRITICAL NOTICE that "Arizona statutes have evolved significantly since 1987" and that "sections of the older document were antiquated, making interpretation more difficult". Further, according to the Association leadership, "the new revised version is intended to better preserve property values and protect property rights in an ever changing economic environment."
A number of informational meetings were held throughout the summer and fall of 2011 and the winter and spring of 2012. The association's attorney Charles Maxwell made several appearances to answer homeowner questions. Board members went out into the community to solicit signatures. A second mailing of Consent/Agreement forms were mailed to homeowners who had not responded with their approval. A number of homeowners rescinded their approval, which was allowed. In the end, most holdouts realized that approval was inevitable.
Of particular concern to many homeowners was Section 7.5 Special Assessments which was at the center of a legal controversy in August of 2007. A comparison of the old bylaw and the amended CC&R dealing with Special Assessments was explained in our January 23, 2012 posting.
Approval of the Amended CC&R's required 51% (706) of the Lot Owners return a signed Consent/Agreement form. That figure has recently been exceeded. Over 800 signatures have been obtained to date and it is expected that the AWHA Board of Directors will release this information in the next few days through the AWHA website and email database.
Website Editor
June 30, 2012
HOA Rules Enforcement Guide
Generally, it is the board's fiduciary duty to enforce the rules. But the board has some latitude when and what to enforce based on judgment. The key is for the board not to be
capricious, selective or arbitrary in how it handles enforcement. It is impractical to
expect that a board can maintain absolute vigilance and catch every rule violation.
Instead, the board should react appropriately when informed of a violation by a reliable source.
The Arizona courts have long established the ability to impose restrictive covenants on residential
property as well as the ability to enforce restrictive covenants placed on residential property.
Here is a list of the typical remedies available to enforce rules:
Rules, either hate them or love them but they're with us to stay. Figure out which ones
you really need, get rid of the rest and enforce the ones that remain.
How restrictive covenants can be enforced
Website Editor
June 22, 2012
The Dangers of Dehydration!
Dehydration is caused in two ways: either the patient has not taken in enough fluids, or the patient has lost too many fluids that have not been replenished. Vomiting and diarrhea are the two most common causes of dehydration. People with diabetes are also at an increased risk because of excessive urination. The intake of fluids should be greater than the amount of fluids leaving the body, which means that individuals with vomiting or diarrhea should be taking in more fluids than normal.
When patients are sick with other illnesses, their risk for dehydration increases. Afflicted by sore throats, nausea, or stomachaches, patients don't want to drink anything at all, which causes them to receive too little fluids. Combined with the possibility of vomiting or diarrhea, this becomes a dangerous issue.
Dehydration can also be caused by excessive sweating or fever.
The most common symptoms of dehydration are dry mouth, low urine output, darkly colored urine, an inability to produce tears, sunken eyes and decreased energy. In extreme cases, the patient will have low blood pressure, a rapidly beating heart, poor skin tugor (elasticity), delayed capillary refill (when you press the skin, it blanches and does not return to normal color immediately) and possibly shock. In the worst case scenario, the patient will go into a comatose state because they are unable to sustain consciousness with no fluids in the body.
For mild cases of dehydration, it is usually advisable to drink frequent, small amounts of fluid until the symptoms pass. If a patient tries to drink too much at once, it may induce vomiting. Infants and children can be given fluids through a syringe or with a teaspoon, if possible. For adults, water is usually the fluid of choice, but for infants and young children, an electrolyte-rich solution is preferable.
It is commonly thought that sports drinks such as Gatorade and PowerAde are the most effective methods of rehydration, but since they contain large amounts of sugar, they are more likely to induce vomiting. It is better to find an electrolyte beverage at your local pharmacy than to start drinking a sports drink. If Gatorade or PowerAde are your only options, choose a clear or yellow flavor, which are easier on the stomach. For severe cases of dehydration, hospitalization may be necessary for intravenous fluids to be administered. When treated promptly, dehydration has no lasting effects, though untreated dehydration can result in catatonia, seizures or even brain damage.
In order to prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids every day. If it is hot outside, or if you are engaging in strenuous activity or exercise, then you should increase your fluid intake. Ill patients should be sure to continually drink small amounts of fluids, even when vomiting or experiencing diarrhea. Even a few sips every fifteen minutes will help to guard against dehydration.
Avoid sodas, other sugary drinks, milk and coffee when dehydrated, because these fluids will only serve to increase the level of dehydration, or possibly induce vomiting.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DEHYDRATION IN THE ELDERLY
Website Editor
June 12, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 137
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
June 10, 2012
2012 Legislative Changes become law!
The 2012 Legislative Session is over. Senate Bill SB1476 and House Bill HB2471 create changes with respect to the way community associations operate.
HB2471 makes punctuation changes to A.R.S. Sections 33-1261 (Condominium Act) and modifies A.R.S. Sections 33-1808 (planned community statutes). The new provisions reconcile previously conflicting provisions regarding signs. The clarified rules for planned communities are:
Political signs must be permitted between 71 days before an election and 3 days after an election (support or opposition to the recall of a public officer or support or opposition to the circulation of a petition for a ballot measure, question or proposition or the recall of a public officer; The aggregate total area of all political signs on a lot with no limit on the number of signs may not exceed nine square feet. An owner can have a “for sale sign”, “for rent or lease” sign, and a sign rider “IN ANY COMBINATION.”
Note: Click here for detailed information on this new legislation.
Website Editor
June 4, 2012
Canadian visitors, investors saving Arizona's bacon!
This number has been on the rise since 2002 and now there are 84 direct flights per week between Arizona and Canadian cities. Thank you, West Jet, Air Canada and US Airways.
Somewhere during this recession, Canadian tourists turned into Arizona homeowners. Witness 11,200 residential sales to Canadians during 2011 in Maricopa County alone. This makes them the largest group of homebuyers in the state.
Canadian companies have also been pouring capital into Arizona. TransCanada has a $500 million-plus project in Coolidge. EPCOR Water USA has made more than a $500 million investment in Arizona water systems. Bank of Montreal purchased M&I Bank for more than $4 billion, and 60-plus of those bank branches are in Arizona.
The list goes on and includes 175-plus Canadian companies.
Then there is trade. Canada continues to be the state's second-largest bilateral trading partner and has been for years. But what is really important is what is being "traded" - high technology, with its high-paying, high-quality jobs, is at the top of the list.
Honeywell engines are being exported to Quebec to be used in Bombardier jets. Hamilton Sunstrand makes aircraft parts and exports them to its sister company, Pratt and Whitney, in Montreal.
Arizona is poised to attract a larger share of the sun-destination market away from Florida, Nevada and California. Considering that Canada has 34 million people, and 21 million of them made a one-night trip to the USA in 2011, we see the enormous opportunity still ahead of us.
Here is how it works: Joe Canada and his wife, new empty-nesters, escape the cold in Alberta during the winter to spend some time in sunny Arizona. Joe is not a retiree; he is following the trend of younger, more affluent tourists to the state.
Joe still has many years left in his productive business career. After a round of golf in Scottsdale one day, Joe and his wife watch the sun set over a round of margaritas. They begin to fantasize about owning a home in Arizona.
They buy a home and are deluged with children, friends and family all giddy with excitement about visiting Arizona in the winter. Before long, Joe Canada is spending the winter months down here,
and he needs a larger home. He also figures that he should open a U.S. branch to his operations and start selling to the American market.
When people ask me about the Canadian influence on the state, I refer to it as the "Canadian footprint," which includes tourism, real estate, bilateral trade and foreign direct investment. I estimate $6 billion for 2011 - and growing in 2012.
Canada represents low-hanging fruit for Arizona businesses. I suggest you make the sales call.
CANUCK-SIZED INVESTMENT
CANADA - ARIZONA LINKS
Website Editor
May 27, 2012
Law does not limit HOA transfer fee!
Answer: Probably. The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of an HOA can provide for different types of HOA fees, including a documents fee and a transfer fee. A documents fee is a fee for any documents related to the disclosures an HOA must deliver to the buyer upon the sale of the home -- for example, CC&R's, bylaws, current operating budget and a most recent financial statement.
A new law effective December 31, 2011, limits this documents fee to no more than $400. The CC&R's may also authorize a transfer fee on the sale of a home. A transfer fee can be thousands of dollars, and is frequently a percentage of the sales price of the home, such as your $4,000 transfer fee. Since there is no law limiting the amount of a transfer fee, you will probably have to pay the $4,000 transfer fee.
Christopher Combs can be reached at azrep@combslawgroup.com. View reader comments on this article.
Website Editor
May 20, 2012
View Yosemite's majesty via webcam!
The HD camera went live on North America's tallest fall last week, allowing anyone with computer access to watch in stunning detail as shadows race across the towering granite monolith over which Yosemite Creek crashes in a series of plunges and cascades. It's updated every 30 seconds through a high-speed DSL connection.
To those for whom the park's breathtaking scenery revives the soul, getting a fix of spiritual uplift just got a little easier. For people who've never been to Yosemite, perhaps seeing one of the park's main attractions in real time will prove too enticing to resist.
"In a lot of ways I equate it to all of the beautiful picture books that we've had on our coffee tables, or the art from the 1870s that made Yosemite exciting to people around the world when they saw it for the first time," said Michael Tollefson, president of the nonprofit Yosemite Conservancy, which placed the camera there. "This is a great way to communicate in today's media what the park is and to get people excited immediately, for better or worse."
It's the fourth webcam the nonprofit has set up — the other three are pointed toward the park icons Half Dome, Yosemite's most recognizable granite feature, and El Capitan, the 3,000-foot sheer-faced monolith popular with climbers. It joins a smattering of others across the nation, including one at Yellowstone's renowned geyser Old Faithful, as technology, in varying degrees of clarity, increasingly connects America's natural wonders with fans around the world.
Read the complete AP article on Yosemite's webcams
Website Editor
May 14, 2012
Today is the oldest you've ever been!
Website Editor
May 7, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 136
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
May 5, 2012
Hatfield vs McCoy: Your Problem?
First, the Association should review its governing documents to determine if the neighbor's complaint is actionable by the Association. For instance, if an individual is complaining that his neighbor's tree is growing over the fence and dropping leaves in his pool, this might not involve the Association at all (subject to the Association's governing documents of course). In this case, the Association should inform the complaining individual that this is a "neighbor to neighbor" dispute that needs to be handled by the neighbors. Or, suppose the neighbor complains about frequent, late night parties held by his neighbor? This example seems to be the "classic" neighbor to neighbor dispute, right? Not necessarily. If the Association's governing documents prevent this type of behavior, or contain a strong "nuisance clause" that addresses this type of behavior, the Association should not quickly dispose of this claim and should perform further research. If you are unsure, you should consult with the Association's attorney. A “close call” involving only two owners may not justify Association action.
Next, the Association should confirm that a violation exists (if possible). If a violation exists, then the Association may be obligated to enforce its governing documents. However, if the Association inspects the neighboring property and sees no violation, then there is nothing to enforce. The Association should be careful in "taking the complaining neighbor's word as the truth," as this practice could potentially cause the Association to be charged with discrimination, selective enforcement, etc. For example, if an individual falsely claims that his neighbor is in violation of the CC&Rs solely because his neighbor is Hispanic, and the Association pursues enforcement without confirmation of the violation, the Association may have essentially adopted the complaining individual's discriminating practices. In turn, it may have bought itself a lawsuit or fair housing complaint.
Finally, the Association needs to determine how to enforce its governing documents. This decision is left entirely up to the Board of Directors (unless the governing documents require the Association to respond in a specific way to specific violations). In other words, the complaining neighbor does not get to choose how the Association deals with the neighbor's violation – from letters to lawsuits. Whatever choice the Board makes, it should ensure that it is treating all neighbors equally and consistently enforcing the Association's governing documents.
The moral of story is this - the Association needs to enforce its governing documents. However, the Association is not always the "ultimate arbitrator" in all disputes between neighbors and should not become involved unless it is necessary and appropriate under the governing documents. Associations must "choose their battles" wisely, but sometimes that choice is made by the governing documents.
Website Editor
April 27, 2012
HOA Rules: Less is More and Amending CC&R's!
Amending CC&Rs can be quite expensive. Sometimes there is a good reason to do so to remove an illegal provision or to conform with changes that have taken place in state or federal law. Amending CC&Rs should only be done in consultation with an attorney that specializes in HOA law. Many provisions in CC&Rs are interrelated and changing one can impact another. A good attorney understands how it all fits together. Once the amendment(s) are passed, the amended CC&Rs should be recorded so the world is put on notice.
If there are many substantial changes to the CC&Rs that are being proposed, they should be voted upon separately rather than lumping them together which could result in the good going down with the bad or controversial.
Expanding the CC&Rs is one of the Board's greatest challenges. It can be done by amending them or adding Rules and Resolutions. When expanding, take your time and get member input. Measure twice and cut once. Finally, it's okay to NOT make rules. Less in more.
Read complete article "Less is More" by Richard Thompson
Richard Thompson owns Regenesis, a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations. He is a nationally recognized expert on HOA management issues.
RELATED SOURCE: www.lawyers.com
Website Editor
April 20, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 135
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting 04/05/12
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
April 17, 2012
Latest CC&R's update from AWHOA Board of Directors
Board Attorney Charles Maxwell has read Attorney Steve Cheifetz's legal opinion letter and has advised the Board of Directors to continue the signature gathering process until the required 706 homeowner signatures is obtained. At that point the 34-page Amended CC&R's will be implemented. A third party legal opinion has been obtained by the Board which also allows the signature gathering process to continue without a deadline.
1. Our HOA is currently trying to collect enough signatures to update our CC&Rs. Is there a length of time that we must get the signatures signed by? Our current CC&Rs state that you must be a member in good standing. Do the signatures have to be from members that are in good standing at the time we file the amendments or only when we gather the signatures? (In other words... if we get a signature from a member in good standing then before we are completed, that member goes through foreclosure, is that signature still valid or not?) Thanks for any advice...
2. A lot of this will be specific to your CC&Rs. My understanding for AZ is that there may not be voting by proxy (Mary will correct me if I am wrong). Typically, a date must be set to vote on the change, proper notice given and the ballots will have to be cast and counted. If the signatures are to petition the board for a meeting date, then there is no time limit on the gathering. Typically the members must be in good standing at the time the petition is submitted (and a good BOD would check). This is why I had at least 10% more then required when I submitted my petitions.
If the signatures are for an actual vote/ballot, my understanding is that the vote must be cast by x date and ballots (if voting is allowed by mail) will have to be sent to all members at the same time with a specific date they must be returned by. Again, all of this will depend on the actual wording of your Associations legal documents, specifically the CC&Rs and how to amend them, your voting procedures (usually found in the bylaws) and State law. Hopefully, Mary can provide more info but it would be helpful if you could provide the exact wording of the CC&Rs where it discusses how to amend them.
3. I doubt there is a time limit unless it is imposed by your association. I know of one HOA which tried unsuccessfully to amend for 3 years and failed because they required 90% of all owners approval. Owners who had approved moved so then the new owners signature was required. All OWNERS should be allowed to vote on amendments to the CC&Rs not just MEMBERS in good standing. MEMBERS in good standing refers to votes of the HOA; but does not apply when OWNERS are voting to amend Covenants which apply to every OWNER.
4. When you say "collect signatures" I'm thinking you really mean to collect ballots. Instead of going door-to-door, why isn't the board sending a mail-in ballot to vote on the CCR amendments as that is the required procedure in AZ? Even if your CCRs give the BOD the authority to collect ballots this way, you must abide by state law. Members can only vote by mail-in ballot or in person at the meeting. Generally speaking, most CCRs state a meeting must be called and ballots cast. The notice of the meeting should state the date by which the ballots must be returned unless it is to be cast in person. Also, remember proxys are prohibited in AZ. Are you certain that the vote to amend the CCRs is only for members in good standing? Is that what the amendment article states? I would be surprised because usually "all members of the assn" have a right to
vote to amend the CCRs and to terminate the HOA. There may be other times when only members in good standing can vote, such as for board elections. On the other hand, if, by saying "collect signatures" you mean collecting signatures for a petition to ask the board to amend the CCRs, then any member should be able to sign. "Members in good standing" only applies to voting not signing a petition. If a member signs a petition then moves or his home is foreclosed and he no longer owns the property then his signature would be voided on the petition.
5. To be more specific, we have very old CC&R and By Laws (developed in 1980 and never amended). We have gone through an update to current laws and standards and are trying to get owner approval to the amendments. We have held two meetings to gather votes/approval signatures approving the amendments. We did not reach the required 75% (as stated in our CC&Rs). So we have been going door to door trying to gather more votes/approval signatures. We have been doing this for about a year and 6 months and are 3 vote/approval signatures away. Some of the owners that voted their approval are no longer the owner of record. We are trying to understand if that vote/approval is no longer valid or if we have a time limit to gather votes/signatures. Our CC&Rs, By Laws and (to the best of our knowledge) state laws (AZ) do not limit the time to gather the votes/approval signatures.
Website Editor
April 15, 2012
Board President comments on CC&Rs approval process!
I recently sat down with Board President Al Folkins to discuss some of the issues that have many of our homeowners very upset. I felt that it was important that we meet these issues head-on rather than let them be debated in the arena of public opinion and rumor.
The main issue is the Board's ongoing collection of signatures for the approval of the proposed "Fourth Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions", affectionately known as the CC&R's. The CC&R's, along with the Bylaws and Rules, are also known as the "Community Documents". They are the rules and regulations that homeowners must abide by in a planned community. Failure to do so can lead to loss of privileges, fines and legal action taken against a homeowner. All members of an HOA should be familiar with the community documents. The CC&R's, Bylaws and Rules are printed annually in the Apache Wells Telephone Directory.
Below are a few homeowner concerns that have surfaced:
UPDATE: Homeowner concerns over the Amended CC&R’s were not discussed during the Open Forum at the final Homeowner’s Meeting on April 10, 2012. The reason given was that the Board’s Attorney Charles Maxwell was still going over the 4-page legal opinion letter from Attorney Steve Cheifetz. That letter was requested by a group of concerned Apache Wells homeowners and sent to the Board President. That legal opinion letter along with the cover letter and affidavit of former State Senator Chuck Gray is available to homeowners. See our April 10, 2012 posting below.
Bob Teague Lot #196
April 10, 2012
Attorney Steve Cheifetz comments on AWHOA non-election!
It has been 11 months since homeowners first received the following in the summer of 2011:
The number of signed Consent/Agreement Forms needed for approval of the Amended CC&R's and their implementation is 706. Should the required number of signatures not be met by summer's end, the process would be continued when part-time residents return again in the fall.
A Cover Letter and copy of Attorney Cheifetz's legal opinion was delivered to the AWHOA President on April 9, 2012 to be shared with the AWHOA's Attorney Charles Maxwell and the AWHA Board of Directors. Copies for homeowners are below.
Read Cover Letter from Concerned Homeowners
NOTE: The final Homeowners Meeting will be held Tuesday April 10 at 7:00PM in the Community Center's Maricopa Room. Please plan to attend. Your input is important!
Website Editor
March 27, 2012
AWHA Board makes push for approval of new CC&R's!
Website Editor
TEXT OF EMAIL SENT TO HOMEOWNERS:
The document has not changed since sent out in June. Some residents are still unclear about Section 7.5 Special Assessments on page 22. If a Special Assessment would be proposed (there are no plans for one now), a minimum of 51% of the ballots cast (yes' and no's) by homeowners entitled to vote, shall constitute a quorum (720). Of those votes cast, 51% must be yes votes (368) to pass a special assessment. A homeowner will vote "yes", "no" or abstain (which does not count as a "no" vote). EXAMPLE: If 1000 total entitled votes were cast, 510 "yes" votes would be required to pass the assessment.
If you have questions and need someone to assist you, please contact a Board member who will be glad to meet with you to discuss the issues and answer any questions you have.
We urge everyone to take a serious look at the documentation and understand that the CC&R's are for the protection of your property and your ability to defend the value of your investment. They need to be current with the Arizona statutes.
Apache Wells Board of Directors
March 24, 2012
Q&A: What makes gasoline prices rise?
NEW YORK - Watching the numbers on the gas pump tick ever higher can boil the blood and lead the mind to wonder: Why are gasoline prices so high?
Many stand accused, including oil companies, the president, Congress, and speculators on Wall Street. Others assume that the earth is just running out of oil.
The reality, economists say, is fairly simple, but it isn't very satisfying for a driver looking for someone to blame for his $75 fill-up. Last year, the average price of gasoline was higher than ever, and it hasn't gotten any better this year. The average price nationwide is $3.88 per gallon, the highest ever for March. Ten states and the District of Columbia are paying more than $4.
Q: What determines the price of gasoline?
A: Mainly, it's the price of crude oil, which is used to make gasoline. Oil is a global commodity, traded on exchanges around the world. The main U.S. oil benchmark has averaged $103 per barrel this year. The oil used to make gasoline at many U.S. coastal refineries has averaged $117 per barrel.Oil prices have been high in recent months because global oil demand is expected to reach a record this year as the developing nations of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East increase their need for oil. There have also been minor supply disruptions in South Sudan, Syria and Nigeria. And oil prices have been pushed higher by traders worried that nuclear tensions with Iran could lead to more dramatic supply disruptions. Iran is the world's third largest exporter.
Q: How are gasoline prices set?
A: When an oil producer sells to a refiner, they generally agree to a price set on an exchange such as the New York Mercantile Exchange. After the oil is refined into gasoline, it is sold by the refiner to a distributor, again pegged to the price of wholesale gasoline on an exchange.
Finally, gas station owners set their own prices based on how much they paid for their last shipment, how much they will have to pay for their next shipment, and, perhaps most importantly, how much their competitor is charging. Gas stations make very little profit on the sale of gasoline. They want to lure drivers into their convenience stores to buy coffee and soda.
Oil companies and refiners have to accept whatever price the market settles on -- it has no relation to their cost of doing business. When oil prices are high, oil companies make a lot of money, but they can't force the price of oil up.
Read complete Associated Press article and reader comments
Website Editor
March 23, 2012
Latest Apache Wells Newsletter Now Available!
View/Print Newsletter Issue 134
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting 3/01/12
Apache Wells Homeowners Association
March 22, 2012
Bobcat sighting on Snead Drive!
During the Wisconsin Days potluck on the March 20th, Bob Fuller, one of our renters on Snead Drive, told us that he had snapped a picture of a Bobcat out on his patio during broad daylight on March 11th.
Homeowners need to be alert and watch their pets when they are outside, and especially any small children, until the cat is trapped. The office is aware of it's presence in Apache Wells and have traps set out. Let's hope they can trap this magnificent animal and relocate her.
Joice Lange Lot #1205
March 20, 2012
Words of Wisdom to live by!
1. It's never to late to be who you might have been. George Eliot
Website Editor
WHAT A DEAL!
What if someone offered to take your home which was in need of some repairs, tear it down and replace it with an $8,000,000 one and then offer to lease it back to you for $1.00 a year? Would you agree to the deal? You'd surely be tempted. But what if you learned that all of your neighbors would have to chip in to pay off the loan for the new home. Would you still go for the deal?
In Apache Wells in East Mesa that is the deal that the Board of Directors, the Long Range Planning Committee and members of the Apache Wells Country Club are proposing. The AWCC membership will vote in mid-January whether or not to accept this deal. If a YES vote prevails then the Apache Wells Homeowners will vote in late January to accept the country club's property (less the golf course), demolish the current buildings and replace them with a Community Center which will include a golf shop, storage area for golf carts, office space, a restaurant & bar, fitness room and multi-purpose hall. The estimated cost would be $8,000,000 which would require a special assessment to all homeowners. Payment would be in a lump sum per homeowner or an additional amount per month added to the current AWHOA dues, which the Board has indicated will rise 10% annually.
Many of the homeowners in Apache Wells cannot afford or do not want this project. Many are elderly and on fixed incomes. We are not against change and growth, but see no need to spend millions on a facility that will benefit the few and place an undue burden on those who can least afford it. We encourage all homeowners, for and against, to vote in January.
Save Apache Wells
What a Deal Part 2!
Back in December of 2006 the Save Apache Wells Committee drew the wrath of the Apache Wells Board of Directors, AWCC and CLRPC for "airing our dirty laundry in public" by sending a letter to the editors of the Arizona Republic, Tribune and Independent entitled WHAT A DEAL! The letter was one of the first shots fired in anger by the Save Apache Wells Committee in opposition to the $8,000,000 (currently $8,500,000) Community Center Building Project. The analogy used in the letter was that of a homeowner who had allowed his home to fall into disrepair and wanted his neighbors to build him a new $8,000,000 one and he would then lease it from them for $1.00 a year.
On February 21, 2007 we learned that THE DEAL had been approved by the homeowners by a margin or 50 votes 644-594. (Note: This election and vote are currently being challenged by SAW in a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court with the hearing scheduled for 8/13/07.)
The Save Apache Wells Committee recently retained an attorney who specializes in HOA actions and we plan to file suit against the implementation of the building project and related assessment.
If you wonder why the AWCC members, who are heavily represented on the AW Board of Directors and were heavily represented on the CLRPC and will likely be heavily represented on the NEW Planning & Development
Committee and Construction Committee, want this plan to go through, just look at the reasons below.
___They will benefit from the AWHOA tax benefits since our association will own the new building. It will be classified as a "common area". That alone is estimated to save them around $32,000 per year in property taxes.
Save Apache Wells
What a Deal Part 3!
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once wrote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
On Monday August 20, 2007 the world changed for a committed group of Mesa homeowners know as Save Apache Wells when a Superior Court Judge ruled in their favor and stopped an $8,500,000 Community Center Project and $6020 special assessment that they had opposed since it was first proposed. The judge's ruling was based on the project supporter's misinterpretation of the Association bylaw requiring a majority vote of residential unit owners to approve a special assessment. The AWHA had claimed victory in February based on a majority of homeowners present and voting. Save Apache Wells attorneys filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in April 2007.
The plan to build a new community center to "benefit the entire community" was sponsored by the Apache Wells Homeowners Association Board of Directors, Apache Wells Country Club Board of Directors and orchestrated by the Community Long Range Planning Committee. It would have provided a new upscale facility to replace the current poorly maintained AWCC buildings. It should be noted that both the AWHOA Board of Directors and CLRPC leadership was comprised mainly of AWCC members. Had the plan not been stopped by a favorable court ruling on Save Apache Well's lawsuit, the burden of financing, constructing, maintaining and operating the new facility would have fallen on all Apache Wells homeowners, many of whom did not want it, would not use it or could not afford it.
Where do we go from here? Apache Wells is currently a deeply divided community, but it is the hope of Save Apache Wells that over time the two sides of this issue can come together as neighbors and come up with a plan that "the entire community" can support. We do not oppose change and community improvement, but we could not just stand by and allow a plan by a special interest group to go forward. As many in our community have said, "we just want Apache Wells to return to what it used to be."
We wish to thank all those who supported us in this
monumental effort to right a wrong.
Save Apache Wells
SAW NEWSLETTERS & FLYERS:
Save Apache Wells Committee:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
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The Bike Club meets on Monday mornings in the Gazebo at 8:45-9:00 and leaving at 9:00 for a one-hour ride in our community. Anyone with a two-wheeler is welcome to join in. There are no dues, no commitment to attend every week, just to get some exercise with your friendly neighbors. They take turns leading the rides, take two short breaks during the ride and return to the Gazebo for donuts and coffee for a donation of $1. If you have questions, contact Vern Carlson at 309-521-8787.
Be aware of the new IRS scam. Some residents have received phone calls from supposedly the IRS requesting personal information. If the IRS needs any information, they will not call you but send you a letter. DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION.
The Pickle Ball Committee will be offering lessons at the courts. An
instructor will be working on lessons, drills, rules, etc. These will begin on
Tuesdays and be at 11:00AM every Tuesday and Thursday. Pickle Ball
pick-up games will be available every day at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
According to a survey by True Link Financial, older Americans are criminally
defrauded of $12.76 billion annually. This includes identity theft and all those
crazy scams you hear about but smugly think will never work on you. Do you
consider yourself friendly? Thrifty? Financially sophisticated? If you answered
yes to any of these questions, then according to that same survey you are more
likely to be defrauded because you may give strangers the benefit of the doubt,
are more enticed by bargains and are comfortable moving larger amounts of money
around.
McLEAN, Va. — The ashes of World War II veteran Elaine Harmon are sitting in a closet in her daughter's home, where they will remain until they can go to what her family says is her rightful resting place: Arlington National Cemetery.
People make snap judgments. No one knows this better than Jackson Galaxy, the
self-proclaimed 'Cat Daddy' and a veritable hero in the cat and animal-shelter
community.
It’s just about time to start playing golf again, without the brutally hot temperatures. However, before you get too excited and overzealous about playing, prepare yourself to play those 18 holes and prevent injuries. Most importantly strengthen and stretch the muscles of your shoulders, forearms and lower back to help prevent injuries.
Most webpages die after a couple of months. The average lifespan is something like 100 days. That's longer than it used to be. In the late 1990s, the typical webpage lasted for around 44 days.
Question: Does Arizona have more HOA communities than any other state? And why?
When did they first crop up?
TEMPE, Ariz. – When Bruce Arians became Arizona’s coach in 2013, Larry
Fitzgerald learned he would be changing positions. No more wideout, where
Fitzgerald made one spectacular catch after another downfield en route to seven
Pro Bowl appearances in his nine NFL seasons.
Yankees legend Yogi Berra passed away on Tuesday at the age of 90. An 18-time
All-Star, Berra appeared in 14 World Series as a member of the Yankees and won
10 of them.
Nobody lives forever, which oddly enough may be a comfort when you are planning
for a financially secure retirement. The only thing keeping you from needing an
infinitely large balance in your retirement account is knowing that you won’t
live forever. But before you can realistically plan to have enough money to
sustain you for life, you need to have some idea how long you’ll live.
Your mom's ideas about 100-calorie packs and nonfat cheesecake flavored yogurt
being healthy are totally misguided. But she was right on the money when it
comes to breakfast. Whether or not it's the most important meal of the day is
still TBD, but eating a healthy something in the morning does deliver some
pretty big benefits. Here, five of the most significant ones you'll reap when
you start supplementing your large black coffee with some actual food.
NEW YORK — Tom Brady learned Thursday he will start the season on the field after a judge lifted the league’s four-game suspension of the star quarterback for a scandal over deflated footballs, saying he was treated unfairly by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league quickly appealed. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman criticized Goodell for dispensing “his own brand of industrial justice” as he found multiple reasons to reject the suspension one week before New England’s Sept. 10 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Super Bowl MVP has insisted he played no role in a conspiracy to deflate footballs below the allowable limit at last season’s AFC championship game.
Question: What are stroma and what do stroma have to do with the
development of pancreatic cancer?
Even at your worst, your four-legged friend will sit quietly by your side,
licking your tears, nuzzling your hand, and letting you know you’re not on your
own.
An American Airlines flight descended toward Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport alongside an unwelcome and potentially dangerous visitor on Sunday night, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
The heat of summer can sometimes feel like too much. Air-conditioning helps, but
when we take the dog for a walk to release some energy from a day inside, we
could inadvertently be harming it. If a pet seems sluggish on summer walks or at
playtime, this could be because the pavement is burning its feet or because it
is suffering from heat exhaustion. As pet parents we need to be extra cautious
about taking care of our animals.
SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system debuts today, as the longtime leader in PC software hopes that giving the upgrade away for free will help it carve out a new role in a world where people increasingly rely on smartphones, tablets and information stored online.
Do you know how Bloody Basin Road got it's name? We pass the sign all the time
driving north on Interstate 17 and are curious.
Why does our memory fail us?
The state is a step closer to producing a driver’s license that will allow
Arizonans to board airplanes next year.
The city of Mesa Park, Recreation and Commercial Facility is being honored with
a 2015 Playful City USA designation for the sixth time. The national recognition
program honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more
playable, according to a press release.
Question: What are the yips?
Do birds talk? You bet your blue warbler they do! Today’s question: I just a got
a note from a lady who says she likes my column even though “sometimes you can
be a moron.” I’d say that’s a pretty fair assessment of the situation.
The imminent 100+ degree weather is on its way to Arizona. While most parts of
the country are looking forward to summer so they can have cookouts and days on
the lake, Arizona residents are dreading the expensive cooling utility bills,
discomfort, irritability and cabin fever. Just like winter in Minnesota,
Arizonans shut down and don’t do anything during the summer. The neighborhood
streets become abandoned while people are either inside or trying to cool off in
their luke-warm swimming pools.
The entire U.S. federal workforce may be at risk after yet another intrusion
from what security experts believe were hackers based in China. The Department
of Homeland Security says that data from the Office of Personnel Management — the human resources department for the federal government and the Interior
Department has been infiltrated.
The word “Grandpa” instead of “Papa” is the only thing that saved a Sun City
West couple from losing $1,900 last week in a Mexican bail scheme also known as
the grandparent scam.
On July 16, 1899, three members of the Ketchum Gang were jumped by a
Cimarron, New Mexico, posse at a cave known as Black Jack's Hideout. Badly
wounded during a ferocious gunfight, outlaw Sam Ketchum, brother of Tom "Black
Jack", staggered to a ranch house near Ute Creek. A relief posse caught up with
him there the next day and took the train robber to Santa Fe, where he died of
blood poisoning seven days later.
Drones are quite the “buzz” nowadays. Last month the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) granted Amazon permission to start testing their delivery
drones. Imagine getting your packages minutes after ordering them. Amazing.
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Tuesday, May 26. “Recent rain and cooler temperatures have enabled the Department to delay the implementation of the annual fire ban until after
Memorial Day. This will provide park visitors the opportunity to enjoy campfires
and cookouts over the holiday weekend,” said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks
and Recreation Director.
It took a few decades, and it shifted from running to pedaling a bicycle, but
Harold Palmquist is finally tackling a project he dreamed of as a boy — a non-
motorized cross-country trip.
In 1867, people from across the nation were traveling to Arizona in search of
their fortunes. Prospectors found a mother lode of copper ore in the rugged
mountains of Central and Southern Arizona. In the Salt River Valley, settlers saw the promise of productive agriculture in desert landscape made lush by seasonal rainfall and runoff from mountain snowmelt. It was an oasis known for "eight months of heaven," but an undependable water supply and searing summer heat also meant "four months of hell."
On a scale of unpleasant chores, a trip to the Motor Vehicle Division ranks
somewhere between having a root canal and changing a flat tire. So a new state
Auditor General report should come as no big surprise. It can, however, be a
shove in the right direction for an agency that needs to do better. The report says MVD should improve customer service. Ya think?
The Arizona Game and Fish is helping 50 desert tortoises find suitable new homes.
Surprise! The legislature has ended the 2015 session!
Question: How dangerous are scorpion stings?
Today’s question: Snake season is upon us. Last year we had to call a
snake removal service twice at our home in northeast Mesa, once for a momma and
nine rattlesnake babies. The gentleman that removed them did a great job, but
told us something interesting and disturbing to me. He told us that by law he
could only take the snakes no more than one-quarter mile from where he got them.
So, get them out of my yard and put them in my neighbor’s yard? Would you know
why he is not allowed to take them more than a quarter of a mile from where he
picked them up?
SAN FRANCISCO: It’s the end of the line for Internet Explorer.
Here is some news likely to spark a twinge of anxiety in the mathematically
impaired. Saturday, March 14, marks Pi Day. Not only that, but it is the ultimate Pi Day. Quick refresher for those who haven’t thought about pi since high school. It’s a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is approximately 3.14, hence the March 14 observance. But when you look at pi’s expanded figure, it’s 3.1415, which means the 2015 edition of the day has even more extra-special qualities for those who care about such things. And it gets even bigger than that at 9:26:53 on Saturday because Pi expanded to 10 digits is 3.141592653. “It’s kind of interesting because you get all these digits that appear in the decimal expansion of pi,” says Saikat Biswas, an assistant research professor at Arizona State University. “It’s interesting that way, but it’s not like it’s surprising or mathematically significant.”
So don’t expect Biswas and his pals from the School of Mathematical and
Statistical Sciences to party hard on Saturday night, though he sees the upside
of the occasion.
This should rattle your cage for today! When you have the answer – you might want to send it on to other friends! Have a great day! I did – I handed it off to you! Lots of us don't know what day of the week we were born. This will answer it. We have been on this earth many, many weeks and days. How many days old are you? This will give you a jolt! We know that we can't stop the progression of time. There is of course the old adage that we should "Eat, Drink and be happy for...." and we all know the ending of that saying!
A couple driving to a Scottsdale restaurant Friday night hit a small animal that darted into their vehicle’s path on Camelback Road, near 64th Street. A.J. Michaels and Susan Simpson thought they hit a cat and doubted the animal survived after being struck by a car going about 40 miles per hour. But after reaching their destination, Michaels walked around his car and found a wild bobcat stuck in the grill of the Mazda sedan. “We didn’t think any kind of animal could sustain that kind of hit,” Michaels said. The bobcat was uninjured. No blood or wounds were visible and it wasn’t missing any hair, an Arizona Game and Fish spokeswoman said. The bobcat remained so still and calm that Michaels and Simpson thought it might be comatose or dead. Simpson heard the bobcat rustling and realized they needed to call someone. Scottsdale police officers responded and unsuccessfully tried to remove the bobcat before calling the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It somehow crawled in between the radiator and grill of the car,” said Lynda Lambert, Game and Fish spokeswoman. Michaels said his car has a mesh-like plastic grill, which may have lessened the impact and enabled to bobcat to scramble into the large space between the grill and radiator. Game and Fish officials tranquilized and removed the bobcat and took it to a rehabilitation center. If healthy, the cat will be released away from urban areas. The bobcat’s gender was not immediately clear. One Game and Fish official said the cat made a “clicking noise” synonymous with young males searching for their mother. Michaels and Simpson have chosen to name the bobcat “Bobbi,” keeping it gender-neutral for now. Simpson studies Native American medicine and believes that all animals symbolize something. After their encounter with Bobbi, Simpson researched and found that bobcats symbolize patience, introspection and revelation of secrets. According Game and Fish’s website, bobcats rarely attack people. Bobcats can be found throughout Arizona, especially in rim rock and chaparral areas. They can also be found on the outskirts of urban areas, where food is available.
Our own Community Manager Annie Colegrove has earned both her Certified Arizona Association Manager (CAAM®) certification and her Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) certification credentials. These professional certifications reflect her commitment to AWHA and demonstrates her expertise in managing condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations. The latter certification is awarded to individuals who pass the CMCA® examination, a rigorous test that measures the skills essential for effectively managing community associations. Annie was tested on community management, industry trends, standards and legislative issues. The CAAM® and CMCA® certification provides standards for association management that give homeowners and boards confidence in their manager's knowledge and ability to provide professional service. It is the only worldwide certification program designed exclusively for community association managers. As part of her commitment to maintaining her CMCA®, she must uphold the ethical standards for community association management and continue to educate herself on the issues managers face every day. Annie looks forward to working together to further AWHA's success and to provide Apache Wells with the specialized service it deserves. UPDATE: Annie recently announced at the November 6th Board meeting that she has also received her Association Management Specials (AMS®) Certification. Way to go Annie!
The Desert Trails Park utilizes a beautiful 20-acre piece of land covered with native desert vegetation and a 60 foot high knoll in the center of the parcel. The City of Mesa has programmed a sensitive approach to utilizing the property for recreational use that includes: a wide variety of trails for walking/hiking and mountain biking, themed viewing pods, and a BMX track. The park also has restrooms, ramadas and parking.
DESERT TRAILS PARK
As a special favor to the Apache Wells Country Club, we will be publishing
His “Star Trek” role lasted three seasons and several films, and his
character continues to “live long and prosper” in a collective
consciousness that transcends languages, generations and cultures. But there was more to Leonard Nimoy than Mr. Spock.
I just received a worried note from a worried man who is worried about an email
he received regarding cellphone numbers. He is worried because the email said
later this month cellphone numbers are to be released to telemarketers and the cellphone owner will be charged for those calls.
Arizona is known for a lot of things, mostly stereotypes involving
cactus, heat and gun-toting cowboys.
I’ve been having a hard time sleeping through the night lately, when the opposite should be true.
Do your HOA rules say “children under the age of 18 are not allowed in the pool or pool area at any time unless accompanied by an adult”? If so, watch out! More and more judges find that this rule is “discriminatory” and in violation of the Fair Housing Act. This conclusion surprises many people, including experienced attorneys, but the facts are the facts–courts are striking them down. Courts are not only striking pool rules like this down but any rule like it. Wow. How?
In the 1960s, about 500 HOAs existed in the United States, and they've been
increasing in popularity ever since. Today, the Community Associations Institute
(CAI) estimates about 62 million U.S. residents lived in 309,600 HOA communities in 2010. That's a major increase in 50 years. So, what purpose do all these HOAs serve?
Utility customers are being targeted by elaborate fake emails and websites demanding payment.
Just before Christmas 1944, 25 Nazi German prisoners tunneled 178 feet out of a prison camp in Phoenix.
QUESTION: A former community manager would not act on complaints unless they were signed by the individual’s first and last name. The members want to do away with this policy and remain anonymous. Is there a way to enforce violations
reported anonymously? I thought there was a law that requires us to disclose the first and last name of the person that observed the violation.
Blazing furiously, Arizona quickly settled to the bottom of Pearl Harbor, a total loss. She burned for more than two days and was subsequently the subject of only partial salvage. Over 1100 of her crew were killed, including Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Commander Battleship Division One, and the ship's
Commanding Officer, Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh. Their sacrifice, and that of the other men lost at Pearl Harbor, is now permanently memorialized by the USS Arizona Memorial, erected over her sunken hull in the berth it has occupied
since shortly after 8 AM on 7 December 1941.
Falcon was an apt name for the British occupied field. Trained for hunting, falcons have long been used in sport in Britain.
WASHINGTON: Federal officials warned companies Monday that hackers have stolen more than 500 million financial records over the past 12 months, essentially breaking into banks without ever entering a building.
I recently had an interesting conversation with a friend after a funeral. It was about cremation versus burial.
We are fortunate to live in a desert that is so rich in natural beauty and wildlife. Along with this benefit comes a responsibility to live harmoniously with diverse species of wildlife, including coyotes. A very adaptable species, coyotes can be found in some neighborhoods, parks and fields using corridors, such as canals, to travel among sites.
Lifetime has found the voice of Grumpy Cat: "Parks and Recreation" star Aubrey
Plaza. It won't be much of a stretch for Plaza, who is best known as playing the
monotone curmudgeon April Ludgate on "Parks and Recreation." Grumpy Cat could very well be April's spirit animal.
Grumpy Cat — whose real name is "Tardar Sauce" (really!) — has become a superstar with 6 million Facebook friends, two books in print (including the recently released The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat) and merchandising deals such as one as the official "spokescat" of Friskies. Jane Lynch had previously been rumored for the part. Tim Hill ("Garfield 2") wrote the TV movie with Jeff Morris ("The Yank"), who also directed.
Often, transportation officials say, a crash-heavy intersection is the result of a simple, traffic-driven chain reaction. Lots of motorists means lots of drivers making stupid mistakes, which, in turn, means lots of crashes. But although driver error is rampant, it isn’t always the culprit. And streets and law-enforcement officials have tools at their disposal to help make intersections easier to navigate.
You might be one of his biggest fans. But for me, former Diamondbacks slugger Luis Gonzalez is my hero. He might have had a stellar batting average and impressive totals of hits and home runs. He might have been the very first Arizona Diamondbacks player to have his jersey number, 20, retired. Heck, he even has a Little League ballfield named in his honor. But when someone rescues a family member, it puts him in a whole new league. That’s what happened this week.
Luis didn’t know what it was and Frankie didn’t know where he was. But together
they figured it out. Gonzo took the time to take Frankie to the Fire Department and then to the Phoenix Herpetological Society, where Frankie’s excellent adventure continued as he chummed around with hundreds of tortoises of various sizes and species. Of course, I knew none of this until the neighbors heard Gonzo talk about Frankie on TV during a baseball broadcast. And, of course, a local television station saw it as the perfect human-interest story and followed the entire tortoise tale. The story ends well. My tortoise is back in his own dugout.
I knew it was coming. My Facebook feed had been clogged with videos of people dousing themselves with buckets of ice water.
Is it time to rid our vocabulary of the term “snowbird?” It’s a question we have been pondering for weeks at AZ Local Media, which includes newspapers and websites from Surprise to Tucson, including the East Valley Tribune. In fact, we’re wondering if there may be just as many, if not more, “staybirds” in the Valley.
A Homeowner Association’s (“HOA”) main purposes are to enforce the HOA’s Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions (also known as CC&R’s), care for the HOA common areas, and ensure that a spirit of community is maintained that will promote and maintain (or increase) property values. To accomplish these
objectives, a HOA requires a steady stream of income that will provide the necessary services.
I recently heard on TV that you can be struck by lightning at a distance of 10
miles. Is that true?
The East Valley communities of Mesa, Apache Junction and Queen Creek are each hosting a major Independence Day fireworks show Friday, July 4. Each event offers additional activities including car shows, reenactments, educational experiences, fundraisers, live music, food and refreshments.
The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation. It is not certain who these people were; some believe they were Salado or Hohokam Indians who populated this part of Arizona several centuries ago. Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s.
Ingrid I. Morataya, 35, suspected of being the driver of a FJ Cruiser that rear-
ended and killed the occupants of a vehicle at Recker/Brown in Mesa on the morning of Monday, June 9, was taken into custody by Mesa Police Department detectives when she was released from the hospital June 16, police said.
There is no such thing as a safe tan — doctors say it, health experts remind you of it, and if dermatologists could sky-write it, they would. And still, many people will get a base tan before a beach vacation in an effort to protect their skin from sunburn. It's one of the biggest myths out there. The truth is that any tan at all is a sign of damage from the sun's UV rays. Though darkening of the skin does help prevent further injury, a "base tan" provides a sun protection factor (SPF) of only about 3 or less, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It’s about that time again…the temperatures rise and our residents head to cooler climates. As a result, this is the time of year when many associations run into issues with absentee ballots, achieving quorum, and meeting attendance in general.
Great horned owls are a large species of true owls that inhabits many parts of North and South America. These nocturnal avian hunters take a wide range of prey including mammals, other birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Ah, summer. A time of road trips and road rage, swimming and sweating — a time that also brings some of the most grueling driving conditions of the year. High
temperatures, stop-and-go traffic, oversized loads and extended use of the air
conditioner all conspire to put a serious burden on that 4-wheeled friend. Just
because Mother Nature and you are seemingly working together to put the old
workhorse in the hospital (aka the local repair shop), it doesn't have to happen. With a little TLC, your car or truck can be ready to tackle the dog days in no time. Here are our recommendations for the 10 must-do services that will help keep your auto on the road this summer, instead of being stuck beside it.
The dog that was captured on now-viral video attacking a 4-year-old boy before
being fought off by a heroic cat was euthanized over the weekend.
Online marketplace eBay is the latest to be hit by a major cyberattack targeting
customer data.
On a bitter cold Friday in January, an ominous warning popped up on a computer screen at the Chamber of Commerce in Bennington, Vt. The warning — next to a ticking countdown clock — threatened to destroy all data on the computer if the chamber refused to pay a $400 ransom within 40 hours.
In preparing to leave your winter home vacant for the summer, the following ideas are strongly suggested:
Microsoft is scrambling to fix a newly found bug in Internet Explorer, which leaves all versions of the browser open to potential attacks. Hackers have already used the flaw to launch "limited, targeted attacks," Microsoft said a "security advisory" on Saturday.
The Superstitions are the most fabled mountains in all of Arizona.
Mesa residents are facing increases in their utility and property-tax bills to help keep the city’s budget in the black. The City Council began mulling those prospects as City Manager Chris Brady and Budget Director Candace Cannistraro outlined their strategies for dealing with a projected $8.5 million shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
In community organizing, some homeowner associations struggle with attracting volunteers. Many members fail to participate in their HOA for a variety of reasons. For example, they may think they don't have the time, experience, capabilities or desire. However, the HOA may not be doing all it can to bring
new volunteers into the fold.
When a homeowner or any property owner has made the decision to sell, one of the
major keys to insure a successful process is that they have a realistic idea of
what this extremely valuable and emotionally charged asset is actually worth!
General Motors' recall of 1.6 million cars with faulty ignition switches raises the question of what to do if you're driving along and the engine stalls. With a track at our disposal, our engineers grabbed a GM vehicle from our test fleet to
demonstrate.
April 8 is definitely one to mark on your calendar. You may want to make sure your bank and your doctor have it marked on theirs, as well. It marks the end of Microsoft tech support for the Windows XP operating system. That could lead to opportunities for hackers to get your personal information, because there will be no update to your system from Microsoft.
Federal officials’ review of Banner Health’s efforts to protect the privacy of more than 50,000 Medicare recipients whose Social Security numbers it published on magazine labels last month should be completed in about 10 days.
If you earn money, you have to pay federal and usually state taxes on it. That’s
the general rule involving wages or salary income from a job. But what about tips, gifts, Social Security income, unemployment benefits, insurance proceeds or non-cash bartering? The rules for them vary. Most forms of income are taxable unless Congress and the Internal Revenue Service have excluded them, and there are many types of exceptions. Most tips are gleaned from 
Norman and Louise Nelson of Mesa have been married for more than 74 years. Apache Wells Homeowners Association recently held a Gold Plus Banquet honoring those who have been married 50 or more years. Seventy-seven couples were honored for a total of 4,444 years of wedded bliss. Norman and Louise Nelson got a standing ovation since they were married the longest at over 74 years. Pat and Clint Kurtz are their daughter and son-in-law who were recognized for 52 years of marriage.
Chris Apodaca’s grim childhood began to change for the better when he entered Sunshine Acres Children’s Home at age 10. He had been living on the streets with his sister, two brothers and drug-addicted parents as long as he could remember.
The purpose of our Architectural Committee is to review all proposed exterior
changes, additions or improvements that homeowners wish to make to their property. This includes, but not limited to, fences, walls, masonry, paint colors, sight barriers, additions, storage sheds, golf course netting, location of AC/Heating units, removal of an existing home and construction of a new residential home. Information on these and other conditions and restrictions are listed in the Apache Wells 2013/2014 Directory.
Are You going too far in searching for HOA Violations?
Most of the HOA board directors are volunteers that try hard to do the right thing. The majority are great, hard-working and caring individuals simply trying to make their neighborhood a better place to live. Unfortunately, there are a few rogue boards or directors that give the HOA industry a bad name.
Some residents, lawyers question the move; association manager says it’s legal
For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on.
With 10,000 people turning 65 every day, our nation should be doing everything
possible to protect the pensions of those who have worked hard their entire lives and are counting on those benefits during their retirement years. Instead, pensions are increasingly coming under attack — for those still in the workforce, and for people who are already retired and living on the pensions they have earned.
1. It takes about 48 hours to infect you and make you sick.
This is like Christmas in January! The holiday season is past, and yet here on my first day back from vacation I find a big, fat journalistic gift waiting for me, wrapped in gaudy fantasy, hyperbole and hallucination around which is tied the flashy red ribbon of a headline reading: “Steven Seagal considering Arizona governor run.” With gratitude and humility, I’d simply like to say: Thank you.
An HOA, as a homeowners’ association is known, creates and enforces rules for the community and collects the monthly or annual dues. There are pros and cons to owning a home in a community governed by a HOA, which is often a nonprofit entity that is operated by a board comprised of homeowners, sometimes in conjunction with a management company.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- There was no denying the gut feeling
overtaking Larry Fitzgerald and his Cardinals teammates after Sunday's 23-20 loss to the 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The holiday season is often marked by gift-giving to family and friends, and to
people in need. Sadly, the holidays are also a time when more identity theft is
attempted. Don't let this stifle your generous spirit! Using common sense and
caution, you can do a lot to deter an identity thief. NOTE: The recent cyber attack on millions of Target Stores customers brings home the seriousness of monitoring your credit cards for unusual activity. Be safe and not sorry!
Owning a car is expensive enough without the hassle of dealing with extra costs. Here are 10 surprise expenses that you know will crop up on occasion.
In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England,
carrying 102 passengers, an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.
Social Security benefits will increase by just 1.5 percent next year — about $19 a month for the average retiree.
You’ve heard about “Middle Child Syndrome,” right? The oldest child typically receives the lion’s share of parents' attention and excitement. As an added bonus, they need never be seen wearing hand-me-downs in public. Then there’s the youngest child who’s typically the most sheltered and spoiled. That leaves the poor forgotten middle child to feel left out and invisible. A similar trend can be seen when it comes to jobs.
A Scottsdale man challenged a newly minted law he said would give homeowners
associations an advantage over residents and he won. The law would have allowed HOA management companies to represent the associations in small claims court, putting homeowners behind the ball because a company official would have far more courtroom experience than the average homeowner, said George Staropoli, a longtime HOA critic.
Associations must enforce their documents as written. Arizona law, under a case called, Johnson v. Pointe Community Association, holds that an association has an affirmative duty to enforce the express terms of its governing documents. The law does not provide any exceptions to this legal obligation. We have long encouraged our clients to understand that an association only has two choices: amend the governing documents or enforce them as written.
When Eldad Hagar from Los Angeles-based 
1. These greens are so fast I have to hold my putter over the ball and hit it with the shadow. ~ Sam Snead
Credit cards can earn you rewards and come to your rescue in
an emergency, but a little carelessness can have big
consequences.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, with melanoma
being the most dangerous. About 65 percent to 90 percent of
melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
Every fall, Canadian snowbirds Lyle Pederson and his wife make the trek to Arizona, trading the bitter cold for sunny skies. This year, they stayed a little longer, returning north in May. And while they plan to come back this fall, the 180-day limit for Canadian snowbirds to stay in the United States each year means the Pedersons are counting their days, and carefully. “It’s an issue for all the Canadian snowbirds who go down to Arizona in the winter,” Lyle Pederson said.
A new study adds to the growing evidence that the best way to
stay mentally sharp into your 80s and beyond is to keep your
brain busy with reading, writing and learning new things.
Disgruntled homeowners at east Mesa’s Superstition Lakes condo complex have succeeded in removing their three-member homeowners association board in a long-awaited recall election. Sixty-seven condo owners voted to recall President Michael Cassady, Vice President Eric Branstrom and Treasurer Wayne Erting amid allegations of financial misconduct, according to community manager Mitch Kellogg Jr. Thirty-six voted to keep them on the board. The remaining 31 condo owners either didn’t vote or were disqualified from voting.
Nearby Neighborhoods is coming to Apache Wells!
Even experienced public speakers have their "Oops" moments, when a word or term they use on a daily basis simply refuses to come to mind. But while such common memory lapses are frustrating, they don't necessarily mean Alzheimer's is at the door. If your lapses aren't disrupting your life, there's no need to be actively worried, experts say.
The purpose of a Maintenance Plan is to instruct a homeowner association board and/or property manager how to properly maintain common element components. Following a well prepared Maintenance Plan will help extend the useful life of the components and reduce costs to the members.
LOS ANGELES — Some people have had it with TV. They've had enough of the 100-
plus channel universe. They don't like timing their lives around network show
schedules. They're tired of $100-plus monthly bills. A growing number of them
have stopped paying for cable and satellite TV service, and don't even use an
antenna to get free signals over the air. These people are watching shows and
movies on the Internet, sometimes via cellphone connections. Last month, the
Nielsen Co. started labeling people in this group "Zero TV" households, because
they fall outside the traditional definition of a TV home. There are 5 million
of these residences in the U.S., up from 2 million in 2007.
The facts are disquieting. A 2011 study of 17 industrialized
countries — 13 in Western Europe, plus the U.S., Australia, Japan and Canada — found that American men, whose life expectancy is 75.6 years, ranked last, and U.S. women, at 80.7 years, ranked 16th. Worse, this gap has been widening for the past three decades.
Rattlesnakes are coming out of winter hibernation and as they emerge the number of snakebites is on the rise. Banner Good Samaritan Poison & Drug Information Center reported seven patients from Maricopa County just in the past week. Among them, 70-year-old Ron Vuckovich of Rainbow Valley, south of Buckeye. Vuckovich had emerged from a relaxing soak in his hot tub when he was struck twice on the foot Sunday evening. “The dog was barking, but I didn’t know why,” he said. “I saw a dark spot on the patio, but I thought it was probably potting soil, so I didn’t pay it much attention.” Vuckovich was rushed to the hospital and given four vials of antivenom. As of Monday afternoon, his foot was still swollen. He says he sees plenty of desert wildlife around his home in the sparsely developed area and should have been more cautious. “I’ve seen a lot of rattlers and even killed a few,” he said. He warned others not to get complacent when hiking or even working or relaxing outdoors.
Question: Can my HOA tell me what type of dog I can have?
Enforcing use restrictions contained in Community Documents can cause destructive emotional conflicts in HOAs. Two legal undercurrents collide: 1) it is my land, and nobody can tell me how I can use it; and 2) the use of one’s land affects the neighbor’s rights, and the rights of subsequent purchasers. The violator can become emotional about the enforcement action taken. A neighbor can become emotional about a lack of enforcement action taken. In a recent case, a homeowner successfully sued an association for not enforcing the covenants against a neighbor. Johnson v. The Pointe Community Association, Inc., 1 CA-CV 02-0160 (Court of Appeals, 07/31/03).
With an invitation that seems to resound with a hearty “All Aboard,” the
Arizona Big Train Operators have announced their Annual Spring Open House
Railway Tour. For the 2013 Tour, 22 members — including seven stops in Mesa,
two in Chandler, four in Sun Lakes, two in Gilbert and another in Gold Canyon —
will open their large-scale backyard railways for the public to view and enjoy.
The Arizona legislature has defined three types of HOA meetings:
Mesa drivers will see new flashing yellow left-turn arrow signals for north and southbound traffic at Country Club Drive and Juanita Avenue. The new signals are expected to improve safety, lessen traffic delays, and reduce driver confusion when making north or southbound left turns at the intersection, according to a press release.
Death-row inmate Richard Glassel, who shot and killed two women at a Peoria homeowners association meeting in 2000, has died of natural causes. The Arizona Department of Corrections said Wednesday that the 74-year-old died the previous day at Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital.
The common cold and flu are caused by different viruses but can have some similar symptoms, making them tough to tell apart. In general, the flu is worse and symptoms are more intense.
Many recorded declarations grant broad discretion to an association’s board or
architectural committee for the purposes of reviewing and approving or denying
owners’ requests to make architectural improvements, modifications, and
alterations to their properties. The extent of this discretionary authority
depends on the specific language of an association’s governing documents. Some governing documents establish very specific guidelines, leaving little room for interpretation. Others grant the board or architectural committee very broad
discretion in determining what is and what is not appropriate for the community aesthetic. In either case, committee decisions are generally upheld, so long as those decisions reflect a uniform and reasonable application of the particular association’s restrictions. Having a ‘formal’ architectural application and review process helps to ensure this outcome. However, whether a particular association’s architectural review policies are specific or ambiguous, there are certain issues that every board and architectural committee should keep in mind when reviewing applications.
Floyd Cramer was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the “Nashville Sound.” Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the
small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After
finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist
for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ is a monumental financial challenge that faces the U.S. and all Americans on January 1, 2013. $7 Trillion in tax increases and spending cuts will begin. The only thing that can stop them from taking affect is for congress and the president to come to an agreement before January 1, 2013. That is not likely with America’s current slate who are in gridlock. A change of faces in D.C. as a result of the November election could improve matters.
Captain Rick is a mechanical engineer, retired in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun and living in Gilbert, Arizona. He has an interest in news, economy, government, photography and much more. He claims he has insight on these subjects that he would like to share with you. He hopes you will join him in conversation on this issue. You can access his blog at 
Do you know where your Social Security card is located? Hopefully, it's in a safe place, tucked away securely with your other important papers. It certainly should not be carried in your purse or wallet and should not be carried with you every day since it can be more valuable than cash to an identity thief.
A young man hiking with friends on Camelback Mountain on October 29, 2012 was attacked by bees and fell to his death trying to escape them. We asked Phoenix Fire Capt. Scott McDonald about the hazard bees pose today and what people can do to protect themselves.
East Valley homeowners associations aren’t short on complaints from disgruntled homeowners, but many are struggling to get volunteers to run for boards or get members to attend meetings and vote on issues. The apathy is frustrating to some HOA members such as Diane Howard, who lives at Western Skies in Gilbert. She was among residents asking for help on HOA apathy at Gilbert’s recent Congress of Neighborhoods meeting, held to deal with community issues. Howard said that in some cases, residents won’t even return mailed ballots. “If we can’t elect a new board, what happens?” Howard said. “It’s amazing how people don’t care.”
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
BIOGRAPHY: Kent Nerburn is an author, sculptor, and educator who has been deeply involved in Native American issues and education. He developed and directed an award-winning oral history project on the Red Lake Ojibwe reservation in northern Minnesota. In addition to being a program evaluator for the Minnesota Humanities Commission and serving on their selection board, he has served as a consultant in curriculum development for the American Indian Institute in Norman, Oklahoma, and has been a presenter before various groups, including the National Indian Education Association and the Presidents blue-ribbon panel on Indian Education. Nerburn has edited three highly acclaimed books on Native American subjects: Native American Wisdom, The Wisdom of the Native Americans, and The Soul of an Indian. Nerburn is also the author of Letters to My Son; Neither Wolf Nor Dog, winner of the Minnesota Book Award for 1995; Simple Truths: Clear and Gentle Guidance on the Big Issues of Life; Small Graces: The Quiet Gifts of Everyday Life; and The Hidden Beauty of Everyday Life.Kent Nerburn holds a PhD in both Theology and Art and lives with his family in northern Minnesota.
With years of experience behind the wheel, older drivers likely are among the safest on the road. However, skills and abilities required for safe driving do deteriorate with age. The good news is that a few simple actions often can provide you with years of safe driving.
I wish someone would research the detrimental health effects of constantly receiving those annoying robocalls. Maybe then those miserable irritants could be banned as a health hazard and we could finally escape their escalating, uncontrollable presence.
Mesa residents looking for an environmentally responsible way to get rid of old computers, televisions, PDA phones, audio/video equipment, printers, and appliances are invited to bring these items to the City of Mesa's express drop-off recycling event. There is no cost to take advantage of this event and it's a quick and easy way for residents to recycle their items with minimal wait time. Staff will be available to help unload items. Open to Mesa residents only. For more information, call City of Mesa Customer Service at (480) 644-2221 or visit the 
Kimberly Yellow Robe is the Social Security Administration's public-affairs specialist in Mesa, AZ. A native American, she is a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Tribe and also speaks about The History, Heritage, and Culture of the Lakota People.
Question: A homeowner challenged a fine with the board of directors because his neighbor was not fined for the same violation of the CC&Rs. What are the duties of the directors to consistantly enforce our governing documents?
Question: Many managers and directors ask what happens if a membership meeting is called and no quorum is present? Can the meeting be “adjourned” or “continued” to allow time to gather more absentee ballots and/or members? Most importantly, can the absentee ballots from the first attempt be used for the second attempt? Although the law does not require you to keep trying to obtain a quorum in most instances, you may wish to do so, or need to do so. You may need board members, or you may desperately need a special assessment.
Association Committees serve a vital function in community associations. They provide an opportunity for Association members to serve their community in specialized areas. Committees also serve to aid the Board of Directors in governing the Association.
Question: Can a homeowner member request emails exchanged between board members and committee members?
The way you get your information is changing, and one industry is feeling that pain more than others.
Sunshine Acres, a children’s home being run entirely off of donations, is one step closer to achieving its goal of being entirely solar, even as it continues to grow. “It sounds like a fairytale, really,” said Sean Sloan, the executive director of Sunshine Acres. “In 10 years to be totally solar powered, except that we’re seeing it happen.”
Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents:
Criminals who prey on the elderly are taking advantage of trust and naiveté. Recognize the top scams and know how to stay a step ahead of the bad guys.
Executive session is a process by which a board meets privately to discuss matters that
shouldn't be revealed generally. Each state has different rules they practice. Some
don't permit it. "In Florida, we don't have this executive session concept," says Jed L.
Frankel, a partner at Eisinger, Brown, Lewis, Frankel & Chaiet PA in Hollywood, FL, who
advises community associations. "Everything is open unless there's an attorney-client
privilege issue. Maybe there's litigation or there needs to be confidential
communications between the board and its counsel. That would be an exception where only
board members and possibly the manager woulds be permitted to attend. Other than that,
everything in Florida is going to be an open meeting."
WASHINGTON - Despite repeated alerts, tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago. The warnings about the Internet problem have been splashed across Facebook and Google. Internet service providers have sent notices, and the FBI set up a special website. According to the FBI, the number of computers that probably are infected is more than 277,000 worldwide, down from about 360,000 in April. About 64,000 still-infected computers are probably in the United States. People whose computers are still infected Monday will lose their ability to go online, and they will have to call their service providers for help deleting the malware and reconnecting to the Internet.
One of the functions of a homeowner association (HOA) is to enforce certain rules and covenants. It's good to periodically review old practices to confirm that your HOA runs
an effective rules enforcement program.
I see more dehydrated patients than anything else, and even though dehydration is usually an auxiliary symptom of something more serious, the lack of hydration to the body is a very serious situation. Many people believe that athletes are the only people who need to worry about dehydration, but in reality, it should concern everyone. Infants, young children and the elderly are those at the highest risk for dehydration because the turnover of fluids and electrolytes is the highest. If the loss of fluids becomes too severe, it is considered a life-threatening emergency.
SB1476 creates new A.R.S. Section 33-1817 (planned community statutes) relating to architectural review. The new rules “trump” anything contrary in the governing documents. A brief rules summary follows:
Canadians increased their visits here in just more than 700,000 in 2011. We expect the number to hit 775,000 during 2012.
In this May 11, 2012, photo, a live image of the Ahwahnee Meadow is displayed on a screen in front of the actual scene at Yosemite National Park, Calif. The Yosemite Conservancy has installed their latest webcam to give the public live online feeds of Yosemite Falls. They now have several webcam images online to give visitors views of El Capitan, Half Dome, views from Sentinel Dome and now Yosemite Falls.
Today is the oldest you've ever been, yet the youngest you'll ever be, so enjoy this day while it lasts!
Imagine you are a Board member and receive a call from an angry homeowner complaining about his neighbor. This never happens, right? If only you were so lucky. As soon as you hang up the phone, you must make a decision. Is the complaining neighbor's problem also the Association's problem? Or is this just a "neighbor to neighbor dispute" that doesn't involve the Association? The answer is typically determined by a thorough reading of the Association's governing documents and careful consideration of the neighbor's complaint.
The following comments on amending CC&R's in Arizona HOAs were found at 
At the request of homeowners unhappy with the AWHOA's nameless signature collecting procedure to approve the Amended CC&R's, SAW Attorney Steven W. Cheifetz was asked to offer his legal opinion on the seemingly endless approval process.
The following "Words of Wisdom" are worth pondering and may even bring a smile to your face. They were part of a package entitled "Healthy Living" sent to HUMANA Supplement Plan members on their request. Some of these may be familiar to you.
