5 Phoenix neighborhoods where rents are increasing the most · neighborhoods where rents are...

Press Coverage April 2019

5 Phoenix neighborhoods where rents are increasing the most AZ Big Media April 30, 2019

Looking to call the Valley of the Sun home? Or, maybe you already live in Phoenix and you’re just looking to avoid costly rent increases when you move next. Regardless, rent.com has done some research to determine the neighborhoods in Phoenix where monthly rental prices are increasing the most. 1. Central Avenue Corridor

• Price increase over the past

year: 22.7% • Average rent for one-bedroom

in Central Avenue Corridor: $1,288

• Average rent for one-bedroom in Phoenix: $1,029

Dividing midtown Phoenix, the Central Avenue Corridor is one of the most popular neighborhoods and is home to many of the city’s businesses.

This neighborhood also has two of the city’s largest hospital systems in its boundaries: Phoenix VA Health Care System and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. 2. Desert View

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHADE AT DESERT RIDGE • Price increase over the past


in Desert View: $1,372 • Average rent for one-bedroom

in Phoenix: $1,029 Desert View is an upscale neighborhood in Phoenix with a suburban feel. The area is great for outdoor lovers because the neighborhood is bordered by three recreation areas: Cave Creek Regional Park, Phoenix Sonoran Preserve and Cave Buttes Recreation Area. While the area is highly desirable, the rising rent prices are not. Year over year, rent has increased by 17.9 percent. 3. North Mountain



in North Mountain: $838 • Average rent for one-bedroom

in Phoenix: $1,029

The North Mountain neighborhood in North Phoenix is a very popular place for families, young people and empty nesters. The abundance of coffee shops, boutiques and public parks make North Mountain perfect for anyone looking for a life of comfort in gorgeous surroundings. In the last year, rent prices have increased by 15.1 percent in this neighborhood. 4. North Phoenix



in North Phoenix: $959 • Average rent for one-bedroom

in Phoenix: $1,029 North Phoenix is loosely defined as the area between Northern Avenue and the farthest northern stretches of Phoenix, all the way to the Anthem area. Rent prices in this area are on average lower than some of the more desirable neighborhoods but that doesn’t mean they aren’t increasing quickly. The average rent price for a one-bedroom apartment in Northern Phoenix increased by 13.1 percent over the past year. 5. Central City


PHOTO BY ERIC DONZELLA ON UNSPLASH • Price increase over the past


in Central City: $1,464 • Average rent for one-bedroom

in Phoenix: $1,029 The Central City area of Phoenix is truly where everything is happening. Nightlife, bars, concerts, entertainment and tons of dining can be found here. Being so close to the action means you’ll spend more on rent than the citywide average — and those prices are increasing. The average one-bedroom apartment price is up 13.1 percent since March 2018. Methodology We looked at all neighborhoods in Phoenix with sufficient available inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com and compared the average price from March 2018 to March 2019 to find the neighborhoods with the highest percentage increase in one-bedroom apartment prices. The current rent information included in this article is based on March 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on ApartmentGuide.com and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

Fire ban hits county May 1 Apr 29, 2019

Fountain Hills Times

The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season. Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark,” said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Director. “As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather than later is the responsible thing to do to ensure park visitor and park resource safety.” 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. Campfires along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional Park are included in the fire ban due to higher than usual water levels and dried brush along the shoreline. Violation of this park rule, Rule 113, may result in a citation. It is also important to note that during this time of year, the National Weather Service often issues red flag warnings across central Arizona to

alert land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition. Should this occur before the fire ban goes into effect, park supervisors have been authorized to issue temporary fire bans to ensure public safety and protect the parks resources. When temporary fire bans are issued, information will be posted on the website, and park visitors will be notified as they enter the park. The parks will also stop selling firewood during this time. While smoking in the parks is still permissible, it is discouraged due to the extremely dry conditions. Those who feel they must smoke are urged to be responsible 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: Adobe Dam Regional Park, Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Hassayampa River Preserve, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, and White Tank Mountain Regional Park. If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, call the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at 602-506-2930, or visit maricopacountyparks.net/.

Maricopa County Parks Enacting Fire Ban May 1 By Matt Kling Published: Sunday, April 28, 2019 - 12:19pm Updated: Monday, April 29, 2019 - 9:37am


Maricopa County regional parks are starting their seasonal fire ban a little bit earlier this year as a result of increased rainfall. Fire bans are usually implemented in the latter part of May, but for the 2019 season, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation is starting the fire ban on May 1. Department Director R.J. Cardin said an abundance of rainfall generated an outstanding wildflower season. “But now it’s created a lot of grasses and drying up bushes in the parks that are, quite frankly, creating a heavy fire load and we’re just concerned about potential damage to the parks,” Cardin said. The ban includes the use of campfires and fire pits in all county parks. Cardin said the ban will likely stay in place until around Labor Day.

Large brush fire southwest of the Valley Friday Channel 15 KNXV - Phoenix Scripps April 26, 2019 Friday night. The fire is burning in a dry area south of the Estrella Mountain Regional Park.

Five2Ride: 5 of the Best Beginner Mountain Bike Trails in Phoenix By Ray Southwick April 25, 2019 SingleTracks.com

If you’re new to Phoenix you might be surprised at not only the number of trails spread throughout the metro area’s many parks and reserves but by the quality and variety as well. That’s right, not all of the trails are full-face-helmeted, body-armored, technical drop fests (like South Mountain’s National Trail). There are also miles upon miles of beginner-friendly trails for those who are more cross-country minded and downhill averse. That said, don’t scratch these off your list of rides if you are at an intermediate or advanced skill level. All of these trails become something altogether different when you ride them with speed and reckless abandon. Each has side trails and spurs branching off from them that are more difficult if you should so choose to sample those. A few caveats before we begin: Phoenix gets hot from May to early October. Very hot. Every summer someone dies on the trails who hikes or bikes in extreme heat when they shouldn’t have. Ride early, drink a lot, and be careful out there. OK, time to hit the trails. Usery Mountain Regional Park

Blevins Loop looking east toward the Superstition Springs Mountains. All photos Ray Southwick. This is by far the flattest and easiest of the five trails included in this list, and a perfect place to take someone riding for the first time. Located just outside of the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, it doesn’t tend to get as crowded as the popular Phoenix trails. The trails are either slightly uphill or down, and for the most part, rather straight as they meanders gently down through several desert washes on smooth, sandy single and doubletrack. The 3-mile Blevins Loop is the center of the trail system, but add in the curvy Moon Rock Trail or shred through the more rocky Meridian/County Line/Ruidoso Trails combo, and the miles start to fly by. To add some spice, go up and over Cat’s Peak a couple times, which is the only real intermediate, hilly, somewhat technical area of the park, and take a look at the desert landscape, which is filled with saguaro, cholla, and prickly pear cacti as far as you can see. Along the way you may see some coyotes, jackrabbits, roadrunners, lizards, quails, and on rare occasions, javelina, rattlesnakes, and even deer. From this point, Pass Mountain is directly to the north of the park, and 10 miles to the east you have a clear view of the impressive Superstition Mountains in the distance (Pass Mountain technically isn’t part of Usery Mountain Regional Park but instead is part of Tonto National Forest).


Looking north into the Tonto National Forest. The beauty of this park for beginners is that you are never far from where you start, and if you get tired, you can usually return to your car rather easily. Just avoid going down any trails with “wash” in their title. If you want to make things much more challenging, hop on the Pass Mountain Trail in the Tonto National Forest and go north from the park four miles on the west side of Pass Mountain. This is an intermediate level trail for sure, in both terrain and elevation gain, and takes riders to an incredible vista point on the very north side of the mountain’s base. Don’t be seduced by the power of the east side of Pass Mountain, however, and turn around and go back the way you came once you’ve taken in the scenery. The east side offers stunning vistas too but is an absolute rocky mess and a downright dangerous trail unless you have the right bike and advanced skills.

Vista Point on Pass Mountain. The cost to enter any of the Maricopa County Regional Parks is $7 whether you park at a trailhead or drive in. Pro tip: Entering by bike is only $2, so save $5 by parking nearby and riding in. San Tan Mountain Regional Park Another Maricopa County Regional Park, this is just south of the town of Queen Creek, southeast of Phoenix. Though it is quite a sustained climb, the best way to start your ride is to

enter at the park’s northernmost trailhead at the end of Wagon Wheel Road, and commence a 1.3 mile gradual ascent on Dynamite Trail, to a saddle, which drops after a series of switchbacks to the San Tan Trail below. The San Tan Trail, when combined with Littleleaf and a portion of Goldmine, is a 7.5 mile loop that runs around a small valley, up and over a mixture of singletrack, doubletrack, and even a wide fire road.

Dynamite Trail. San Tan Trail offers a mix of shreddable features: very fast, long, downhill portions; quick dips through washes; and prolonged climbs up, over, and through big rock outcroppings and cacti. Rarely flat, riders are either going up or down, as a good mountain bike trail should. Though not particularly rocky or uneven, much of the trail is far from buff singletrack. Riders can traverse the loop one way, and then do it again from the opposite direction for a completely different trail feel. In the middle of San Tan loop are two trails that bisect it, Moonlight and Hedgehog, which add even more variety. Moonlight is mostly downhill going west to east while Hedgehog requires a chug to the top before a screaming burn down from either direction. Stargazer is a fun, winding detour too.

The top of Hedgehog Trail. The icing on top of this mountain biking cake is reaching the Dynamite saddle on your way back north, as the entire 1.3 miles back to your car is 95 percent downhill, and 100 percent fun. Like all the Maricopa County Park regional parks, San Tan has exceptionally clean bathrooms with flushing toilets, drinking fountains, and a nature center. South Mountain – Desert Classic

The Desert Classic saddle on the far west side. Once you’re here, you’ve already gone about 7.25 miles. To call this a “beginner” trail is a bit of a misnomer. Sure, you never gain a lot of elevation or experience a ton of tech if you stay on Desert Class proper, but it is also rocky, fast, and full of deep plunges in and out of loose washes. The trail is far from short, at nearly 18 miles if you go to the end of the almost 9-mile trail, turn around, and come back. As my friend John likes to say, “It’s non-technical, but it’s not a beginner trail either.” A flow trail it is not. Stretched out like a long snake in the desert sun, Desert Classic is on the south side of South Mountain and runs parallel to the range at its base. The Pima Canyon Trailhead was recently revamped and is a good place to start as it offers free parking.


What Desert Classic lacks in beauty (it is downright ugly, brown, and barren compared to the greenery of Usery, for instance) it makes up for in its rugged “Human vs. Mountain” persona. This trail taunts you, teases you, and begs you to hammer through it before this deceptive serpent strangles you aerobically and leaves you breathless. Beginner trail? Ride it and see.

For the most part, Desert Classic isn’t the most scenic trail, but recent rains did bring a splash of colorful wildflowers. Some landmarks to ponder: Going west from Pima Canyon Trailhead, you reach a large tan water tank at 3.5 miles, a big boulder outcropping known as “Bus Stop” 6 miles, and a relatively high plateau at 7.25 miles. Unfortunately, those who never go west of the Bus Stop to the saddle miss out as this roughly 1-mile western gem-of-a-segment includes a long rock garden, some brief but techy climbs, and multiple S-curves that take you up to the top.

The trail gets a bit rockier and more challenging as you go west of the Bus Stop. Like all good trails, Desert Classic has an obligatory offshoot called Goat Trail (skip it) and Secret Trail (ride it), not to mention a 275-foot ascent in less than one mile called Helipad Trail that is certainly not “beginner” but worth the trip if you are up for it.

Despite claiming to be the largest city park in the United States, South Mountain Park, and especially Desert Classic trail, are very crowded on weekends and holiday mornings. Your best bet is to ride at off-peak times if you can and to bring a bell. Otherwise, you’ll be saying “On Your Left” more times than Bernie Sanders at a Trump Rally. That said, for whatever reason Arizona hikers and mountain bikers are usually a pretty laid back, courteous sort, and trail conflict is quite rare. This is possibly because they all left the Midwest’s snow behind when they moved here, and are just plain happy. Phoenix Mountain Preserve – Trail 100

Sunrise at the Dreamy Draw saddle feels a world away from the city you just left behind. Beginning at the Dreamy Draw parking lot and trailhead, most people who ride Trail 100 go east and ramble up a gradual 1-mile climb to a saddle. Smack dab in the middle of urban north Phoenix, and just off the often congested Highway 51, it is remarkable how quickly the sights and sounds of the city disappear behind you as you descend from the saddle into the expansive desert valley below. Even though Trail 100 only goes three miles east from here before terminating at Tatum Boulevard, it is the numerous connector trails that branch from it for miles and miles along the way, both north and south, that make this an explorer’s dream. Some of the connectors (such as

Trails 1A and 8) go up higher into the mountains and get increasingly difficult with switchbacks and small drops, while many of the trails to the north retain the fast and flat sand-over-hard dirt nature of 100 itself. If you are looking for something more challenging, check out the more technical and advanced offshoots higher in the mountains, such as Hairball, Cheesegrater, and Voaz.

Looking north from the 1A Trail. While most people prefer Trail 100’s east side, if you have time on another day you may want to go west of the Dreamy Draw parking lot and sample Trail 100’s west side too, which continues roughly seven miles in a northwest direction. You access it by going under freeway 51 through a tunnel. Other than a few steep climbs and descents in the first couple miles, the west side is rather tame thereafter. McDowell Mountain Regional Park – Sport Loop

McDowell Mountains from Long Loop. North of the town of Fountain Hills lies McDowell Mountain Regional Park and over 50 miles of mountain biking trails. While most of these trails are rated beginner and intermediate, the part you will likely


want to check out first is the Competitive Track, which includes three racing courses: Sport Loop, Tech Loop, and Long Loop. Totaling almost 14 miles of single-direction riding, Sport Loop has the most beginner appeal. Just three miles in length, you gradually pedal up this trail for about 1.5 miles before grinning your way back down through several fast, straight sections with occasional dips, twists, and turns, to include a few half-pipe-like cambered corners toward the very end. Since the trail surface is so incredibly buff and the layout so well crafted, Sport Loop allows beginners to challenge themselves with speed and cornering in a way that is both safe and rare when compared to your typical rocky desert singletrack. Like a catchy hip-hop song, it’s so fun and short you just may want to repeat it again and again.

Sport Loop in the morning. For history lovers, the Competitive Track is also the home of the Specialized Cactus Cup, which in the late 90s saw the likes of Ned Overend, John Tomac, Dave Weins, and Juli Furtado tearing up the dirt. The trail was hand-cut by inmates. While Long Loop and Tech Loop may be too much for a novice, in 2013 the park built the Escondido Trail just north of the Competitive Track that an aerobically-fit beginner would find challenging, yet doable. An out-and-back trail that is almost 13 miles in length, the first three miles serves up a series of very fast straight downhills on hard, smooth, marble-like singletrack, that

alternates with long, gradual ascents, a few sharp corners, and even a bit of exposure. The last two miles before the turn-around point rises about 250 feet in elevation, so riders will certainly earn their views at the top. Other Phoenix beginner trails to consider: Papago Park, Tempe Brown’s Ranch, Scottsdale Estrella Mountain Regional

Park, Goodyear Fantasy Island North

Singletrack (FINS), Goodyear White Tank Mountain Regional

Park, Surprise What is your go-to trail for taking first time riders in Phoenix?

Annual Fire Ban in County Parks Starts May 1 April 23, 2019 PRESS RELEASE North Phoenix News MARICOPA COUNTY — The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season. Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark. As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather than later is the responsible thing to do to ensure park visitor and park resource safety,” said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Director. 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. This season, charcoal may be used in the grills located in the turf picnic ramada area at Estrella Mountain Regional Park. However, campfires along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional Park are included in the fire ban due to higher than usual water levels and dried brush along the shoreline. Violation of this park rule, Rule 113, may result in a citation. It is also important to note that during this time of year, the National Weather Service often issues red flag warnings across central Arizona to alert land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition. Should this occur before the fire ban goes into effect, park supervisors have been authorized to issue temporary fire bans to ensure public safety and protect the park’s resources. When temporary fire bans are issued, the information will be posted on the website, and park visitors will be notified as they enter the park. The parks will also stop selling firewood during this time. While smoking in the parks is still permissible, it is discouraged due to the extremely dry conditions. If you must smoke, please be responsible 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: Adobe Dam Regional Park, Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Hasssayampa River Preserve, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional


Park, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, and White Tank Mountain Regional Park. If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, call the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visit www.maricopacountyparks.net/.

Fire ban to be implemented By Sonoran News April 23, 2019 The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Wednesday, May 1. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season. Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark. As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather than later is the responsible thing to do to ensure park visitor and park resource safety,” said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Director. 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. This season, charcoal may be used in the grills located in the turf picnic ramada area at Estrella Mountain Regional Park. However, campfires along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional Park are included in the fire

ban due to higher than usual water levels and dried brush along the shoreline. Violation of this park rule, Rule 113, may result in a citation. It is also important to note that during this time of year, the National Weather Service often issues red flag warnings across central Arizona to alert land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition. Should this occur before the fire ban goes into effect, park supervisors have been authorized to issue temporary fire bans to ensure public safety and protect the parks resources. When temporary fire bans are issued, information will be posted on the website, and park visitors will be notified as they enter the park. The parks will also stop selling firewood during this time. While smoking in the parks is still permissible, it is discouraged due to the extremely dry conditions. If you must smoke, please be responsible 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: Adobe Dam Regional Park, Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Hasssayampa River Preserve, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, and White Tank Mountain Regional Park. If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, call the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visitwww.maricopacountyparks.net/.

Maricopa parks fire ban to go into effect earlier than usual BY KTAR.COM APRIL 23, 2019 AT 4:04 AM

PHOENIX — An abnormally heavy rainy season has influenced the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department to enforce its annual fire ban almost a month before normal. The ban will begin May 1 in an effort to limit the possibility of starting a brush fire and causing damage to any parks. Typically, the ban begins around Memorial Day. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season,” Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Director R.J. Cardin said in a press release. “Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark. “As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather than later is the responsible thing to do to ensure park visitor and park resource safety.” The ban includes the use of campfires, fire pits and charcoal grills. It will still be acceptable to use gas or propane grills in designated areas such as ramadas, semi-developed and developed camping sites, and along the shore at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.


Smoking in the parks will still be permitted, but it is strongly encouraged to be responsible in their use. A date to lift the fire ban has not been identified and will be determined by the amount of rain the county receives during monsoon season. Here is the list of the Maricopa County parks affected by the fire ban: • Adobe Dam Regional Park • Buckeye Hills Regional Park • Cave Creek Regional Park • Estrella Mountain Regional Park • Hassayampa River Preserve • Lake Pleasant Regional Park • McDowell Mountain Regional Park • San Tan Mountain Regional Park • Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area • Usery Mountain Regional Park • Vulture Mountains Recreation Area • White Tank Mountain Regional Park

ANNUAL FIRE BAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED Apr 22, 2019 Updated 18 hrs ago Wickenburg Sun Maricopa County regional parks set May 1 as start date for annual fire ban (Maricopa County) – The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department will initiate its annual fire ban on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season. Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark. As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather

than later is the responsible thing to do to ensure park visitor and park resource safety,” said R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Director. 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. This season, charcoal may be used in the grills located in the turf picnic ramada area at Estrella Mountain Regional Park. However, campfires along the shoreline at Lake Pleasant Regional Park are included in the fire ban due to higher than usual water levels and dried brush along the shoreline. Violation of this park rule, Rule 113, may result in a citation. It is also important to note that during this time of year, the National Weather Service often issues red flag warnings across central Arizona to alert land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildfire ignition. Should this occur before the fire ban goes into effect, park supervisors have been authorized to issue temporary fire bans to ensure public safety and protect the parks resources. When temporary fire bans are issued, information will be posted on the website, and park visitors will be notified as they enter the park. The parks will also stop selling firewood during this time. While smoking in the parks is still permissible, it is discouraged due to the extremely dry conditions. If you must smoke, please be responsible 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: Adobe Dam Regional Park, Buckeye Hills Regional Park, Cave Creek Regional Park, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Hasssayampa River Preserve, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, San Tan Mountain Regional Park, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Vulture Mountains Recreation Area, and White Tank Mountain Regional Park. If you have any questions regarding the fire ban, call the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930, or visit www.maricopacountyparks.net/.

Brush fire burns 420 acres west of Wittmann, official says David Baker Posted 13 hrs ago AZFamily.com NEAR WITTMANN, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Crews are making sure a brush fire west of Wittmann doesn't spread. The fire called the Forest Fire broke out sometime on Sunday afternoon near 323rd Avenue and Forest Pleasant Place. Winds were driving the flames that burned 420 acres so far, according to Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. The fire is 30% contained. Two abandoned buildings have been destroyed, Davila said.


Right now, there are no evacuations or pre-evacuations, officials said. The department said the flames burned through grass and desert brush. "Forward progress" was stopped on the Forest Fire just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, the Department of Forestry said. Crews were battling the fire from the air and the ground. No word yet on a cause. Additional resources came from the Buearu of Land Management, the Central Arizona Wildland Response Team, Peoria Fire and Medical Department and the Surprise Fire and Medical Department.

Fire crews battling wind-fueled 'Forest Fire' near Wittmann Posted: 5:24 PM, Apr 21, 2019 Updated: 51 minutes ago By: abc15.com staff WITTMANN, AZ — Firefighters from multiple agencies are working to put out a 420-acre brush fire near Wittmann, Arizona. Officials say at least two structures have been destroyed by the wind-fueled "Forest Fire" 13 miles southwest of Wickenburg. Crews from the Peoria Fire Department, Surprise Fire, the Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are also responding. In addition to fire crews, at least three aircraft are also working to fight the blaze. As of 11:00 p.m. Sunday night, the fire is 30% contained.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Things to do around Litchfield Park April 17-25 APRIL 18, 2019 THINGS TO DO, YOUR LIFE 4/17 WEDNESDAY PERFORMANCE: A MusicEstrella performance, featuring music created by the Electronic Music students and performances by vocalists and the Estrella Jazz Band, starts 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Theater on the Estrella Mountain Community College campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. Free admission. 4/18 THURSDAY HIKE: A fitness hike goes 8-9 a.m. at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. Bring plenty of water and close-toed shoes and meet at the Nature Center for 3-5 mile hikes. Call 623-932-3811. 4/19 FRIDAY SCHOOL: Homeschool Happenings is a twice monthly program series designed for parents and students seeking to enhance their education in the natural history fields. The goal is to create a well-rounded experience of natural areas with hands-on and interdisciplinary learning. All programs will meet at the Estrella Park Nature Center 10-11 a.m. at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. Call 623-932-3811. 4/20 SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET: The Estrella Lakeside Farmers Market is open for the final time until October, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at 10300 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear. Call 623-386-1000. 4/21 SUNDAY

EGG HUNT: The Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, & Safari Park at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt. Kids search for eggs in the area next to the petting zoo, playground and train station at the zoo’s northeast corner. Kids 7 and younger hunt at 1:30 p.m. followed by all kids at 3:30 p.m. The Easter Egg Hunt is free with paid admission. Call 623-289-1132 or visit WildlifeWorld.com. 4/22 MONDAY COLLEGE VISIT: The ASU Teachers College transfer specialist will visit the Estrella Mountain Community College campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale, noon-4 p.m. to inform students about transfer opportunities to their college. Email [email protected]. 4/23 TUESDAY BLOOD DRIVE: A Vitalant (formerly United Blood Services) blood drive will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Estrella Mountain Community College campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. 4/24 WEDNESDAY COLLEGE VISIT: The U of A transfer specialist will visit the Estrella Mountain Community College campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. to inform students about transfer opportunities to their college. Email [email protected]. 4/25 THURSDAY COLLEGE VISIT: The ASU transfer specialist will visit the Estrella Mountain Community College campus, 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. to inform students about transfer opportunities to their college. Email [email protected].


BLM issues Vulture Mountains recreation lease to Maricopa County April 17, 2019 foothillsfocus 28 Views

PHOENIX –The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed a lease agreement allowing the Parks and Recreation Department to enter into a Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) lease with the BLM Hassayampa Field Office. Under the lease, the parks department will be responsible for managing approximately 1,046 acres of public lands near Wickenburg. The lease will allow for the construction and operation of recreation facilities, including an entry station, parking, picnic and campground facilities, nature playground, restrooms, ramadas, trailheads and trails, a nature center, an amphitheater, and an OHV staging area in the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area. “The BLM is excited about this partnership and looks forward to a collaborative management approach to the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area,” said BLM Phoenix District Manager Leon Thomas. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the lease on January 31, 2019. The final EA analyzes potential environmental impacts of the lease,

as well as potential impacts of a right-of-way grant to the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, for modifications to Vulture Mine Road for public safety purposes and access into the new recreation facilities. “The R&PP Act is a tool that State and local governments can use to apply for the leasing of public lands for purposes that benefit their local communities,” Thomas said. “This R&PP lease is an example of how partners and the community have come together to create a vision for facilities that will enhance the recreation experience on public lands.” Based on the analysis in the final EA, the BLM determined that the approved actions would not cause significant impacts. The BLM subsequently signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and issued a Decision Record. The BLM conducted public scoping in 2017 and completed public review of the draft environmental analysis, including an open-house style meeting at the Wickenburg Community Center, in December 2018. “Preserving and enhancing Maricopa County’s vast open space is a priority of mine,” said Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “This agreement adds a valuable asset to what is already one of the largest parks systems in the United States while also allowing for future growth and transportation needs.” The agreement expands Maricopa County’s park system to 13 parks and enhances recreational opportunities for our residents. Out of the 1,046 acres of land to be leased, approximately 98 acres, or 9.5 percent of the total acres, will be developed. Development for the

area has been divided into four phases according to the Preferred Alternative outlined in the Vulture Mountains Cooperative Recreation Management Area Master Plan and the Plan of Development submitted as part of the R&PP lease application: Park infrastructure and road

improvements Vulture Peak day-use area Vulture Peak campground OHV area According to R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department Director, “This is not the first park we’ve managed with the BLM under an R&PP lease. They are great partners, and our teams have been planning for this day together since 2010. Given the feedback we’ve received from the public throughout the planning process, I am confident that those who recreate in the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area will be pleased with the recreational amenities we’ll be rolling out over the next several years.” The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is playing a significant role in phase one of the development by improving Vulture Mine Road and installing public roadways in the park. “MCDOT has been a significant partner in moving this project forward and is to be commended for their role,” added Cardin. To learn more about what is planned for the area, visit https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/vulture-mountains-recreation-area/master-plan/. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or questions pertaining to the


Vulture Mountains Recreation Area. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours. The approved EA and associated documents can be found online at http://go.usa.gov/xPkh6.

Taylorlyn Nelson update: Maxx Bowe sentenced for disposing body in lake Posted: 1:51 PM, Apr 15, 2019 By: Joe Enea ABC 15 News PHOENIX — A second accomplice in the disposal of the body of murder victim Taylorlyn Nelson has been sentenced. On Friday Maxx James Bowe was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to hindering prosecution. Court documents obtained by ABC15 show that on March 12, 2017, Maxx Bowe, his brother Kodi Bowe, and Kerrie Quaintance went to a convenience store to get gas, snacks, food, and ice before going to Lake Pleasant. Nelson’s body was sewn into a sleeping bag and attached to the bottom of a paddle boat by ropes. The bag was weighed down by large rocks and cut away from the boat, sinking to the bottom of the lake. Court records also show that Maxx Bowe and Quaintance were involved in a sexual relationship and, “had sex on the paddle boat when they dumped Taylorlyn’s body in the lake.” Her body was located and removed from the lake on July 20, 2017.A

medical examiner would determine that she was killed either by blunt trauma to the left side of her head or a gunshot wound to the right side of her head. Court records also show that Maxx admitted to a witness that he was present and holding Nelson down when Kodi shot her. Quaintance was sentenced last year to five years of probation for hindering prosecution. Kodi Bowe has accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to second-degree murder and is expected to be sentenced from 16 to 20 years in prison on May 10, 2019. Nelson was reported missing by her family after they said they were concerned because she had not called anyone after arguing with her boyfriend. During the police investigation, officers searched a mobile home around Deer Valley Road and 27th Avenue where Nelson lived with her boyfriend, Kodi Bowe. In the home, police located evidence including blood, a bullet hole, and a 9mm shell casing. Police were able to match the DNA of the blood to Nelson’s mother. Witness reports lead police to the area of Lake Pleasant where cadaver dogs alerted them to the evidence of human remains.

Untold Arizona: Tracing The Ancient Origins Of Arizona Rivers By Nicholas Gerbis Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - 5:00am

In Medieval Europe, all roads led to Rome. In Arizona, all rivers lead to the Colorado. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say the state of Arizona lies almost entirely within the Colorado River drainage basin, which also sprawls across southwestern Wyoming and down through parts of Utah, Colorado, Nevada, California and New Mexico. Were it not for the vast system of dams and irrigation systems that lock up their waters and put them to work, the Gila and Salt Rivers, along with the Verde River to the north, would drain the Mogollon Rim and mountain ranges, wash their waters down through the canyons and valleys and deliver them into the Gulf of California.

Steve Skotnicki The modern Verde River cuts through ancient lake bed deposits within the Horseshoe basin upstream of Horseshoe Dam. "They provide the exodus of water across highlands to lowlands and eventually all of these rivers in the Valley go to the Colorado River, and that goes to the Pacific Ocean," said Brian Gootee of the Arizona Geological Survey. Gootee is versed in reading landscapes and traces of ancient rivers. Erosion, like a rookie cop trampling a crime scene, has left few such clues undisturbed, but also washed its share of evidence into the Valley of the Sun.


"We know this much: We know that this place did collect thousands and thousands of feet — up to 12,000 feet — of sand and gravel and silt and clay and mud and salt." The Valley's Vast Basin After the thrusting, faulting and tectonic taffy-pulling that formed the Basin and Range 25-20 million years ago, but before the Salt River arrived, the Valley acted like a vast collection plate. South Mountain, the Estrellas, the San Tans, the White Tanks, the Sacaton Mountains, the McDowell Mountains: All were beginning to form, but the miles-deep depressions separating their uplifted blocks had not yet filled in. "Originally the area around Phoenix was just a closed basin. It didn't have any outlet to the sea, and so water that fell into the mountains just flowed into the middle of the basin and accumulated there," said Arizona State University geologist Steve Reynolds. Then, around 2-3 million years ago, the big rivers appeared. A nameless ancient stream carved several levels of stream terraces within the Tonto Basin as the water level dropped following the spillover near Roosevelt Dam that helped create the Salt River. (Steve Skotnicki) The timing roughly corresponds to the onset of the wetter, colder Quaternary period around 2.6 million years ago, but no direct evidence yet links changing climate conditions to the formation of the rivers. "The question is, well, which one came first? Did they all come first? You know, what's the time frame? And we do know that not all of them came at the same time. But as far as answering when they started to

come, it's always been vague," said Gootee. Steve Skotnicki uses drill cuttings from water wells to map the Valley's hydrological history. "During drilling projects, that's one of the few times when we can bring those materials back up to the surface to look at. They contain a wealth of information." Sorting those rocks by type and proportion yields a "sediment fingerprint" of the Salt River's earliest deposits. Together, these samples and river deposits found elsewhere in the state offer a sketch of where the rivers first arrived, and when. "They arrived pretty suddenly, because they're sitting on these closed basin deposits and then, all of a sudden, you have a river deposit," said Gootee.

Steve Skotnicki An air photo of the Verde River looking northeast towards Bartlett Lake. Like a series of bathtubs overflowing, the ancient Verde likely overtopped its Verde Valley origin, then Horseshoe basin and finally the site of today's Bartlett Dam. All three rivers appear to have originated in vast basins that filled up and eventually overflowed or burst. "Water from higher in elevation spilled over low parts in mountain ranges, and the river then started cutting through those hard bedrock

pieces extending their reach down," said Reynolds. The Salt's Shifting Course The Salt River's birthplace is preserved today as Roosevelt Lake, which overflowed across surrounding mountains and into the next lowest place: the East Valley. "It amazingly made it through the Superstition Mountains, cutting the gorge, made its way south of Fountain Hills out into the Valley, probably originating near Granite Reef Dam," said Skotnicki. This high-energy torrent, loaded with cobbles and boulders, followed quite a different path than today. "The ancestral Salt River flowed into the area of the Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community. Those deposits are down there. What it flowed into, we don't know; we think that the Gila may have been present," said Gootee. When this track became untenable, the Salt swung west from the Papago Buttes, assumed its modern course and began downcutting. This process formed a series of terraces, each marking a former level of the river. The lower Salt River, looking downstream from just below Stewart Mountain Dam. Triangular deposits of waterborne material (alluvial fans) (left) from the Goldfield Mountains were later carved by small streams as the Salt River cut downward. (Steve Skotnicki) "As you come out of the Salt River, and as you go either to the south or to the north, you rise up through this series of levels, each one of which is an old terrace deposited by the river," said Reynolds.


Today, from where it emerges from the union of the Black and White Rivers southwest of Fort Apache, the Salt River runs roughly 200 miles westward through Phoenix to near Estrella Mountain Regional Park, where it joins the Agua Fria River and adds its waters to the Gila. The Gila's Changing Headwaters The Gila River, which today drains half the state, also once pursued a different path. Today, the river's headwaters lie near the Gila Hot Springs and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in southwestern New Mexico. From there, its waters mingle with those of the San Francisco, San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers as it runs 630 miles to link up with the Colorado River at Yuma. But the ancient Gila likely arose in Safford Basin, located in and around the San Carlos Indian Reservation. A row of rolling linear hills (middle of image) composed of pebbles and cobbles deposited by a river that flowed through the area prior to the Salt River. Saguaro Lake is visible in the background. (Steve Skotnicki) "That system appears to have ended around 3 million years ago. And then we see the Gila River deposits in Florence abruptly arrive," said Gootee. Not long ago, great lengths of the Gila used to flow year-round. Today, the river is dry for much of its length, depending on runoff and demand, because Coolidge Dam — like Roosevelt and other dams on the Salt River — stores much of its water. However, a riparian conservation area near the New Mexico border, where it receives influxes from the San Francisco River and various springs, retains water year-round. So

does a zone near the San Carlos River confluence and an area downstream of where the Gila joins the Salt, where Phoenix-area treatment plants discharge treated wastewater. The Verde's Vast Lake

Daisy Finch/KZZ | Source: USGS Streamer White limestone still marks the birthplace of the Verde: a vast lake that once stretched from Chino Valley to Strawberry. "It probably filled up that bathtub of sediment and then spilled over into the Bartlett area, probably not for long, and then spilled over into the Fountain Hills area," said Gootee. Today, the Verde River originates from a series of springs 20 miles north of Prescott in the Big Chino Valley. A number of tributaries, most notably Oak Creek, join the river as it plunges thousands of feet over its 185-mile journey to join the Salt River in the northeast corner of the Salt River Reservation. The Verde, which flows freely before reaching Horseshoe and Bartlett Dams, is one of only two Arizona watercourses to receive the "Wild and Scenic River" designation. The other is Fossil Creek, which feeds into the Verde. Arizona's rivers are chronicled in the geology of its land and the history of its peoples, from the Verde's Sinagua cliff dwellings to the Salt's Hohokam canals and the Mogollon Culture of the Gila headwaters. It is a saga we are still reading and, through our dams, diversions and the

depredations of climate change, rewriting.

San Tan Valley Business Directory San Tan Valley.com April 18, 2019 Sunset Yoga in the Park 6533 West Phillips Road, San Tan Valley 85142, Arizona, Pinal County 26 April 2019 Join us in San Tan Valley at our beautiful San Tan Mountain Regional Park for an outdoor sunset yoga class that is appropriate for all levels. Certified Instructor Cathy Glaess will guide you through basic poses and breathing techniques as the sun sets over a beautiful desert environment. Be sure to bring a water bottle, yoga mat, and a towel or blanket for extra knee cushion. (Your mat will be on dirt ground). Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. This class is included with your park entry fee of $7 per vehicle or your annual pass. This is the last sunset yoga session of the season and we will start again in the fall. Meet at the main entrance trailhead.

Lennar's The Parks in San Tan Valley Grand Opens May 4! Date 4/17/2019 4:41:27 PM Menafn.com

(MENAFN - PRLog) You're invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Parks on Saturday, May 4 from


11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Round up the family, tour the model homes and explore the possibilities for your new home in San Tan Valley with two beautiful communities to choose from – Arbor and Discovery. Showcasing a wide selection of single and two-story designs, Lennar's multigenerational Next Gen® design and a high level of Everything's Included® features, families of every type can find a home that's going to take their everyday living to the next level. "Join us for the opening of two new home communities that present buyers with an incredible opportunity to own a brand-new, Everything's Included® home in a great San Tan Valley location near Queen Creek," said Alan Jones, Division President for Lennar Phoenix. "Both Arbor and Discovery offer our popular Next Gen® floorplan which showcases a smart layout designed for families looking for a home to accommodate multiple generations under one roof. Tour the model and experience firsthand how this innovative floorplan is revolutionizing the way extended families live together." With a variety of new home designs, families of every type can find a home fit for their lifestyle. Arbor ( https://www.lennar.com/New-Homes/Arizona/Phoenix/San-Tan-... ) offers six single-level designs ranging from approximately 1,739 to 1,968 square feet including three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Discovery presents six single and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,392 to 2,903 square feet including three to five bedrooms and two to three and one-half bathrooms. New homes start from the low $200,000s. Floorplans showcase open living areas with large Great Rooms and upscale kitchens, sophisticated owner's suites boasting a spa-

inspired bathroom, outdoor living areas and flexible spaces per plan. Additionally, both collections offer Lennar's unique Next Gen® - The Home Within A Home® design created to bring families of all generations together. The design features a main home plus an attached suite complete with its own private living space including a kitchenette, sitting area, bedroom, bathroom and separate entrance. The suite is connected to the home through a dual access door to allow for as much interaction as desired. This layout is an ideal solution for multigenerational families looking to live together without sacrificing anyone's comfort or privacy. New homes at The Parks come outfitted with designer upgrades and sought-after features through Lennar's signature Everything's Included® program. From energy-efficient appliances, upgraded kitchen countertops, high-quality cabinetry, home automation technology and much more, all is included as standard meaning no extra cost. Residents will have access to a host of community amenities within their neighborhood including a tot lot, ramada, benches, BBQ grill, half-court basketball and landscaped open space. With the San Tan Mountain Regional Park nearby, your new home opens the door to an active lifestyle with hiking, biking, picnicking and other recreational opportunities just outside your front door. In addition, minutes away are shopping centers, delectable restaurants, entertainment, top-rated schools and Queen Creek. The public is invited to the Grand Opening event on May 4 located at 440 W Pinnacle Ridge Dr in San Tan Valley, Ariz. 85140. For more information, please visit www.Lennar.com/SanTanValley (

https://www.lennar.com/new-homes/arizona/phoenix/san-tan-... ) or call 800-864-1058. Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar's homes and others. Lennar's Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the "Investor Relations" section of Lennar's website, www.lennar.com.

West Valley Things To Do: April 17-24

Thaddeus Rose, Chris Cannella and the rest of the band play the Wolfhound in Surprise April 19. [Submitted photo]

YourValley.net APRIL 16, 2019 THINGS TO DO, YOUR LIFE 4/18 THURSDAY COMEDY: Brian McKim

opens his weekend set 7 p.m. at Stir Crazy Comedy Club, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Suite E-206, Glendale. He also performs 7 & 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 19 and 7 & 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Email [email protected] or call 623-565-8667.


MUSIC: Rick Smith plays 7 p.m. at Fountain Park inside Westgate’s Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. Call 623-385-7502.

CLASSES: The World Music Family Classes series presents “Musical Theater with Cynthia Elek” 6:30 p.m. in the Velma Teague Branch meeting room, 7010 N. 58th Ave., Glendale. Join Phoenix Conservatory of Music Teaching Artists to discover and celebrate music from around the world in these family-friendly programs that include song, dance, a music craft and a story. Free for all ages.

THEATER: “Mamma Mia!” shows at 5:30 p.m. at Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, and plays through April 20. Call 623-776-8400.

LIVE MUSIC: Flashback performs 5:30 p.m. at I & J Fountain Restaurant, 12221 W. Bell Road, Surprise. Call 623-583-1222.

MUSIC: Western Fusion plays 7 p.m. at The Brookside II Sports Bar and Grille, 15170 W. Bell Road, Suite 115, Surprise. Call 623-556-1000.

OPEN MIC: Try your hand 9 p.m.-midnight every Thursday hosted by Chris Yak at Fuzzy’s Southwest Sports Grill, 18795 N. Reems Road, Suite 109, Surprise. Call 623-556-0664.

FARMERS MARKET: Sun City Farmers Market runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday at Bell Center, 16820 N. 99th Ave. Call 623-848-1234.

MOVIE: “A Dog’s Way Home” shows 7 p.m. at the Stardust Theatre, 14401 R.H. Johnson Blvd., Sun City West. Recommended donation of $2 per person Hearing-assisted devices available for use. No

food or drink in the theater. Call 623-544-6130.

HIKE: A fitness hike goes 8-9 a.m. at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. Bring plenty of water and close-toed shoes and meet at the Nature Center for 3-5 mile hikes. Call 623-932-3811.

4/19 FRIDAY MUSIC: Forever Young

Orchestra plays 7 p.m. at Fountain Park inside Westgate’s Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. Call 623-385-7502.

LIVE MUSIC: BTB performs 9 p.m. at Kimmyz On Greenway Rock & Roll Bar & Grill, 5930 W. Greenway Road, Suite 27, Glendale. Email [email protected] or call 602-938-9330.

EVENT: Five metal bands – Bleed The Fifth, Crippled Ninja, We Steal Copper, Moons Birds & Monsters, and Scott Rowe & Redrum – play the Reverend Black Birthday Celebration 7 p.m. at Starlite Lounge, 4346 W. Olive Ave., Glendale. Free admission. 21+ show. Call 623-934-1913.

PERFORMANCE: “EXIST: Messengers of the Cosmos” goes 5-7 p.m. at E. Lowell Rogers Amphitheatre, 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. An artistic presentation from Cirque Roots that integrates art and science. Free admission. A second performance starts 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

JAZZ: Arizona Swing Kings Jazz Orchestra presents “A Tribute to Bob Hope & the Radio Stars of the 1940s” featuring celebrity impersonator, Lynn Roberts 7 p.m. at Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. There is a second show

1 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Call 623-388-4858.

GAME SHOW NIGHT: A “Family Feud”-style game is available for fun 6-8 p.m. at CheezHeads, 20283 N. Lake Pleasant Road, Suite 110, Peoria. Call 623-566-6770.

POETRY: A joint event between WHAM and the City of Surprise Arts and cultural advisory commission, the ongoing Poetry Slam goes 6-8 p.m. at WHAM Community Art Center, 16560 N. Dysart Road, Surprise. Poetry Slams take place every other third Friday through Aug. 16. Call 623-584-8311.

LIVE MUSIC: Denny & Dan performs 5:30 p.m. at I & J Fountain Restaurant, 12221 W. Bell Road, Surprise. Call 623-583-1222.

LIVE MUSIC: Thaddeus Rose Band performs 9 p.m. at Irish Wolfhound Restaurant and Pub, 16811 Litchfield Road, No. 104, Surprise. Call 623-214-1004.

MOVIE: The Grand Movie Series presents “Infinity War” 1 p.m. inside Sagebrush Ballroom, Sonoran Plaza, 19793 N. Remington Drive, Surprise. Giant viewing screens, tiered seating and even free popcorn. Grand Café is open for additional movie snacks, soda and limited bar. Limited seating available, first come first serve.

COFFEE: Coffee and Cosmic Conversation takes place 10-11:30 a.m. at The Place of Spiritual Wisdom, 12630 N. 103rd Ave., Suite 244, Sun City.

BINGO: Friday night PORA Bingo is open to the public and provides funds for many local charities at 6:15 p.m. at the R.H. Johnson Social Hall, 19803 N. R.H. Johnson Blvd., Sun City West. Doors open at 3. Cost for 15 games is $10.


SCHOOL: Homeschool Happenings is a twice monthly program series designed for parents and students seeking to enhance their education in the natural history fields. The goal is to create a well-rounded experience of natural areas with hands-on and interdisciplinary learning. All programs will meet at the Estrella Park Nature Center 10-11 a.m. at Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. Call 623-932-3811.

Bald eagle closure at Agua Fria arm of Lake Pleasant lifted April 11, 2019 foothillsfocus 238 Views

Pictured: The closure areas that were in affect at Lake Pleasant for the bald eagle breeding season. The closures were lifted on April 4, for more detailed information visit MaricopaParks.net. Maps courtesy of Maricopa Parks LAKE PLEASANT – The bald eagle closure in the Agua Fria arm of Lake Pleasant was lifted as on the afternoon of April 5. That means boaters will be able to boat from the main body of the lake into this area of the Agua Fria arm. The boat launch at Agua Fria will not be accessible this season, but there is now access to the Agua Fria conservation area via the waterways from the main and north entries of Lake Pleasant.

Access for walk-in traffic is currently available on a daily basis and will be permitted from the upper parking area. Note that vehicular access to the Agua Fria Conservation Area is still closed. This seasonal closure is typically Dec. 15-June 15. Water level at Pleasant is 1,696 feet and 93-percent full.

Pictured: The closure areas that were in affect at Lake Pleasant for the bald eagle breeding season. The closures were lifted on April 4, for more detailed information visit MaricopaParks.net. Maps courtesy of Maricopa Parks The Agua Fria arm of Lake Pleasant is an excellent fishing spot for abundant white, striped and largemouth bass. The top-water bite at Pleasant should be picking up but anglers will likely need to hit the water by 5 a.m.

Department of the Interior extends withdrawal for Lake Pleasant Regional Park Apr 10, 2019 Wickenburg Sun PHOENIX – The Department of the Interior has extended Public Land Order No. 7384, which continues to protect for an additional 20 years the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lake Pleasant Regional Park (LPRP) expansion area, administered by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department. The park provides

recreation access around the lake for activities such as fishing, hiking, and camping. Under the extension, the land will remain withdrawn from settlement, sale, location or entry under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. "Lake Pleasant provides drinking water, flood control, and recreation opportunities to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The extension of this Public Land Order is essential to provide continued access to the recreation opportunities of the lake in one of the fastest growing counties in the nation,” said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Joe Balash. The public lands encumbered by the lake and original dam site were withdrawn indefinitely under a public land order issued in 1968. In 1999, an additional 1,988.27-acre expansion area around the lake was withdrawn for 20 years. This land is currently being used as the regional park. This extension facilitates recreation access to the LPRP for the more than one million people who visit the park annually. The extension also protects the area’s capital investments, water-oriented developments, and dispersed recreation.

Where to celebrate Earth Day around Phoenix (and find some good deals) Alison Stanton, Special for The Republic Published 5:00 a.m. MT April 9, 2019 | Updated 2:35 p.m. MT April 15, 2019


Flagstaff Earth Day Celebration (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Even if you strive to take great care of the Earth every day, it’s always nice to get your green on during Earth Day celebrations. It’s easy to do that with these Earth Day 2019 events throughout the Phoenix metro area. This year, Earth Day falls on Monday, April 22, so a number of the celebrations take place in the days leading up to that. Here are events where you can learn more about protecting our planet.

Recycle Fashion Show and Art Festival (Photo: "Pod Is My Co-Pilot," by Matt Mays) Recycle Fashion Show and Art Festival The sixth annual event highlights recycled art as way to practice sustainability. The festival teaches kids and adults about the importance of recycling and reusing what might normally be thrown away. Enjoy art exhibits, music and entertainment, food vendors, kids’ arts and crafts

and info booths. This year’s theme is “Where Creativity Goes Green.” Details: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 6. WHAM Community Arts Center, 16560 N. Dysart Road, Surprise. Free. 480-823-4120, wham-art.org/recycle-arts.html. Party for the Planet! at Phoenix Zoo The day features plenty of Earth-friendly events and activities. Start by bringing your used clothing, towels, shoes and other textiles to drop off. The American Textile Recycling Service is paying the Phoenix Zoo for each pound of recyclable material received. While you are there, check out the bag-making station, and take part in a hands-on activity to learn how to identify trees. Play the matching tile bug game, visit the Hug-A-Tree station, learn how to shear sheep and much more. Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway. $16.95-$24.95. 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org/event-items/earth-day. Celebrate Mesa Enjoy games, carnival rides, entertainment and more. Celebrate nature with hands-on exhibits at the Living Green Village. Highlights include playing at the renovated park, a petting zoo, live entertainment, Tot Spot toddler area, food trucks and more. Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St., Mesa. Free admission; $5 wristband for unlimited rides. facebook.com/MesaParksAndRecreation. Chandler Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration Honor Mother Nature and the Earth with eco-friendly activities. The family-friendly event features live animal presentations, info booths that promote green living and

conservation, crafts and educational demonstrations. Details: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 13. Environmental Education Center, Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler. Free. chandleraz.gov/earth-day. River Trail and Clean Up

A biker rides on Skunk Creek trail near the 75th Ave bridge in Peoria. Glendale is recruiting volunteers to help pick up trash and debris along the New River and Skunk Creek trail systems on Saturday, April 18, 2015. (Photo: Mark Henle/The Republic) Help pick up trash along the Skunk Creek trail system. Come by yourself or bring your friends. Complete the online form or contact Tonia Edmundson at 623-773-7764 to register. Pre-registered volunteers should check in by 7 a.m. Or, onsite registration starts at 6:30 a.m. Closed-toe shoes are required; wear layers and sunscreen and bring gloves. Water and garbage bags will be provided. Details: 7-10 a.m. Saturday, April 13. Meet at 15000 N. 83rd Ave. in the vacant parcel across from Skunk Creek trailhead, Peoria. Free. 623-773-7764, peoriaaz.gov/events. Educate, Rejuvenate and Hydrate Come solo or with a group to help close unauthorized shortcut trails. City staff will be on hand to discuss safety and impacts to the environment when people go off trail at this event, which is part of Peoria’s Party for the Planet celebration. Closed toe shoes are advisable. Don't forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Tools and


water will be provided. Register online at peoriaaz.gov. Details: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, April 14. Westwing Park, 27100 N. Westwing Parkway, Peoria. Free. peoriaaz.gov/events. Buffalo Exchange Earth Day $1 sale

No. 1 clothing boutique:<br />Buffalo Exchange (Photo: Mark W. Lipczynski/The Republic) A selection of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories will be available for $1 apiece, cash only and bring your own bag. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of the United States and their work to rescue animals from abusive conditions and natural disasters. Details: Saturday, April 20. 3450 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, and 227 W. University Drive, Tempe. buffaloexchange.com. Nature Rangers: Earth Day Celebration in Wickenburg The Nature Rangers youth program gives kids from preschool age up to 12 years a meaningful outdoors experience to help build a lifelong appreciation of caring for the planet. Kids will learn how to be good stewards of the Earth and get others to care as well through fun activities. Kids must be accompanied by an adult; registration is required. Details: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Hassayampa River Preserve, 49614 U.S. 60, Wickenburg. 928-684-2772, maricopacountyparks.net/events.

Want more stories about the best things to do, eat and see in the Valley? Subscribe to azcentral.com for guides, reviews and expert advice. Cave Creek Earth Day Festival This event will have vendors, live music and family-friendly fun including crafts, activities and raffles. The festival will be hosted by Tierra Madre Horse & Human Sanctuary. Details: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Frontier Town, 6245 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. Free. carefreecavecreek.org. Earth Day Phoenix Exhibitor Fair A wide variety of exhibitors, local experts and food trucks will be on hand. Come visit with like-minded sustainability leaders. Details: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, April 22. Cesar Chavez Plaza, Washington Street and Second Avenue, Phoenix. keepphxbeautiful.org/earth-day-phoenix-festival.

Rec improvements on the way as county takes management of Vulture Mountains The Wickenburg Sun Apr 3, 2019 Last week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials signed a lease agreement allowing the Parks and Recreation Department to enter into a Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) lease with the BLM Hassayampa Field Office. Under the lease, the parks department will be responsible for managing approximately 1,046 acres of public lands near Wickenburg.

The lease will allow for the construction and operation of recreation facilities, including an entry station, parking, picnic and campground facilities, nature playground, restrooms, ramadas, trailheads and trails, a nature center, an amphitheater, and an OHV staging area in the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area. The BLM released the final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the lease on Jan. 31, 2019. The final EA analyzes potential environmental impacts of the lease, as well as potential impacts of a right-of-way grant to the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, for modifications to Vulture Mine Road for public safety purposes and access into the new recreation facilities. “The R&PP Act is a tool that State and local governments can use to apply for the leasing of public lands for purposes that benefit their local communities,” said BLM Phoenix District Manager Leon Thomas. “This R&PP lease is an example of how partners and the community have come together to create a vision for facilities that will enhance the recreation experience on public lands. The BLM is excited about this partnership and looks forward to a collaborative management approach to the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area.” “Preserving and enhancing Maricopa County’s vast open space is a priority of mine,” said Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “This agreement adds a valuable asset to what is already one of the largest parks systems in the United States while also allowing for future growth and transportation needs.” “This agreement coupled with the addition of the Hassayampa River Preserve to our county parks system two years ago gives Maricopa County residents – especially those


in the growing West Valley – incredible new opportunities to get into nature,” said Supervisor Clint Hickman, District 4. “With cooperative management between Maricopa County and the BLM, residents can rest assured this area will be developed in a balanced, thoughtful way that improves access and prioritizes conservation.” According to R.J. Cardin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department Director, “This is not the first park we’ve managed with the BLM under an R&PP lease. They are great partners, and our teams have been planning for this day together since 2010. Given the feedback we’ve received from the public throughout the planning process, I am confident that those who recreate in the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area will be pleased with the recreational amenities we’ll be rolling out over the next several years.” Out of the 1,046 acres of land to be leased, approximately 98 acres, or 9.5 percent of the total acres, will be developed. Development for the area has been divided into four phases according to the Preferred Alternative outlined in the Vulture Mountains Cooperative Recreation Management Area Master Plan and the Plan of Development submitted as part of the R&PP lease application: 1. Park infrastructure and road improvements 2. Vulture Peak day-use area 3. Vulture Peak campground 4. OHV area The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is playing a significant role in phase one of the development by improving Vulture Mine Road and installing public roadways in the park. “MCDOT has been a significant partner in moving this project forward and is to be

commended for their role,” added Cardin. To learn more about what is planned for the area, visit https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/vulture-mountains-recreation-area/master-plan/.

An Anticlimactic End To The Bald Eaglet Soap Opera Near Lake Pleasant By Mythili Gubbi Published: Thursday, April 4, 2019 - 4:28pm

Arizona Game and Fish Department An image from Arizona Game and Fish Department’s bald eagle camera at Lake Pleasant. It’s the end of the nesting season for the bald eagles at Lake Pleasant, and no eaglets came from a nest that had been a successful breeding location in the past. The soap that was closely watched by people all over through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s live stream is finally over. The feed received more than 367,000 views. After three attempts at laying eggs and losing them to ravens and ring tail cats, a mother eagle’s final egg didn’t make it either. Thirty-seven days after laying the fourth egg, the mother sensed that it wouldn’t hatch and destroyed it.

This was the last egg that she would lay this season. According to Kenneth Jacobson of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, one of the various reasons for this could be the first-time father not incubating the egg enough and leaving the brunt of it on the mother. “The only reason he’d go to the nest is the female would fly out and chase him back to the nest. So he was helping a little bit but it was under duress on his part,” said Jacobson. This female has been coming to the nest at Lake Pleasant for the past few years and has produced eaglets there every season with the same male. But, at the beginning of this breeding season, a younger male came in and ousted the previous male. As a first-time father, he didn’t guard the nest properly, bring food for the mother when she was incubating the egg, or incubate the egg himself. When the female laid the last egg, he was more present, but it still wasn't enough. “Usually, the male is on the nest and shares the nesting duties 40 to 50% of the time. This male was maybe helping out an hour and a half, two hours at most every day,” said Jacobson. The department plans to continue having the live stream of the nest next year and will have the camera ready for the next season.

Lake Pleasant bald eagle pair fails to produce hatchlings after 4 attempts Ally Edelmann, Arizona Republic Published 10:04 a.m. MT April 4, 2019


Bald Eagle Pair in their nest on a cliff at Lake Pleasant (Photo: Arizona Game and Fish Department) Viewers who have been patiently watching and waiting to see if a pair of nesting bald eagles at Lake Pleasant will produce hatchlings will have to wait another year, according to Arizona Game and Fish Department. A live-streaming camera installed by the department has been monitoring the eagles' progress for the past four months. But now, there is not much to see besides an empty nest of twigs, branches and stray feathers. The nesting eagles, who keep their nest on the side of a sheer cliff above Lake Pleasant, has attracted more than 367,000 views, including 9,200 on Sunday, since the camera was activated Dec. 18, according to Game and Fish. After the female eagle laid a single egg for the fourth time since Jan. 21, she chose to destroy the egg Tuesday, possibly sensing an abnormality, officials said in a statement Wednesday. The typical incubation period is 35 days. The camera is funded through Heritage and Pittman-Robertson Act funds, the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee, and public donations. Arizona Game and Fish has also installed cameras that provide underwater views of pupfish and seasonal views of sintering sandhill cranes in southeastern Arizona and a bat roost at Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area. Those live streams can be viewed here.

Nesting efforts end for Lake Pleasant bald eagle pair YourValley.com APRIL 4, 2019 NEIGHBORS, YOUR LIFE

The nesting eagles at Lake Pleasant in Peoria appear to have abandoned their nest and won’t produce a hatchling. Nest now empty after four attempts to produce hatchling For the past four months, viewers have been treated to round-the-clock glimpses of a pair of nesting bald eagles through a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Now there’s not much to see but an empty nest made of twisted twigs and branches on the side of a sheer cliff above Lake Pleasant in Peoria, a disappointing sign that any hope of the birds producing a hatchling will have to wait at least another year. Some 37 days after having laid a single egg for the fourth time since Jan. 21, the female eagle, perhaps sensing an abnormality, chose to destroy the egg. The typical incubation period is 35 days. The nesting eagles attracted more than 367,000 views since the department’s camera was activated Dec. 18. The camera is funded through Heritage and Pittman-Robertson Act funds, the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee, and public donations.

The eagle camera is one of four that offer unfiltered wildlife-viewing experiences. Game and Fish also has installed cameras that provide underwater views of pupfish and seasonal views of wintering sandhill cranes in southeastern Arizona and a bat roost at Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area. All live streams can be viewed at azgfd.gov/livecams . Viewers can support Game and Fish’s efforts to conserve and protect more than 800 native wildlife species by purchasing a Conservation Membership package at azwildlifehero.com . All membership levels come with special benefits that range from an attractive set of wildlife notecards to an annual subscription to the award-winning Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. IF YOU GO What: Lake Pleasant Paddlefest, hosted by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department/Lake Pleasant Regional Park When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 6 Where: 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown About: Event for the whole family with opportunities to try out all types of paddlecrafts including sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks, canoes, rafts, Hobie pedal kayaks, inflatable kayaks and stand up paddleboards. Live music, games, and vendors. Dress to get wet, and bring a life vest if you have one. Life vests will also be provided. The event is held in Fireman’s Cove at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Cost: Free with paid admission to the park ($7/vehicle) More Information: Terry Gerber, 602 506 9556


Rattlesnakes! Fact & Fiction SanTanValley.com April 1, 2019

Rattlesnakes! Few animals spawn mythology and fish stories like they do. In working with thousands of rattlesnakes and people in the valley, the rangers at the San Tan Mountain Regional Park have heard it all. Learn to stay safe in the outdoors, what to do if you see a rattlesnake, and most importantly, what not to do. They'll go through the top 10 bits of popular misinformation, why people believe it, and get to the real story. Live rattlesnakes, gila monsters from all around Arizona will be on display (safely behind locked glass!). Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about our most misunderstood native wildlife. Bring your questions, and they'll see you there! $7 per vehicle park entry fee. Limited seating for the 11am and 1pm presentations. EVENT DETAILS: DATE: Saturday April 6, 2019 TIME: 2 SHOWINGS 11AM & 1PM LOCATION: San Tan Mountain Regional Park - 6533 W Phillips Rd, San Tan Valley, Arizona 85142 Be sure to arrive early! Meet inside the Nature Center.

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