Southern Arizona Bat Watchers Citizen Scientist Bat Monitoring Network

Photo by Doris Evans

Were your hummingbird feeders mysteriously drained during the night last summer? Did you know that the midnight raiders were bats? Most of Arizona’s 28 bat species eat insects, but two species drink nectar and eat pollen and fruits from plants such as the saguaro, agave, and your hummingbird feeders. The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with cooperation from the Town of Marana, will be commencing their 2017 nighttime hummingbird feeder and bat monitoring project and they need your help!

Over the past 10 years, citizen scientists have graciously volunteered numerous hours each summer to monitor their hummingbird feeders for signs of visiting bats. They have provided us with valuable information that allows us to better understand the behavior of the federally endangered lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) and the Mexican long-tongued bats (Choeronycteris mexicana), an Arizona species of concern. The lesser long-nosed bats migrate north from Mexico and arrive in southern Arizona as the saguaros begin to bloom. They continue to travel throughout southern Arizona feeding on the blooms of saguaros and agaves, as well as at your hummingbird feeders.

If you enjoy watching wildlife and sitting on your porch during summer evenings, please consider volunteering your time for this worthy cause. Your efforts will allow wildlife and resource managers in Arizona to better understand the ecology of these species. The goals of this project are to understand when these species arrive in southern Arizona, to determine foraging habits and movement patterns, and to document when the migratory species depart Arizona. With your help, we hope to continue receiving valuable information and use it to understand their behavior as well as how to better protect these bats.

If you are interested in participating in the hummingbird feeder monitoring project this year, please visit Marana’s bat study webpage.  The website allows participants to sign up as volunteers and to download information about this year’s monitoring protocol.

We hope to hear from you this season!

LendEDU: Marana ranks as Top 10 Arizona City for Homebuyers

In its most recent report on Arizona, LendEDU has ranked Marana as one of the top cities in Arizona to buy a home. This organization serves as an information portal focusing on student loans and debt. Marana's high ranking on this list reflects the Town's commitment to supporting our thriving local economy, high standard of living, and outstanding public schools

Summer Schooling 2017, Part 3: Supporting Community through Community Development

Marana’s Community Development & Neighborhood Services (CDNS) Department is truly diverse in the sense that they do a bit of everything! Their primary goal is to keep Marana’s neighborhoods safe, clean, and friendly. They accomplish this through a mixture of neighborhood revitalization, community outreach, and citizen education.

In the morning, I accompanied Town Staff on a follow-up visit with a resident who was a recipient of the Houses-to-Homes program. The Town was able to provide the resident with a new water heater and A/C unit just in time for the summer heat. The program assists qualifying citizens with repairs and/or replacement of water heaters, roofing, HVAC, and miscellaneous services such as electrical and plumbing.

The Town’s Code Enforcement Officers spend much of their time as educators of the Town Code. While it is their mission to “keep Marana an attractive place to live, work, and play,” the Code Enforcement Officers are adamant about finding the most effective and helpful solutions for both the Town and the citizens.  

In addition to Code Enforcement, CDNS oversees the Marana Clean-Up Trailer, Neighborhood Mediation Program, and most recently Animal Services. Beginning July 1, the Town will provide all animal services for residents. CDNS (with the help of almost everyone in Town Hall) has been vigorously planning the logistics of offering this new service. I look forward to this endeavor and I’m happy that Marana’s dedication for providing excellent service will now extend to the Town’s four-legged residents. 

Summer Schooling 2017, Part 2: Marana's Most Precious Resource

Thomas Prior is the 2017 Marvin Andrews Scholar. As part of his scholarship, he will be interning at the Town of Marana through August.

This week I spent some time with the folks responsible for managing the Town’s most precious resource: water. Marana’s Water Department is not only responsible for cleaning the drinking water which flows from the faucets, but they also handle the Town’s wastewater systems.

The Town has a handful of wells and water tanks ranging in size: the largest tank can hold a shocking 1.8 million gallons of water. Town’s Staff works vigilantly to provide proactive maintenance on the water systems. Part of this proactive maintenance includes sending scuba divers into the water tanks for routine inspections and cleaning. With proper care, these vital assets to the Town’s infrastructure will survive for years and years. 

While being pumped from the ground, the water is cleaned with chlorine, making it safe to drink. In contrast to the water treatment process, the reclaimed water is subject to a much more extensive method in order to eliminate any contaminants which may be harmful to the environment.

The amount of effort required to provide safe drinking water and managing the Town’s wastewater system is beyond amazing. The Water Department maintains some of the most important pieces of infrastructure within Marana. Currently a new water tank is being constructed as well as an expansion to the wastewater treatment plant. As the Town’s needs continue to grow, it is exciting to witness Marana planning for the future and investing into the proper infrastructure.

Police Facility Construction Begins with Groundbreaking Ceremony

Town of Marana police break ground for the new police facility.

With a collective sense of anticipation, the Town of Marana broke ground on a new police headquarters on Wednesday morning. This new facility will add to the campus of the Marana Municipal Complex, already home to the Town’s administrative staff, parks and recreation department, and the Marana Municipal Court. Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2018.

To mark the occasion, Marana hosted a public ceremony for officers, local dignitaries, contractors working on the project, and community members. In recognition of this milestone, that audience learned a little bit about the story behind how this project came together.

It all began in 2014, when Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema approached Town Manager Gilbert Davidson with a Peanut Buster Parfait in one hand and a small request in the other. As Davidson silently chewed, Terry Rozema made his pitch.

“We need a new police headquarters. This kind of investment will ultimately enable our department to meet the growing demands of our growing community. This isn’t about constructing a new building. This is about serving our Town.”

The Chief had Davidson’s attention.

Marana Town Manager Gilbert Davidson opens the groundbreaking ceremony.

“I think the Chief and his team literally spoke with every human being in the Town of Marana to talk about why we needed to have an investment in this community for a new police department.”

No amount of eloquence, though, could conjure up the $21 million that this idea would cost. For that, Town staff came up with an innovative financial tactic that could generate that revenue without incurring any debt.

Typically, when governments fund large scale capital projects, like building a police facility, they will issue bonds which must be paid back over several decades. Though this strategy can be effective, the interest on these bonds can add considerable sums to the total project cost. Furthermore, if a Town issues bonds for one project, then often issuing bonds for another project a few years later becomes even more costly, if not altogether impossible.

To work around this challenge, Town staff proposed increasing Marana’s sales tax temporarily by 0.5%. These new revenues could then be directed into an account solely dedicated to the police facility, such that when the fund reached a target balance, the tax would immediately terminate.

Raising the sales tax in this way required the approval of the Marana Town Council, and the Town Council needed to be sure that the community would support them in this endeavor. In order to gauge and build that support, Marana’s councilmembers, along with Chief Rozema, conducted an extensive public information campaign aimed at educating residents and business owners about the importance of a new police headquarters to Marana.

Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema speaks to the crowd. 

“I would be a horrible salesperson,” commented Chief Rozema, “I really have to believe in something to sell it. What I was selling was not the construction of a building. What I was selling is a better police department.”

Ultimately, the Council determined that the public wholeheartedly supported this project. After voting to implement the temporary sales tax, Town staff received not a single complaint from the public.

Davidson remarked that this support was “a testament to the leadership of the department and really to everyone within the PD that there’s that much respect in the community for the job that they do.”

When complete, the new facility will offer a number of upgrades for Marana’s police officers. There will be classrooms for trainings, improved evidence processing areas, community spaces, a shooting range, and even a kennel for the Marana K-9 units. Most importantly, though, there will be an increased capacity to serve Marana’s growing population. Marana’s officers are single-mindedly committed to public service, and this new department will enable them to fulfill that mission.

Today’s ceremony was recorded on Facebook Live and can be viewed below

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Left to right: Councilmember Bowen, Vice Mayor Post, Mayor Honea, Councilmember McGorray, Police Chief Rozema, Councilmember Comerford, and Town Manager Gilbert Davidson break ground for the new police facility.

Left to right: Michael Rosso and Joe Salvatore from Architekton, Richard Carr from Abacus, Todd Steffen and Mike Stecyk from CORE, Marana Police Chief Rozema, Jake Otten, Nichole Kotsur and Tracy Garrison from CORE. 

Mayor Honea speaks to the crowd.

Aerial of groundbreaking event and future location for the police building.

Celebrate Independence Day at the Best July 4th Party in Southern Arizona

The Star Spangled Spectacular, Marana’s annual bash celebrating Independence Day, is pretty much every kind of July 4th celebration, all rolled into one. No matter how you like to celebrate our nation’s founding, you’re bound to find your scene at this party. With live entertainment, dozens of food trucks, two beer gardens, all kinds of kids’ activities, and vendors throughout the event, there are attractions for one and all. Download the Marana Events app for iPhone and Android, and read on for more information. 

Fireworks

Let’s get right down to business. It’s not a July 4th celebration if there aren’t fireworks. Everything else is just icing on the red, white, and blue cake, and in Marana, we like our fireworks big, loud, spectacular. This year’s fireworks show will close out the event as our grand finale—launch time is 9pm sharp. Listen to our soundtrack of all America’s greatest hits, including the old standards as well as a few more recent melodies. America’s songbook celebrates all that we have to be proud of in this great country, so the soundtrack for our fireworks show is all about highlighting that patriotic spirit. As you listen to the music and watch the fireworks, enjoy opulent showers of glittering lights that cover every color of the rainbow. Feel their thunderous roar as they arc across the sky. Marvel at their beauty and at the amazing country that they represent. After all, isn’t that why we’re all here?

Entertainment

Throughout the Star Spangled Spectacular, performers will be providing the soundtrack for July 4th from two stages. The music at this year’s event will cover all corners of Americana, from country to Motown, from indie pop to patriotic anthems.

At 5:30 pm on Stage 2, Caiden Brewer will be taking the stage with his country swagger. A Southern Arizona native, Caiden Brewer was born with country music in his blood. After an injury that preempted his athletic scholarships to college, Caiden began to channel his ambition towards writing music, culminating in his debut E.P., "On The Run." A modern incarnation of outlaw country, Caiden's music draws inspiration from his own experiences growing up one step ahead of the law while staying true to his blue collar roots. 

At 6pm, don’t miss, on Stage 1, Steff and the Articles, an indie pop band with jazz influences. In 2009, singer-songstress Steff Koeppen joined forces with bassist Chris Pierce and drummer Tom Beech, and they currently perform with violinists Jessica Muiseke & Alexandra Tuggle. The group produces music that touches on jazz, classical, and folk styles while maintaining an accessible, pop-oriented sound. They've opened up for national acts such as A Great Big World, Holychild, and Copeland (whose most recent record Ixora features Steff).

Starting at 7pm, the George Howard Band will be playing Motown favorites on Stage 2. George Howard has been involved in playing the blues and R&B for over 25 years. He has worked with a line-up of blues greats, including John Lee Hooker, Syl Johnson, Louisiana Red, Bo Diddley, Charlie Mussellwhite, Jimmy Thackery, Johnny Lang, Albert Collins, and Willie Nelson. George has also produced and co-produced records on independent labels, as well as promoting concerts and managing bands. George has recently been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the Tucson Music Awards Hall of Fame. George is also the president and founder of the Tucson Musicians Museum. In the arena of blues and R&B, George Howard is considered in the heavyweight division.

As we get closer to the big day, we will announce more bands here, so stay tuned!

Food & Drink

The Star Spangled Spectacular is Marana’s biggest signature event of the year, and this is where the food trucks show up in force. This year, we’re expecting more than 30 food vendors, so that means that whatever kind of cuisine you’re in the mood for, we’ll have it.

If you’re looking for something to wash down that hot dog (or taco, or pizza, or kettle corn), and you’re at least 21, look no further than our two beer gardens. That’s right, this year, by popular demand, we’ve added a new beer garden near Stage 1 in addition to the original beer garden which will still be located near the volleyball courts. Now, you can enjoy your favorite bands and your favorite brews, all at the same time. Though both beer gardens will be enclosed, all ages are permitted in these areas. Only those with wristbands, though, will be able to purchase alcohol, and no alcohol can be taken outside the beer garden perimeter.

Activities

The Star Spangled Spectacular is an event that kids will love. Want to get ahead of the fun? Sign up for the cornhole tournament! Inflatables of all shapes and sizes will keep the younger set busy. During the warm summer weather, nothing is more refreshing than plummeting down a waterslide, and that’s just one of the gigantic, air-filled attractions we’ll have at the event.

Once you’ve jumped through all the castles and slid down all the slides, stop by the free face painting station. Want to look like your favorite character from Beauty and the Beast? Be our guest! How about a classic character from Aladdin? Your wish is our command! Whatever face design you can imagine, our face painter is ready to oblige.

Once you’ve got your game face on, look around for our patriotic stilt walker. He won’t be hard to find because This Uncle Sam definitely drank his milk and ate his Wheaties when he was just a wee Nephew Sam. Today, he’s a towering seven feet tall, and he’s eager to wish you a Happy July 4th.

And now that you’ve had a quick rest, it’s time to head back to the water slide. Race you there!

Vendors

Attending the Star Spangled Spectacular means hanging out with your neighbors across Marana, including a number of local businesses who will have booths at the event. Whether you’re interested in learning more about health care options in the community, finding a local bank or credit union, or just doing some summer shopping, be sure to stop by the vendor area

Parking

Last year, more than 15,000 people attended the Star Spangled Spectacular, and this year, we’re expecting even more. In order to accommodate all these attendees, Marana staff are currently developing a new parking plan. Details will be shared here as soon as they are finalized.

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This July 4th, there’s no better place than Marana to enjoy all that Independence Day has to offer. Marana’s patriotic spirit runs strong throughout the year, and the Star Spangled Spectacular is really our opportunity to celebrate that spirit with enthusiasm.

Summer Schooling 2017, Part 1: Diving into Local Government

Thomas Prior is the 2017 Marvin Andrews Scholar. As part of his scholarship, he will be interning at the Town of Marana through August.

The first week at the Town can be compared to a child learning how to swim. The quickest way to learn is to dive into the deep-end and start swimming! This past week I have dived into department rotations and I am becoming familiar with the Town of Marana. I have already met dozens of friendly faces and look forward to meeting many more.  My name is Thomas Prior and I will be getting to know Marana a little bit better over the next couple of months. I was born and raised in the Phoenix area and I am currently pursuing a B.S. in Public Service & Public Policy at Arizona State University.

Last week I spent a few days with the Marana Police Department keeping the streets safe on a ride-along, investigating crimes with a detective, discovering the intricate work of a crime scene specialist, and observing the expert multitasking skills of a dispatcher. After experiencing information overload by everything PD, I met with the Town Magistrate and witnessed the next stage of the criminal justice system. While some municipalities have a somewhat disconnected relationship between the courts, police, and the rest of town hall, Marana makes every effort to create a tight-knit community between all departments. In the short time I have been in the Town I have realized that the efficient interdepartmental harmony stems from Marana’s commitment to live by four cultural values: dedicated service, respect, teamwork, and engaged innovation.   

Over the summer, I look forward to getting to know the wonderful citizens, employees, and business that make up the great Town of Marana. 

Marana Breaks Ground on new Tangerine Sky Community Park

Ceremonial shovels and hard hats

Town Manager Gilbert Davidson opens up the groundbreaking ceremony

Mayor Honea speaks on the overall Town of Marana park system

Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn describes the planning process for the new Tangerine Sky Park

Council and community members

Council and community members

Council and community members

Council and community members

Town of Marana Parks and Recreation staff

Town of Marana staff

On the first day of June, the Arizona summer granted Marana town officials a reprieve. In a month when temperatures routinely break triple digits, on this morning a gentle breeze and a lightly overcast sky allowed for an unseasonably pleasant morning.

In a small clearing just south of Tangerine road, between Camino de Oeste and Camino de Mananña, amid the teddy bear cholla and blooming saguaros, a clump of Town staff chatted with residents, contractors, and their colleagues under the pyramid of a white tent. Glancing around, they started to imagine the plans for this clearing and the surrounding desert. Visions of swings rocking back and forth, dogs frolicking in a dog park, kids running through the open grass—these images would soon become reality. This is the site of Tangerine Sky Community Park, Marana’s first new park since 2009, and today is the groundbreaking.

“Who here has memories of playing in a public park?” Town Manager Gilbert Davidson asked of the small assembly.  “Who here has taken their kids or grandkids to the park? Think about those moments when you watch your child go down a slide for the first time. This park is about real people enjoying a public park.”

In 2015, during the preliminary planning stages of this park, Marana staff surveyed the neighborhood surrounding it to find out what some of those real people would want in this new amenity. As a result of that effort, the final design for this park includes two dog parks, a playground, a basketball court, a turfed area, and a paved path and a nature trail that will meander through undeveloped Sonoran Desert.

“This final design reflects exactly what we learned from residents,” says Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn. “This 12-acre park balances natural elements with developed features so that users of all kinds can find something to love about this location.” 

The location of the park, south of Tangerine Road is conveniently located near both Dove Mountain and the Twin Peaks Corridor, benefiting a wide array of visitors. Currently, the Town of Marana is working with Pima County and Oro Valley to widen Tangerine Road between Dove Mountain Blvd and La Cholla Dr. As part of this project, a shared-use path will allow cyclists, walkers, joggers, and any other non-motorized users to enjoy a car-free pathway. Tangerine Sky Community Park, when complete, will serve as an ideal trailhead for this route.

“Our aim with this park is to create a point of pride in this community, a gathering place for our residents,” continues Nemeth-Briehn. “We’ll host free concerts here, and no doubt there will be birthday parties, quinceañeras, and family picnics. We can’t wait for this park to open next year and to see our residents start using it.”

Town staff expect construction on the park to continue from now into 2018, just in time for a ribbon cutting in the spring. Keep checking back in the Marana Newsroom, like the Town on Facebook, and follow the Town on Twitter to stay in the loop on all project updates.

Overhead utility work scheduled along Interstate 10 and Ina Road

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following restriction as construction of the Interstate 10 and Ina Road traffic interchange continues:

I-10 will be closed intermittently in both directions at Ina Road between 6 and 10 a.m. Sunday, June 4, for overhead utility work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati.

Kids and Teens Can Take College Classes through Pima Community College and Marana Parks and Recreation

This summer, Marana Parks and Recreation is teaming up with Pima Community College to give a younger audience active and learning this summer. Over the course of four one-week sessions, knowledge-seekers can explore the animal kingdom, architecture, computer science, and world cultures. In every class, accredited PCC instructors will engage students with the same enthusiasm and expertise that they bring to their university courses. And the best part of all? Parents, you won’t have to pay university prices for your kids to benefit from this experience. So what are we offering this year?

The tables below break out all the course offerings by age group. To register a student ages 5-8 or 9-12, visit the Pima For Kids course catalogue. To register a student ages 13-17, visit the Teen Scene course catalogue. In either course catalogue, you can search for classes by course reference number (CRN). All classes in this program will be hosted here in Marana, at Twin Peaks Elementary School.

With both anticipation and anxiety, every year, newly minted high school graduates step into the world of higher education. For a few, though, a rising confidence bubbles up. They’ve been here before. They’ve experienced this life. They took PCC summer classes through Pima for Kids and Teen Scene. They’re ready.

KB Home and Sherwin Williams Work Together to Serve Marana

This week is National Painting Week, and to mark the occasion, KB Home and Sherwin Williams have teamed up to complete a painting project that will benefit the Marana community. On Friday, May 26, the two companies joined forces to repaint a Marana maintenance building located near Ora Mae Harn Park. This project helps beautify one of Marana’s parks with a fresh coat of paint.

“I grew up in the Marana community,” says Division President of KB Home Amy McReynolds. “For us to donate time and efforts and to partner with Sherwin Williams is a great way to give back.”

Across the community, the Town of Marana maintains a huge number of separate facilities of all shapes and sizes. The Marana Municipal Complex alone includes a sprawling campus that houses the Marana Police Department, Parks and Recreation, and administration offices. Elsewhere in the Town, a wide variety of municipal structures all require regular maintenance. By taking on this project, KB Home and Sherwin Williams are helping support this effort.

“I’m personally from Marana,” explains Rob Kallal, a sales representative of Sherwin Williams. “This was a great opportunity to give back to the community. Sherwin Williams is about community first, and everything else follows.”

This is far from the first year these two organizations have partnered for a community project. In fact, they collaborate every year on these kinds of projects during National Painting Week.

“Marana as a community benefits from a number of partnerships with the private sector,” says Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Nemeth-Briehn. “We deeply appreciate KB Home and Sherwin Williams for their contributions to Marana. This project supports our larger efforts to serve the community.”

Splash into Summer at the Marana Pool Starting Tuesday, May 30

Marana is a place where we love our outdoor fun all year long. Even as the summer temperatures heat up, there are still plenty of ways to stay active in our beautiful desert environment. On Tuesday, May 30, the refreshing waters of the Marana Pool will greet swimmers for the first time, which means that for the next few months, it’s splashing time. All summer long, Marana Parks and Recreation will host a variety of structured activities as well as some laid-back fun in the sun. So grab your sunscreen and goggles, because it’s time to dive into summer.

Parent and Tot Pool Play

Our youngest swimmers and their outgoing parents won’t want to miss out on Parent and Tot Play at the pool. This program offers a safe and exclusive pool environment for parents and tots to enjoy the water with other parents and tots, along with organized games and pool toys. For two Saturdays in both June and July, you can blow your tot’s mind with the biggest bath tub they’ve ever seen. 

YMCA Swim Lessons

For over 100 years, the Y has been helping kids across the country learn to swim. Drowning poses a significant danger for kids just learning how to have fun in the water, and participants in this class will learn the fundamentals of how to swim safely. For swimmers-to-be aged 5-12, there’s no better way to get ready for a lifetime of water adventures than swimming lessons from the Y.

There will be four two-week sessions held in July and August, and information on how to sign up is available here.

Sensory Splash at the Heritage Park Splash Pad and at the Marana Pool

Do you have a child, aged 5-12, with special needs? Marana Parks and Recreation is offering the perfect program for you. The Sensory Splash, offered at both the splash pad and the pool, provides a safe, positive, and exclusive aquatic and social meet-up experience for individuals with special needs. We will cater the pool and equipment towards those individuals, along with some planned activities for the participants to enjoy.

Junior Lifeguard Training

Grab your red buoy and put on your Hasselhoff face, because this summer, you, yes you (if you’re 11-14 years old), can get your Junior Lifeguard training in Marana.  This course is designed to prepare future lifeguards by building a foundation of aquatic knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Water Aerobics

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sing along with Cyndi Lauper while splashing to the beat? Wonder no more, my friend. Marana’s Water Aerobics program is the perfect activity to tone up for months and months of summer fun. Here, you’ll be able to build up flexibility, core strength, and balance while also helping you to reach your fitness goals. These Saturday classes will run through June and July, and are open to all participants aged 16 or older.

Splash n’ Dash Series

They say cross-training is the best form of exercise, so Marana’s Splash n’ Dash series may just be the best way to stay fit this summer. This event combines a long-distance swim with a run (distances vary by age group), and frankly, the only way to hit the pavement in this heat is to do so after a refreshing swim.

The Splash n’ Dash will occur on July 13 and July 27, and registration is only $5. Both events will occur in the early evening, starting at 6pm. And the best part? For free, Marana Parks and Recreation is throwing in the added bonus of watching a beautiful Southern Arizona sunset. We’ll see you in the water!

Dive-in Movies

Throughout the year, Marana hosts free screenings of a variety of family-friendly movies. When the temperature heats up, though, we move from the park to the pool. The Marana Pool will host Dive-in Movies all summer long. The summer’s first movie will be Despicable Me on June 17, followed by Finding Dory on July 15, and Moana on August 19 at the Heritage River Park Splash Pad.

Free Lap Swim

For a rigorous workout that won’t leave you panting from heat stroke, try lap swimming at the Marana Pool. Every Tuesday and Thursday this summer, starting May 30, the pool is open during the lunch hour, 11:30am-12:30pm, so head on over for some refreshing mid-day laps.

Free Open Swim

Are you not into the whole group activity thing? No problem, we’ve got just the thing for you. Every Monday through Saturday, 1-5pm, the pool is open for free open swim. Come relax in the sun, bring your friends, and hang out at the pool. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

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With so much going on this summer, the Marana Pool is the place to be. No one’s better at having fun in the sun than us desert dwellers. Whether you’re looking to up your swim game, strengthen your core with water aerobics, or just splash around with a pool noodle, you’ve come to the right place.

Marana tentative budget approved

Article by Brad Allis

Originally published in Marana News on May 24, 2017

The Marana Town Council approved the tentative budget for the fiscal year 2018 during on May 16. The Town Council will still need to take one more vote to formally approve the budget, but barring any last second changes, the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is set.

Project Ina app featured in RTA video

The Regional Transportation Authority has featured Marana's Project Ina App as an innovative way to help businesses during construction. Give us a view!

Marana developed the Project Ina app in the months before major construction descended on Ina Road. During this project, the Ina Road exits from I-10 will be closed, meaning potential customers must exit at either Sunset or Cortaro and take surface roads to access this commercial district.

When the project is complete, a new overpass will carry traffic over the highway and the railroad tracks, tremendously improving the flow of traffic in this area. Before then, though, the Town is working hard to support the businesses along the Ina Corridor. The Project Ina App is just one part of that larger effort.

Lane restrictions scheduled along Ina Road and Interstate 10

The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following restrictions as construction on Interstate 10 and Ina Road continues:

• Ina Road, east of Silverbell Road, will be narrowed to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Monday, May 22, through Friday, May 26, to set bridge girders. The work will involve 12 truck hauls per day transporting 63-foot girders. The trucks will be traveling on I-10 to Cortaro Road, to Silverbell Road, to Ina Road. Lane restrictions will be in place during the hauling.
• I-10  will have intermittent closures in both directions at Ina Road between 6 and 10 a.m. Sunday, May 21, for overhead utility work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

Additionally, there will be maintenance work along I-10 near the Ina Road traffic interchange for milling and replacing asphalt.

• Westbound I-10 will be narrowed to one lane at Ruthrauff Road (milepost 252) from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 25, for pavement work.
• The westbound I-10 on-ramp at Ruthrauff Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 25 during the pavement work.
• Drivers will use the westbound I-10 on-ramp at Sunset Road.
• Westbound I-10 will be narrowed to one lane at Cortaro Road (milepost 247) from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, and Thursday, May 25, for pavement work.
• The westbound I-10 on-ramp at Cortaro Road will be closed d from 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25, to 5 a.m. Friday, May 26.
• Drivers will use the westbound I-10 frontage road to Twin Peaks Road to access westbound I-10.
• The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati.

Overnight lane closures scheduled on Interstate 10 at Ina Road May 11

Westbound Interstate 10 at Ina Road will be narrowed to one lane overnight from 10 p.m. Thursday, May 11, to 5 a.m. Friday, May 12, for pavement work.

The work is part of the Interstate 10/Ina Road traffic interchange reconstruction project.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati. 

Expect brief delays on Interstate 10 at Ina Road Sunday morning, May 7

Drivers should expect brief, intermittent delays on Interstate 10 at Ina Road on Sunday, May 7, 6-10 a.m.

Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be placing utility lines over I-10 as part of the Ina Road project. Drivers should expect delays lasting up to 15 minutes in both directions. Law enforcement officers will be on site to direct traffic.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati. 

Skip Brunch, Get Active, and Celebrate Mom!

What’s brunch, anyway? Waffles at 11am? A travesty! This year, celebrate Mother’s Day with a jaunt in the park. Marana’s 4th Annual Mother’s Day 5K is the perfect opportunity to burn off those Easter calories (those Cadbury eggs sure didn’t eat themselves), and you won’t want to miss this casual, family-friendly walk/run beginning at beautiful Gladden Farms Park. And to top it all off, every mom gets a rose at the finish line. Still thinking about brunch? We didn’t think so.

To make this year’s event even better, Marana has partnered up with the Marana Community Food Bank to help collect donations on race day. All items will directly benefit the local community. In particular, the Food Bank is hoping to collect canned meats and veggies, canned soups, cereal, canned tomato products, bulk rice and beans, peanut butter, and canned fruit.

This year, try something different and celebrate your mom with an invigorating run/walk in beautiful north Marana. Are you yourself a mom? Bring the family along! Make them fete you! Make them jog as they carry your palanquin along the route! You deserve it.

Fun Summer Programs in Marana

School’s out for summer! School’s out forever! (Editor’s note: Marana schools are, in fact not out forever—first day back is August 7—nor do they endorse Alice Cooper.)

So what are you up to this summer? Are you a teenager with some free time on your hands? How about a parent wanting to find a new exercise routine? A retiree looking to meet new friends? Whoever you are, Marana Parks and Recreation has a summer program for you. With options including fitness for all ages, youth day camps, sports leagues, and art classes, there’s something for everyone.

Fitness

This summer, it’s time to hop off the treadmill and inject some fun into your fitness regimen. Try the Barre Above workout, a format that uses Pilates, yoga, and aerobics infused into a dancer’s strengthening exercises. Dancers who prefer Sean Paul over Tchaikovsky may want to check out Zumba w/ Janet, which mixes low-intensity and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning dance fitness party. If martial arts are more your speed, check out Steve Berry’s School of Chun Kuk Do, which combines Korean Tang Soo Do, Japanese Akido, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, and American Boxing. For a course with more of a practical application, consider a self-defense class, offered both exclusively for women, as well as for families and business professionals. If you still haven’t seen your jam, why not give aerobics a spin? With classes both in the dance studio and in the pool, you’re guaranteed to get that blood-pumping, full-body workout.

Youth Camps

School vacations are the perfect occasion to embrace some non-traditional learning opportunities. Classrooms are great for some things, but there’s nothing quite like a day camp to learn about science, architecture, and much more. In the Pre-School Fine Arts program, kids aged 3-6 can explore their creative sides and launch their artistic careers early. With elements of storytelling, play-acting, and focused art instruction, children will love exploring the limitless worlds of their imagination.  

For an entirely different take on summer camp, check out Create with a Beat, a program aimed at 4-13 year olds. With classes all summer long, this program takes up a new theme each week, and students will play games, create music, and make crafts all centered on that week’s theme. Topics vary widely—one week, students may explore the worlds of art and literature, while another their attention will be penguins and polar bears.

Pima Community College is also offering ½ day camps through the Marana Parks and Recreation this summer as part of Pima for Kids. Students aged 5-17 can learn about robotics, rockets, architecture, and much more. Why wait until you graduate from high school to explore the world of college when you can start today?

Summer Sports

There’s nothing quite like competition to really get the juices flowing, right? Whether you’re competing against your best friend or trying to beat your fastest time, there are plenty of opportunities this summer to unleash your inner athlete.

Junior Golf invites beginners to develop and enhance their coordination and golf fundamentals through weekly lessons. This program offers classes for three different age brackets, so participants will also be able to spend time with their peers. 

For those who love to hit the open road, take a gander at Marana’s cross-country race series. Through this program, you can experience the Sonoran Desert in all its glory as you cruise along in the sunshine. This program isn’t for wimps, but to these hardy souls go all the bragging rights.

Football season is just around the corner, and what better way to prepare yourself than to participate in one of Marana’s flag football clinics? With a targeted camp for both 6-9 year olds and another one for 10-14 year olds, budding NFLers will learn the game of flag football and build confidence in their athletic talents.

If you’re more into hoops and nets than end zones and field goals, check out the basketball clinic. This program is also offered to two age groups—6-9 year olds and 10-14 year olds—and focuses on developing fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Little ones may enjoy a more general approach, and that’s why Marana Parks and Recreation is offering the Pee Wee Sports Camp. This one-week noncompetitive camp develops and enhances coordination, fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Camp will include, but is not limited to, soccer, t-ball, and P.E. style games.

Finally, Marana is offering two volleyball clinics this summer, one for 9-11 year olds and the other for 12-15 year olds. Get ready for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as you practice passing, setting, hitting, and serving. Japanese lessons not included.

Art Programs

Ever since Bob Ross first conjured up a pine tree with just a dab of his brush, haven’t we all secretly yearned to don our own paint-splattered frocks? Yearn no more! Carpe artem!

Artistic dilettantes may want to first check out Art Isn’t Scary After All! If you are not sure of your art skills, or think you don't have the skills at all, this is the class for you. Put your hesitations and fears of art aside as you learn different techniques to create and bring your imagination to life. Join in an introduction to different art media and styles while your confidence grows in your hidden art abilities. Our drawing classes will teach step-by-step instructions that help you look at, break down, and then apply new drawing skills to your own masterpiece. Go from "I can't draw a circle" to "I am an artist!”

Do you spend a little too much time on Pinterest and not enough time actually creating your own clever crafts? It’s time to join Tammy at Make and Take Crafts. Expert craftswoman Tammy Burchett will teach you everything you need to know to make a cork board out of actual wine corks, an umbrella door decoration for spring, a daisy wall hanging, and more.

Still not speaking your crafty language? Well then why don’t you join one of our free adult craft groups. These gatherings bring participants together around needlework, knitting, applique, and other fabric crafts. Join them every first, third, and fourth Tuesday, 10am-2pm, at the Marana Parks and Recreation administrative office. Participants should be prepared to bring their own project supplies, as well as lunch, if desired.

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For us desert dwellers, we know how to turn the hot summer months into fun summer months. However you like to spend your free time, you’re guaranteed to find something for you in Marana. Our Parks and Recreation summer catalogue is exploding with opportunity. So start exploring! We’ll see you out there.

W. Cortaro Farms Rd. and N. Hartman Ln. Manhole Foundation Rehabilitation

Alpha Underground Construction will be repairing manhole foundations on Tuesday, April 24, 2017 and ending on May 5, 2017.  Rehabilitation will begin at 9:00 am and be completed by 3:00 pm, weather permitting.  Traffic will be down to one lane to direct traffic.

Directional signs and traffic control devices will be set up to guide vehicles around the work.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with all traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs. Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.

If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice. 

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