Marana News: Marana Art Expo coming this month

The Marana News had a good article on the Marana Art Expo, which will be held on October 26-27 at the Marana Community Center.

The Town of Marana is receiving an extra dose of culture this month with the Marana Art Expo. 

Hosted by parks and recreation, the expo will feature local artists Robin Parnell, Jerry Gwin and Anja Leigh on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27 at the Marana Community Center, 1325 N. Lon Adams Road.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. 

Read the rest at the Marana News website.

Marana, lighting the way to energy savings

On Friday, October 12, the Town of Marana debuted the new Solar/Shade Super Structure at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. The 9,600 square foot structure covers the existing two basketball courts. 

in addition to the great energy savings achieved from this solar structure, it will also expand the Town of Marana’s ability to provide more recreational and community programs for our citizens. The structure will provide shade during hot Arizona days and it is equipped with state of the art lighting, making games at night an even better experience.

Marana Parks and Recreation believes the structure will provide additional opportunities beyond basketball. 

“This structure will allow the ability to provide programs under this shaded structure during times of the year, that previously would not have been possible on the fully sun-exposed concrete courts,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “The lights under this structure are high quality LED lamps which will also provide outstanding lighting for night time sporting and community events. From basketball tournaments to community festivals, this new structure will enhance our ability to better serve our residents.”

The structure at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park is the second located in a Marana park, joining a 6,097  sq. ft. solar structure in Ora Mae Harn District Park. Like the structure at Crossroads, this project will not only provide electrical credits and environmentally friendly energy, it will also serve as an outstanding amenity for the park. This structure will provide shade for park patrons watching swim meets in the pool or their children playing on the large playground structure.

The two structures, as well as future structures erected at the Marana Municipal Complex are part of a power-purchase agreement with Solon. The company pays for the installation costs of the solar arrays, while the Town pays a discounted rate for the energy it uses. Estimates by the Town of Marana Public Works Department believe the installations will save the Town roughly $3 million over a 30-year period.

“These two projects went very smoothly,” said Facilities Superintendent Brendan O’Connor, who served as the project’s project manager. “Solon met the schedules laid out in the pre-construction meetings and they were a pleasure to work with.”

The Town of Marana’s other solar projects with solar arrays include the Marana Municipal Complex’s parking lot, the new secure parking lot at the Marana Police Facility, and a collection of solar arrays at the Marana Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

The arrays in the parks are on a net metering systems which gives the Town the ability to produce power during the day and receive credit for nighttime usage.

“The two projects will save money on costly electrical bills and demonstrate that clean energy is a smart choice for the future,” said Marana Public Works Director Mo El-Ali. “These clean-energy investments support building a healthier, more sustainable community where we work, live, and play. The Crossroads park project will provide a nice community engagement platform. We look forward to collaborating and partnering further with Solon to advance further projects.”

Development Services Director Jason Angell presents on projects in Marana

Attendees at the Community Conversations meeting located at Marana Municipal Complex on October 9 were treated to a presentation from Development Services Director Jason Angell on current Marana projects. His presentation covered the new police facility, Gladden Farms Northwest Fire District station, road projects, new businesses, and more.

VIEW THE PRESENTATION

Angell’s presentation is part of the 2018 Community Conversations series hosted by the Town of Marana and located at various locations throughout the community. For each location, Angell presented a customized presentation of projects reflective of the area.

View the presentation focusing on north Marana.

View the October 1 presentation focusing on the northeast side of Marana (including Dove Mountain and Tangerine Road).

View the September 27 presentation focusing on the south side of Marana.

Haven’t had a chance to attend one of the Community Conversations? There’s one more left!

Tuesday, October 30
2:30 PM
Sunflower Village Center - Fiesta Room
9401 N. Sunflower Park Dr.

More information.

Traffic Alert: Ina Road Reconstruction

The Town of Marana will be installing utility conduits at the intersections of Ina Road and Thornydale Road and Ina Road and Meredith Road beginning Monday night (October 8, 2018) through Thursday night (October 11,2018). Work Hours will be 7:00 P.M to 5:00 A.M.  Expect lane closures and traffic delays. This work is part of Project Ina, installing conduit for irrigation and street lights.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with 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.

  Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Traffic Alert: Tangerine Farms Road - Storm Repairs

The Town of Marana will be replacing trees along Tangerine Farms Road due to Monsoon storm damage. The work will be starting on Monday, October 8th, 2018 through Friday, October 19th, 2018. 

This work will take place during day time hours from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and include a single lane closure.     

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with 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.

Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

START DATE:  10/08/2018                                           END DATE:  10/19/2018

DAILY START TIME:  6:00:00                                  DAILY STOP TIME:  16:00:00

SEVERITY: MINOR

PROJECT CONTACT: For questions related to this specific project, please contact Town of Marana Public Works Office at (520) 382-2536.

Travel Impact:  Light delays

Traffic Alert: Interstate 10 lane closures near Ina Road set for Oct. 8

Motorists on Interstate 10 near Ina Road should expect overnight lane closures for sign structure installations and road maintenance on Monday, Oct. 8.

Alternating lane closures are scheduled between 8 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT's Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Forbes honors Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

 The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain has set a new standard for desert luxury in the United States, having been named today to the Forbes Travel Guide 2018 Verified Lists of the World’s Most Luxurious Hotels and World’s Most Luxurious Spas.

Announcement of the coveted dual ranking notes that only eight properties in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, have earned a Verified List position in both the hotel and spa categories -- with just three in the U.S. achieving this recognition for both hotel and spa. Two of the dual U.S. winners are located on the east coast, while The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain claims the only western-based double ranking.

Forbes’ “Most Luxurious Hotels” list
Forbes’ “Most Luxurious Spas” list

Forbes Travel Guide’s new Verified Lists are compiled from data gathered by the company’s incognito inspectors, who stay at the properties and evaluate them on up to 900 rigorous objective standards used to determine the guide’s annual Star Ratings, which were most recently announced in February 2018. The new Most Luxurious winners are the top 2018 performers in the specific standards that reflect detailed attention to the list’s level of sumptuous comfort, as well as luxurious choices and conveniences afforded to guests. 

Fifty-eight hotels in 17 countries have earned the new Forbes Verified List designation, representing the top six percent of 1,017 Star Rated hotels in performance on standards related to luxury. Just 30 spas in six countries have won the award, out of 269 Star Rated spas worldwide.

“This dual Forbes honor for our hotel and spa acknowledges a stellar team effort, and we are thrilled to be included,” said Liam Doyle, Area General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Our newly-unveiled resort transformation should further elevate the Forbes Five Star experience, helping to raise the bar on authentic desert luxury in the United States. We are excited to share this stunning new resort experience with guests.”

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain property transformation was unveiled this fall and includes a floor-to-ceiling makeover of its 253 guest rooms and 44,000 square-feet of meeting space, all inspired by the resort’s highly evocative Sonoran Desert sense of place.

Marana named one of state's safest driving cities

Town of Marana has been named one of the Top-10 Safest Driving Cities in Arizona by quotewizard.com. Marana was ranked 9th in the state, the highest rated city in Pima County.

Arizona is rated as the 11th safest driving state in the nation. 

The website compiled over 40,000 data points from QuoteWizard users in Arizona on speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and other citations in the last year. They then calculated the rate of incidents across each city. Cities with the lowest rate were ranked safest.

“Marana is a town of about 43,000 residents north of Tucson,” noted quotewizard.com in their release. “The town has two neighboring national parks and I-10 running through its center. I-10 is often used as a commuter route for people traveling between Phoenix and Tucson. Luckily, with that heavy use, Marana is improving both the I-10 and Ina Road, which will ease the intersection’s flow of traffic.”

The Town of Marana and the Marana Police Department have a specific strategy to help create safer drivers.

“Our focus at the Marana Police Department is driver education,” said Marana Police Department Public Information Officer Chriswell Scott. “Though the number of traffic stops in recent years has increased, the number of citations issued has deceased. Every traffic stop is an opportunity for our officers to engage the community and encourage safe driving habits through voluntary compliance with traffic laws. The Town of Marana developed the FOCUS safety campaign to educate our residents on the dangers of distracted driving. Thus far, the campaign seems to have had a positive impact on our community.”  

Kingman was rated as the safest driving city in Arizona. Sahuarita was the only other Pima County municipality to crack the top-10, finishing 10th.

Quotewizard.com is a website that specializes in the insurance industry, with an emphasis on letting consumers compare insurance companies’ rates and policies.

Read the full story. 

Marana Gastronomy Tours Season 2

 Discover Marana, the tourism and marketing program of the Town of Marana, is pleased to announce the second year of its gastronomy tour program. “The Marana Gastronomy Tour” and “A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour” explore different aspects of ancient foodways at archaeology sites and wild food flavors through tastings. Featuring ancient foodways experts, archaeologists, master foragers, master brewers, and a Master of French cuisine (Maître Cuisinier de France). 

 “A Taste of the Wild” tours include tastings of Bean Tree Farm prepared wild foods and Catalina Brewing Company and Button Brew House craft beer made with wild foods, and a wild foods walkabout with experts Carolyn Niethammer and Martha Burgess.

“The Marana Gastronomy Tour” includes guided walks at two archaeology sites by Dr. Suzy Fish (later in the season) and Allen Denoyer of Archaeology Southwest, tastings at Catalina Brewing Company, and a small plates tasting at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. The tours are limited to 12-13 people. 

Reservations with Gray Line Arizona are $99 (“A Taste of the Wild”) and $109 (“Marana Gastronomy Tour”) per person. 

“The UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation was given to Tucson because the areas surrounding the Santa Cruz River have the earliest agriculture found in the United States,” said Laura Cortelyou, Tourism and Marketing Manager for the Town of Marana. “These are the only tours where you can experience these ancient cultures at ancient archaeology sites and taste ancient flavors in craft beer and classical French fusion cuisine.” 

Marana is home to wild foods educators, chefs, and craft brewers that responsibly harvest from the 450 edible plants in the Sonoran Desert; as well as farm-to-table restaurant suppliers, BKW Farms that grows White Sonora wheat used in local craft beer and artisanal baking by Barrio Bread, and a number of beekeepers that produce mesquite and wildflower honey. 

According to Jonathan Mabry, Ph.D., President of the Tucson City of Gastronomy nonprofit organization, “The Marana Gastronomy Tour program brings to life this region’s unique ancient history, foodways, and flavors. These are reasons for its 2016 UNESCO Creative City designation, as well as the area’s many food and beverage festivals, food economy, access to biodiverse foods, and more. Sonoran Desert foods have drawn and sustained peoples here continually for more than 10,000 years, creating a culturally layered cuisine.” 

Gray Line Tours Tucson is the tour provider and a third-generation family-owned business that has provided premier tours in, and from, Tucson for more than 100 years. 

“The Marana Gastronomy Tour” and “A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour” are both approved by UNESCO Creative Cities Network member, Tucson City of Gastronomy, the first City of Gastronomy in the U.S.

Scheduled Tour Dates Marana Gastronomy Tour: Thursdays; October 11, November 8, January 24, February 21, and March 21; 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour: Sundays; October 21, November 18, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7; 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Marana Gastronomy Tour Reservations 

For tour reservations visit www.GrayLineArizona.com . 

For tour information visit www.TownOfGastronomy.org . 

Things to do in Marana in October and Beyond

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On The Horizon

Nov 17 - El Tour de Tucson 28-Mile Marana Segment
Dec 1 - Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec 8 - Dispose-A-Med
Dec 15 - Electronic Recycling Event

Traffic Alert: New traffic signal on Arizona Pavilions

Google Streetview

Pace Electrical will begin construction on a new traffic signal at the 4-Way stop south of Cortaro Road. Work crews will be active Monday thru Friday, beginning October 1, 2018 work will begin at 7:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. and is expected to be approximately 46 days; expect delays as you move through this area.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with 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.

  Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Music a focus at the Marana Farm Festival

Drew Cooper

One of the staples of Marana’s signature events is live entertainment and the Marana Farm Festival is no exception. This year the Farm Festival boasts three different live music acts.

After dinner the sun starts to go down and the stage opens up for music and dancing. All ages are welcome in the beer garden (must be 21+ to purchase alcohol) to enjoy the festivities.

6:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.
MCMT COMMUNITY CHOIR

This choir consists of residents from around Marana ages 13 and up. It's a free choir that brings the arts to the community in a tangible and fun way. They will be performing several pieces to kick start our live music.

 The choir performed at last year’s event and recently put on their first live musical, a performance of the Wizard of Oz. 

6:45P.M. - 7:15 P.M.
CHRIS GRAEBER

Nashville influenced singer and songwriter Chris Graeber comes by his music naturally, growing up in the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Chris has brought his music, planted roots and now calls Tucson, Arizona his home.  Chris' soothing voice wins over a crowd immediately, with tones similar to Billy Currington, and Thomas Rhett, but really keeps the crowd’s attention when he explodes into song with rich intense vocals similar to Luke Combs and Justin Moore.

7:30P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
DREW COOPER

 Cooper is an acoustic singer-songwriter who mixes a variety of American music styles citing influences as diverse as Garth Brooks and Bruce Springsteen. 

“Drew is one of those rare performers who can turn anyone who attends one of his concerts into a lifelong fan,” reads the bio on his website. “Drew’s charismatic, smiling, laughing style of entertaining can turn crowds of 12 to 12,000 into enthusiastic, on-your-feet participants in a musical journey that excites and moves people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Cooper likes to say that his music reflects his Midwestern upbringing with “the commitment to country values and strong family bonds.” Musically he takes influence from the artists he listened to as a kid, the Red Dirt scene he discovered in his early 20s and his current home in the Southwest. 

“I've always been a performer, acting, singing, just being an all around attention hog,” Cooper said.  “The more I do it, the more I love it. So far the most exciting musical experience I've had came when I wrote ‘Pictures on The Wall’. I wrote and recorded that song on a Wednesday, posted it online, and on Thursday at a gig I had a stranger come up and request that song! What an amazing feeling. My goal is to have that feeling and effect people that instantly and deeply everyday for the rest of my life. I am blessed to be doing what I love and to be able to share it with you.”

Marana Town Talk Episode 4: Lock it or Lose it, Community engagement, Marana Film Office

Left to right: Tourism & Marketing Manager Laura Courtelyou, Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott, former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson

Town of Marana has released its fourth episode of "Marana Town Talk", a new government podcast that balances education and entertainment with thoughtful commentary on local current events. 

Communications Manager Vic Hathaway and Communications Specialist Brad Allis kick off the episode with a brief discussion on current events (0:50), followed by a discussion on safety tips with Marana Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott (5:36). Listeners can then learn more about the impacts former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson had on the community including details on the Marana Citizens Forum (14:53), before learning more about all the interesting ways Hollywood has used the Marana landscape in the past…and present (24:28). 

audio Only

AUDIO AND VIDEO

Different departments and divisions make Farm Festival fun

A message from Town of Marana Special Events Coordinator Monique Hagberg.

The days are getting shorter and Fall is in the air. We know what that means. Marana Farm Festival is here, and Town of Marana staff is excited to invite the public to Marana Heritage River Park to enjoy a night of rodeo demonstrations, carnival rides, food, and fun.

Residents, visitors, and businesses alike can enjoy a traditional country fair with top-notch family entertainment that combines Marana’s agricultural and rodeo heritage with carnival attractions. There will be games, rides, great food, rodeo demonstrations, and a mutton bustin’ competition. Enjoy live music, explore the petting zoo, and participate in the pumpkin races. Proceeds from the pumpkin races will benefit the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club. 

There will be free parking and event entry, but fees will apply for vendors throughout the park. This year there will also be a one-dollar charge per carnival ride to help manage over-crowding. Town of Marana staff works hard to create events that are as accessible to the public as possible while maintaining costs and ensuring affordable opportunities.  

The Town of Marana Signature Events series is a multi-departmental endeavor to create unique experiences for the Marana community and includes Marana Founders’ Day, Star Spangled Spectacular, Marana Farm Festival, and Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting. It takes the combined effort of nearly every department to make each event a success. While the public can anticipate interacting with Event and Parks and Recreation staff on event day, there is a tremendous collaborative effort to make things safe and welcoming from behind the scenes.

With anywhere from 3,000 to 17,000 people in one night, there are safety concerns to be considered when designing each event. From security to medical treatment, Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District work together to ensure public safety.

The event facilities are in top-notch shape due to the combined efforts of Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff. The Traffic Division designs the best setup for getting in and out of the event as well as providing enough available parking, and the Development Services Department works hard to inspect all structures to ensure safety.

The Town’s administration staff is also hard at work making sure all vendors, partners, and contractors are formally processed so the business community can have an engaging presence at Town events.

When all departments come together seamlessly, events are a success. That is once again the goal this weekend for the Marana Farm Festival. 

For more information on Marana Farm Festival and future events, please visit www.MaranaEvents.com. Thank you to our signature event sponsor Core Construction, and additional sponsors Tucson Local Media, Trico Electric Cooperative, Pima County Farm Bureau, 5th Avenue Productions, Red Diamond Rentals, Tucson Kona Ice, Ciao Down, and Post Farms.

See you on the farm!

Marana Farm Festival is this Saturday, Sept 29 from 4-9PM at Marana Heritage River Park.

Ribbon Cutting commemorates completion of Tangerine Corridor Project

On Friday, September 21, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase Tangerine Corridor Project. Officials from the Town of Marana, the Town of Oro Valley, The Regional Transportation Authority, the Pima Association of Governments, and the contractors who worked on the project gathered for a brief ceremony that was concluded with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed everyone to the event before giving a project overview.

Marana Mayor Ed Honea discussed Marana’s involvement with the project as well as the partnership between Marana and Oro Valley on this, and many other, projects.

Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath spoke on behalf of Oro Valley, as well as the Pima Association of Governments, for whom he is the Regional Council Chair.

Andrew Rogers spoke on behalf of the Tangerine Corridor Constructors, which is a partnership between Granite Construction and Borderland Construction.

The Tangerine Road Corridor Project extends approximately 10 miles from Interstate 10 to La Canada Drive and is part of the voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan. The project widened the road to four lanes, flattened the road, removing the dips and giving it all weather access. The project also included bike lanes, landscaping and a park in the Marana area.

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GALLERY

Photos provided by Town of Oro Valley.

Parks & Recreation sees an increase in summer participation

The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is currently in the midst of their Fall Into Fun + Fitness campaign, but a look back at their Summer 2018 programming shows that public participation was up.

“The hot summer months did nothing to prevent residents from taking part in the great programming we offer,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “This is exciting because our staff worked hard to introduce a number of new programs and the public responded to those offerings.”

Dubbed “Soak In Summer Fun” the programming from May to August saw over 2,080 registrations- a 45 percent increase in transactions compared to summer 2017. 

“The recreation team made an initiative to better serve the community by reworking popular programs and introducing new activities that specifically filled programming gaps,” said Recreation Superintendent Corey Larriva.

New programs like horse camps, speed and agility clinics, Boomer Adventure Trips, and Town-led swim lessons filled quickly. Most even had waiting lists. Returning programs like weekly sports clinics, Mini Me Tot Play, and art camps were improved upon and also had increased participation.

As each program concluded, the rec staff solicited feedback through the Town’s survey software. Over 135 surveys were completed and the average program satisfaction rating was 4.5 (out of 5) stars.

Parks and Recreation is excited about the programs being offered this fall. New programs like music lessons, Fitness on the Farm Bootcamp, Red Cross Babysitter Training, and afternoon STREAM classes join familiar favorites like guided hikes, youth and adult sports leagues, and fitness and craft classes to give people a lot of options.

“We really strive to provide something for everyone,” said Conroy. “Whether you are a big time athlete, an aspiring musician, or just want to learn something new, we have a program for you and your family.” 

Browse activities online at: http://www.maranaaz.gov/recreation.

Make Marana 2040: First round of workshops seek input from the public

Building a town or city isn’t just an idea. Be a part of building your own community with the Town of Marana General Plan 2040. 

Town of Marana is hosting the first Marana 2040 General Plan public workshops on Wednesday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex, and on Thursday, October 4 at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library.

The General Plan Project team will present the Town’s past and current planning efforts, and an overview of current and emerging planning trends.  The workshop will also include interactive exercises to identify Marana’s vision, community values and future opportunities, which will help with the development of a vision statement for the community.

INVITATION