Phoenix, Arizona
News and articles about the Coronado neighborhood relating to real estate trends, Historic Neighborhoods, and what's happening in the area
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Aug. 30, 2008
A Storm Runs Through It
Throughout the Neighborhood Saturday morning could be heard the buzz and whirr of chain saws as neighbors dug out from the ferocious storm which hit Coronado Neighborhood on Thursday night. There were so many trees down that I lost count. Down the street from my house, a neighbor lost an old, huge mesquite or acacia tree. My next door neighbor lost a mesquite and the neighbor across from her lost the top half of an old, old front yard tree.
The storm hit the downtown area with hurricane-like winds. Some people reported hearing the ‘train’ sound that a hurricane or tornado makes. There was some property damage, most of it from falling trees. Broken windows, cars crushed, shingle damage were the norm. I do not believe there were any fatalities.
Fortunately, there is a bulk trash pickup in our alleys within 2 weeks, so neighbors can cut the debris and haul it to the alley.
I did not suffer any damage; no shingles lost; no trees down, no windows broken. I am very lucky, considering the damage I saw up and down the streets.
So many of the trees were huge, old trees and their shade cannot easily be replaced. In the desert Southwest, shade is a necessity for yards and people.
Jun. 2, 2008
Bike Ride
I took a long bicycle ride Sunday from my house around 16th St. and McDowell to north of 32nd Street and Camelback and then rode east on the SRP canals. What a gorgeous ride. The mountains are so close to the Canal and there is brush alongside the graveled surface and you can imagine all the rabbits and quail that are hiding in the brush. The Canal borders the Arizona Biltmore Resort, which is a spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright building, and then meanders north. I left the Canal at Glendale and rode west to 12th Street and followed 12th Street most of the way back to my house. Next time I take this ride, I’ll bring my camera and take pictures of the Biltmore and the mountains.
I’m preparing for a 5 day Vermont cycling trip in October and I need to ride at least 30 miles a day. Cycling in Vermont will not resemble cycling in Phoenix, but my stamina and my endurance need to increase, along with my confidence and ease of riding. I cycled 15 miles Sunday and wasn't at all tired. I’ll continue blogging about my Sunday bike expeditions and my experiences.
Apr. 1, 2008
Our memories of the Home Tour and the chalk drawings in front of MacAlpines are both fading, but what a great time we had!! Emerson Grade School children and a local artist, Maggie Keane drew on the sidewalk Saturday night, before the Home Tour. On Sunday, North High School marching band and Emerson chorus performed; Mayor Gordon and Councilman Nowakowski attended the Tour and Festival; there were bands performing throughout the day and Crisis Nursery operated a Kid Zone, with inflatables, face painting, visor and bracelet crafts. In all, 71 vendors set up their booths, everything from Home Depot to Bright Ideas, kitchen remodeling. The day was perfect, not too hot, and the breeze was just right, until 2 p.m., when it began gusting.
The houses on the Tour were wonderful, and well represented our great Neighborhood. Some of the houses had been remodeled, but ever so tastefully, and some were pristine and the day they were built. Level 4 Studio, at 10th and Sheridan, opened their offices/studio for the tour and what a great asset to our neighborhood. After the Home Tour concluded, there were more festivities on 7th St., with bands and entertainment.
Our Neighborhood looked so good, and I was so proud of us – both the neighborhood and all the volunteers who made this Tour a great success.
Mar. 29, 2008
Categorized in: Eco-friendly
Don't forget tonight at 8 p.m is Earth Hour, when all non-essential lights should be turned off. Phoenix has agreed to participate in this exercise and encourages its residents to turn off all non-essential lights and electrical devices. City Hall and the Calvin C. Goode building downtown are among the city buildings that will go dark during that hour. However, Phoenix will not extinguish any essential lights; those that are necessary for public safety. To find out more about Earth Hour and get some tips of what to do in the dark, please go to earthhour@wwfus.org.
Please share your Earth Hour expereiences with me.
Mar. 19, 2008
Yesterday, for the first time, I had the exciting and scary experience of appearing in front of a tv camera. Councilman Michael Nowakowski is our District 7 councilman for the Phoenix City Council and his office asked me to appear on a panel with the Councilman and 2 other community activists. The other participants were Philip Wooley, the PC/Health Department head of the new Betty Fairfax High School in Laveen, and Alvin Battle, a newly appointed member of the Maryvale Revitalization Committee.
Mr. Wooley spoke about the formation of a Laveen volunteer-run sports organization. Laveen, in southwest Phoenix, has grown so quickly that the Phoenix Parks & Rec. Department has not yet formulated activities for the growing population. Mr. Wooley and his group have undertaken the task of running baseball, football, and soon, basketball leagues until Phoenix Parks & Rec. can catch up.
Alvin Battle is also a real estate broker and has lived in Maryvale for over 30 years. Maryvale is on the west side of Phoenix and was developed by John F. Long, a local developer, who recently passed away. Maryvale was named for Long’s wife, Mary. The Revitalization Committee is tasked with a huge job of uniting their diverse population to rebuild and revitalize Maryvale. I was impressed by Mr. Battle’s assertion that diversity can be a strength rather than a weakness. I was also impressed by Mr. Battle’s enthusiasm for his task and his can-do attitude.
I spoke about the March 30th Coronado Home Tour and Festival. As nervous as I was, it was easy to speak to something I’m passionate about, and I was surprised at how the words came from me, when I needed them. The nervousness disappeared as I was speaking about Coronado and the Home Tour. It’s an experience I’ll remember, and perhaps, have an opportunity to repeat.
The video of our discussion will be broadcast on Phoenix Channel 11, beginning Monday, March 24th and ending Sunday, April 6th, and air at various times throughout the day. For more information about the Coronado Home Tour and Festival, go to gcna.info and click on the Home Tour page.
Feb. 13, 2008
Categorized in: Self-Awareness
This weekend I had the honor and privilege to co-facilitate an Omega Training. Omega Vector is a self-awareness.personal growth seminar group located in Phoenix, Arizona and started by George Addair over 30 years ago. There are an army of Omega grads walking this planet and I was humbled to assist in this training.
There were 28 people who finished the program and their faces were beaming on Sunday. Details cannot be revealed about this experience, but Omega Vector has given me tools to change my life and to look at things from the inside - not the outside.
If you would like additional information or want to check out Omega on the web, their address is: www.omegavector.org. Spending a weekend at an Omega training is a life changing experience, and I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the participants, the staff, George Addair and Ann-Marie, the lead facilitator. Words are totally inadequate to express my feelings and my thoughts. Check out Omega!!
Dec. 24, 2007
Seldom does the Arizona Republic publish success stories on its front page. But on Sunday, December 23rd, there was a real success story. It was a picture of a boy and a dog; not much news there, but a huge accomplishment. Pam Gaber, the President of Gabriel's Angels, and the owner of Gabriel, the dog in the picture, regularly brings her pet therapy dogs to Crisis Nursery, an extraordinary HeadStart based program for young children. The kids love to see Pam and her four legged friends, and they brush and pet the dogs, taking them for walks on their leashes. The little boy in the picture has been attending Crisis Nursery since he was a year old. I was there the day he came in and he was a scared toddler, afraid of everyone and everything. When the petting zoo set up and the kids would take turns petting the goats and ducks, the little boy had to be held far away from the animals, because he was so frightened.
Fast forward 3 years, and this little boy is cuddling Gabriel and taking him for walks. Crisis Nursery F.A.C.E.S. program provides a safe, secure and educational environment for children who are suspected victims of child abuse and neglect. These kids have a caregiver at home, whether it's grandma, mom, grandpa; someone is there. So often, however, these children have not been nurtured and attachment is a huge issue for them; either non-attachment or inappropriate attachment. They either shun adults or cling to them - both of these are extremes. The Nursery provides these kids and their caregivers with extraordinary services and has a dedicated staff of teachers and social workers to assist the kids and their families. The success story of the little boy with the dog is repeated over and over daily at Crisis Nursery. I am proud to volunteer at the Nursery and, receive more love from the staff and kids than I could possible give. To find out more about Crisis Nursery, log on to their website at crisisnurseryphx.org.
Dec. 12, 2007
On Friday, December 10th, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., the motorists on 7th Street in Phoenix, both north and south bound, get an unexpected treat. The Emerson School choir, led by Ms. Miller, serenaded the motorists and the residents of Coronado with Christmas carols and songs. The event was sponsored by the Coronado Neighborhood Association and MacAlpine's Soda Fountain, a local landmark. Unfortunately, the choir performed in the rain, but the kids didn't seem to mind and those present enjoyed the songs from inside the store. All of us had a good time and we enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies provided by our host. The event also benefited Jewish Family and Child Services food drive, for needy families in the area.
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