Ciao Down ready to feed Marana music lovers

The Town of Marana likes their Free Concerts and Free Movies in the Park series to be a full experience. In addition to fun movies and great music, we like to invite unique food trucks to fill out the evening. For this week’s Notes From Neptune Concert on Saturday, September 2 we are thrilled to introduce Ciao Down as one of our latest food truck vendors.

Not only does Ciao Down served fantastic pizza and Italian Sodas, but owner Paul Reyes has lived in Marana for over two decades, as well as working at a local resort. Or as Reyes says, his pizza may be new to Marana, but he is not.

“We are excited to bring signature flavors to Marana,” Reyes said.

The Ciao Down pizza truck is a key to the pizza itself. All of their pizzas are made on board their truck in our double deck 900 degree electric ovens.

“Having such high temperatures means we can go from dough to plate in under 2 minutes,” Reyes explained.  

The truck is also designed so that customers can actually see the Ciao Down crew making their pizza. They call it their “open concept kitchen” that leaves all of the mystery out of the pizza making process.

Their Italian sodas are handcrafted and available in hundreds of different flavor combinations, making it a near certainty that you will be able to find just the right style for your pallet.

Most of Ciao Down’s pizzas have their five-cheese mix and fresh ingredients. You can find traditional pizzas like supreme, pineapple, and peperoni, but also have their unique Prickly Pear Jalepeno Pizza, which includes cream cheese stuffed peppers, bacon, and Ciao Down’s prickly pear bacon jam.

Ciao Down is a true family affair. Reyes and his wife opened the truck as a way to spend more time with his daughter, and he admits his inspiration as a chef comes from his father, a great chef in his own right who also works on the truck.

“Without him the whole thing would not taste as great as it does today,” Reyes said.

Ciao Down will be at Crossroads at Silverbell Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. and Notes from Neptune hit the stage at 7:00, giving you plenty of time to indulge in some pizza and Italian Sodas before or during the show.

Easy steps for mosquito control

This has been one of the wettest monsoon seasons in recent memory, and as such mosquitos are a problem. Accumulations of stagnant water can lead to an increase in the mosquito population, but there are things we all can do to help prevent their impact.

With the exception of the El Rio Preserve, the Town of Marana does not specifically combat mosquitos. At the El Rio Preserve, steps are taken to eliminate the pests. The town has purchased a small boat specifically for the treatment and abatement of Mosquitos, and other pests in the area. Tests done by Pima County have shown that the treatment strategy is working.

Although there are basic steps town employees take to prevent mosquitos on town property, it is up to individual citizens to combat the problem at their own residences.

The American Mosquito Control Association recommends a three-pronged approach to mosquito problems, nicknamed the Three D’s: Drain, Dress, and Defend.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, easiest way to combat the problem is to remove mosquito habitats. Mosquito larvae needs stagnant water to survive.

Remove Mosquito Habitats

·       Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed. Getting rid of these items will prevent subsequent breeding opportunities.

·       Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats. stock ornamental pools with top feeding predacious minnows or other native fish that eat mosquito larvae. There are also various larvacides which can be used

·       Cleaning the debris from gutters will also eliminate potential breeding grounds. Those with flat roofs or other flat areas, should also check for areas where standing water can accumulate.

·       Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.

·       Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.

·       Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools, and septic tanks.

·       Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.

·       Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading prevent drainage problems.

·       Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.

Getting rid of habitats for adult mosquitos is also important. Adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation, so homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by getting rid of weeds, and mowing the lawn regularly. To further reduce adult mosquitoes harboring in vegetation, insecticides may be applied to the lower limbs of shade trees, shrubs and other vegetation. Products containing synthetic pyrethroids such as deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin have proven effective. Foggers can also be used outdoors to help eliminate mosquitos.

Avoiding contact with mosquitos is also important. While it can be difficult to avoid them while outside, making sure your home is protected is important. Using various structural barriers can prevent mosquitos from getting in your home. Cover all gaps in your walls, doors, and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering. Make sure window and door screens are in good working order. Completely cover baby carriers and beds with netting.

Of course, being outside is can be difficult to avoid mosquitos, but there are many steps you can take to avoid getting bitten. The easiest is to cut down on exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. Take it a step further by tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where mosquitoes can get to your skin. Use mosquito repellents when necessary and follow label directions and precautions closely. Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights, which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes than ordinary lights. The EPA cautions that yellow lights are not repellents, however.

• More Mosquito Prevention Tips
• 3 D's of mosquito prevention

Concrete poured for first of two Santa Cruz bridges

Work on the bridge over the Santa Cruz hit another milestone on Tuesday night as work crews poured the concrete for the deck of the first of two new bridges to span the river. The project is being done by the Town of Marana and ADOT in conjunction with other work.

When the project is completed, Ina Road from the freeway to Sivlerbell will be expanded to four lanes, giving it the same number of lanes as the road has east of the freeway.

Currently the first of two bridges is being built. One this new bridge is completed, the old bridge, which is currently carrying traffic in both directions, will be demolished and a second, two-lane bridge will be built.

The project will also build a bridge over I-10, letting Ina Road go over the freeway and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Video of the bridge pour.

Video of completed bridge pour:

Marana participating in warrant resolution court

On Saturday August 26, 2017 between 8:00am -12:00pm, all Tucson area courts will be available at 240 N. Stone Avenue to assist people with the resolution of outstanding warrants and other pending court matters. Many people do not know which court their case is pending in and often end up going to the wrong court. To assist with this problem, Judges from all Tucson area courts will come together at the same location to provide assistance to those with pending court matters.

Judges and staff from the following courts will participate in the Joint Warrant Resolution Court Event:

• Pima County Justice Court
• Green Valley Justice Court
• Marana Municipal Court
• Oro Valley Magistrate Court
• Sahaurita Municipal Court
•  South Tucson City Court
• Tucson City Court

Many of the outstanding warrants issued by these courts are for failure to appear in court on prior charges or for non-compliance with court sentencing orders.  Outstanding warrants may result in the suspension of a person’s driver’s license. The Joint Saturday Warrant Resolution Court Event will provide an opportunity to citizens to take care of pending court matters during nontraditional court hours.

Customer service windows will be available to assist those who owe court fees and fines.  Assistance for setting up payment plans or re-establishing a payment plan already in place will also be available. 

In past Warrant Resolution Court Events, the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court has quashed over 1,000 warrants and lifted defaults on more than 650 driver’s licenses.

Marana Parks and Recreation Desert Education Series

Do you want to find out more about the desert of the Southwest? Interested in things like archaeology, riparian wildlife, and birding? If one, or all of these interest you, then the Town of Marana has a program for you.

The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is putting on a three-course, weekly Desert Education Series exploring fascinating topics of the Desert Southwest.

On September 2, the first class focuses on ancient Native American archaeology in the Marana area. From 1999 through 2008 two local archaeological organizations, the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center and Desert Archaeology, conducted excavations at prehistoric Hohokam Indian archaeological sites and historical homestead sites in the Town of Marana's Crossroads at Silverbell District Park and along Silverbell Road prior to the construction of the park facilities. One of the archaeologists involved, Allen Dart, will illustrate artifacts, archaeological features, and other finds made in the excavations, and after the presentation will lead a brief tour to some of the park's archaeological areas.

Dart is a Registered Professional Archaeologist who has worked and volunteered as a professional archaeologist in Arizona and New Mexico since 1975 for government, private companies, and nonprofit organizations. Currently a U.S. Department of Agriculture archaeologist, he also is the volunteer executive director of Old Pueblo Archaeology Center.

One week later the Desert Education Series will focus on the El Rio Riparian Preserve. The El Rio Preserve is a riparian area that is one of the top ten birding sites in the Tucson region. It is also an important wildlife linkage. We'll walk the dirt road, along the southern border of the property, as well as a portion of the Loop Trail, for a length of about 1 / 1 ½ miles.

The class will look for birds and talk about the natural history of the area. Tying into the previous week’s class, there is an important archaeological site that this course will also take a look at.

Finally, on Sept. 16 the series will go Birding at Saguaro West. Have you ever wonder what that crazy, incessant bird call was? Did you hear about the bird that makes multiple nests but only uses one?

And what about that sneaky bird that lays her eggs in another bird’s nest and rolls out that bird's eggs?

Come join us at Saguaro National Park and the Town of Marana Parks and Recreation to find the answers to these strange habits of birds and learn to identify some common desert birds and their calls. Led by an expert birder from the Tucson Audubon Society, this event promises to be a fun experience in the park for families and their beginning birders. This class is good for all ages as teens from the Park’s Cactus Ranger program will be on hand to work with the younger participants.

You can sign up for one class or all three Individual classes are just $10.00 each, or sign up for all three for just $27.00.

Classes run from 3-6 p.m. the first three Saturday’s of September and will be conducted outside, so plan accordingly.

For more information see the Parks & Rec Event Page or phone (520) 382-1950.

Until September 30, no late fees on new or renewed dog licenses

The Town of Marana is committed to the safety or our residents and their pets. The new Animal Services Division is working hard to get the word out on the importance of licensing and vaccinating all Marana dogs. Many of our residents are still acclimating to dealing with the Town and not the county for their animal services. As such, there are currently no late fees being assessed on any new or renewed dog license through September 30, 2017. 

Town code requires that owners of dogs ages 3-months and older obtain a dog license within 30 days of being in the Town of Marana incorporated limits. 

Owners must show proof of current rabies vaccinations to get a dog license. Licenses can be applied for on-line, by mail or in person. 

Licenses obtained through the county prior to July 1 are still valid until their expiration. At that time renewals should go through the Town of Marana’s Animal Services division.

Marana News: Marana investigating a solar future

This story appears in the Aug. 23 edition of the Marana News

The Marana Town Council approved a resolution 5-2 to assess and possibly implement a solar-energy system that could save the town up to $5.7 million over 25 years.

Since 2007, the cost of electric through Tucson Electric Power and Trico Electric Cooperative has gone up 37 percent, while solar has dropped 31 percent, said Marana Deputy Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta at the Aug. 15 town council meeting. The town’s electric bill is currently a little over $1.1 million a year. 

Mehta presented a proposal for a 20-year contract with SOLON Corporation, the large-scale solar company based in Tucson that installed solar panels at the Marana Health Center and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Administration Office.

To read the full story, go to TucsonLocalMedia.com

Low-cost spay and neuter clinic

Town of Marana Animal Services is held their first low cost spay and neuter clinic on Saturday, August 26, 2017.

The cost of the procedure is just a $15 co-pay, due at the time of services.

There are just 45 total slots available, so don’t miss out on this opportunity. Those interested must complete and turn in a pre-authorization form to us before Friday at 5:00, or until all spaces are filled.

The clinic is being held at the Marana Community Center at Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road.

For more information or pre-authorization call 382-8020 ext. 0.

The clinic is provided by Marana Animal Services in partnership with Asavet Charities.

Manager's Message: Good for business, good for residents

By Gilbert Davidson, Marana Town Manager

Marana has positioned itself as a business-friendly community, and that has made us the fastest growing municipality in southern Arizona and one of the fastest growing communities in the entire state. By making it easy to build businesses in the Town, we are providing more amenities for our residents and giving more people a reason to move to Marana.

One way Marana has paved the way for businesses is by providing the infrastructure to support continued growth. Marana leads the region in new single-family residential permits for a reason. Our goal of top-notch customer service makes developers want to do business with the town, and our maintained roads, parks, and trails only enhance their quality of life. Through June we have issued over 400 permits, placing us well ahead of the pace we need to hit our projections for the calendar year.

We like to say a lot of dirt is being turned in Marana, and this has never been truer than right now, especially in north Marana. The expansion of the Marana wastewater treatment facility and accompanying recharge facility will put in place sustainable options for manageable growth. Marana’s portion of the Tangerine Road Corridor Project will create a robust corridor that connects the Marana and Oro Valley communities. The addition of the new Tangerine Sky Park will soon provide another recreational option for residents to go outside and stay active.

The latest project to begin in north Marana is the Marana Road realignment. The project will construct a traffic circle on Sandario Road that will connect to Marana Road. This will redirect traffic heading west on Marana Road to use the traffic circle, as well as provide easier access to businesses on Sandario Road. The project is also the beginning of our Marana Main Street, which will give Marana a consolidated downtown area that will become a hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Development in north Marana is important because it brings modern amenities to the area and creates a gathering space for all residents. The Town is getting constant inquiries about north Marana, and the improvements made to Tangerine Road, Twin Peaks Road, and Marana Main Street are driving that interest.

The Ina Road Interchange Project is in full swing. When completed, local traffic will travel over I-10, avoiding the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and ensuring a safer transportation corridor for everyone. Those travelling west on Ina Road towards Silverbell Road will soon see a brand new bridge as the Town works with Arizona Department of Transportation to expand Ina Road west of I-10 to four lanes.

Businesses continue to flock to all parts of the community. You can now see Top Golf’s driving range poles from the freeway, their Marana-located facility slated to open in November when they will begin offering entertainment options to people from all over the region. Also opening soon is International Towers Inc., a communications provider that will bring 150 employees to Marana Technology Center located on Tangerine Road east of I-10.

Marana Center off Twin Peaks Road is starting to generate even more development. Hampton Inn is breaking ground as well as Northwest Medical Center’s new stand-alone emergency room. The Town continues to receive inquiries about the area, and we are excited to see more businesses and jobs come to the area as well as other parts of Marana.

Our existing retail areas remain popular. Arizona Pavilions has recently seen a number of stores open, including the Screamery, Home Goods, and soon Barro’s Pizza. Arizona Pavilions remains a popular destination for new residents, with HSL breaking ground on a new apartment complex, and a new 108-room assisted living facility also being built in the south Marana area.

Marana Marketplace on Orange Grove Road and Thornydale Road will welcome a Smoothie King and a Popeye’s Chicken, while just up the road Mod Pizza is working to fill the space next to Fry’s Food and Drug on Ina Road and Thornydale Road.

Other restaurants are moving into North Marana as well, including the Twin Peaks Pizzeria at Twin Peaks Road and Coachline Boulevard, a Shell Gas Station with an accompanying Dairy Queen at Tangerine Crossing, and Mama’s Hawaiian BBQ in the food court at the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center.

As you can see, dirt is moving in Marana, and that is not only good for business, but good for our residents. For those interested in learning more about what’s happening in Marana, visit MaranaAZ.gov.

This Manager's Message originally ran in the Marana News

Parks and Rec: All Call for Fall

Fall is right around the corner and Marana Parks and Recreation has a robust list of offerings for your family to get active, and stay active this fall.  We are excited to launch over 20 new activities in addition to our most popular fall programs and events for your family's enjoyment. 

Six local schools will feature Parks and Rec after school programs. From weekly Art Literacy programs to Create with a Beat classes to art classes to sports intramurals, there are programs for a variety or interests.

There are sports for both adults and children. Adult sports include open gyms for basketball and volleyball at the Leman Academy. It is a great way to play a little pick-up hoops or volleyball, while keeping cool inside the school’s gym. If you get really good at pick-up hoops, then you might want to join the men’s basketball league. Like to do a little less running and jumping, then give our Pickleball meet-up a try. Pickleball is a paddle sport played with a wooden paddle and a small plastic ball that resembles a whiffle ball. Tennis your game? We offer tennis lessons for those ages 15 and up.

There are a number of youth sports options as well. There are golf and tennis lessons, including Itty Bitty Open Golf. Want your kids to try something new and different? Lacrosse is a fast growing sport that is just starting to take root in the west and we are offering a lacrosse clinic to brush up on those skills for this fast-paced, exciting sport. Youth flag football has always been one of our most popular offerings and our registration for our leagues is underway. Pee Wee Soccer begins play in September, and the leagues are filling up fast.

A fit lifestyle is one of the core values of Marana Parks and Recreation and we have a number of fun, healthy class and events for every interest. We have martial arts, indoor aerobics, water aerobics, and Zumba fitness. There is our Desert Education series for those who want to learn more about our wonderful Sonoran Desert environment. We offer guided hikes and guided mountain bike rides, and soon will begin offering guided horseback rides, so look out for those to start.

We love putting on events, and have some fun ones coming this fall. Like to run? The Turkey Trot returns in November, offering 5k and 10k races. Want something even more grueling? The Dirt Dash at The Wild Burro is our first timed trail run and the 14.8k (9.2 miles) race will take runners over a variety of elevations and challenges, while giving them great views of the Torolitias and surrounding areas.

The Marana Game Day Cornhole Tournament celebrates the traditional tailgate party with a little competition. This year the event moves to the Pines Golf Club, giving you even more entertainment options.

We also offer a variety of classes. Love music theatre and choir, then our Marana Community Music Theatre is waiting for you? For those who want to forge a better bond with their babies, we offer the 1 to 3 Mini Me Parent Classes. New dog, or misbehaving dog? Dog Obedience Classes are available. We have a variety of arts and crafts classes including Make & Take Crafts, Paper Art, and a Preschool Art Camp.

We also offer Self Defense of Busy People, as well as Street Smart Self Defense classes for both women, as well as teens and students.

For more information on all our All Call for Fall programs please see http://www.maranaaz.gov/fallfun.

First portion of Marana Road Realignment underway

The Town of Marana has begun work on the initial stages of the Marana Road Realignment/Marana Main Street projects. The project will not only help with the eventual realignment of Marana Road near I-10, but also begins the push to developing Marana Main Street into a downtown district.

This portion of the project began in July and is scheduled to conclude in December.

One key aspect of the project is the construction of a traffic circle on Sandario Road. This traffic circle will serve as the entry point to Main Street, as well as help with safety on Sandario Road. Work began on the traffic circle in July and that portion of the project is due to be completed in late October.

Because of the work being done on Sandario, a detour was established for motorists. Residential motorists can take the detour just south of the McDonald’s or at Denny Street. Commercial vehicles will need to take the frontage road down to McDuff Road and then over to Grier Road.

During the projects all area businesses on Sandario are remaining open and will be accessible from Sandario, even with the detour in place.

The other portion of the project is the construction of the Marana Road tie-in to the west of the traffic circle. The new roadway will provide access from Marana Road down to the traffic circle. This will allow travelers to access Sandario Road without having to stop at the Marana/Sandario intersection that can become quite busy with freeway traffic.

Work on this roadway is scheduled to conclude in December.

Dispose-A-Med allows safe disposal of medications

Abuse of prescription medications is a problem in communities all over America. Unused or expired prescription medications have become a real safety issue as they are leading to accidental poisonings, overdoses, and abuse. The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in the country.

The Marana Police Department and their community partners are trying to do something about it. Since 2010 they have held Dispose-A-Med programs to try and get expired and unused prescription medications off the street and properly disposed of. To date the program has been a huge success.

Since the program’s inception they have collected over 4,100 pounds of medication. Since the start of 2017 they have already properly disposed of 642 pounds.

The events are held once a month at the Target at 3901 W. Ina Rod. The events are from 10 a.m. – noon. This month’s event is Saturday, August 12.

At these events residents are able to safely dispose of any unused or expired prescription medications. Prescription and over-the-counter tablets and capsules will be collected, as well as liquids, creams, veterinary medications, vitamins, and needles.

“We can collect almost anything,” said Marana Police Department Volunteer Thomas Cox, who assists with the program.

The only limitation is that they cannot accept drugs from commercial organizations.

Unused prescription drugs that are not disposed of safely can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold, while unused drugs that are flushed down the toilet can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

The Marana Police Department partners with the Marana Health Center, Marana-Foothills Optimist Club, and the Marana Prevention Alliance to put on these monthly events. 

They do caution that for safety and confidentiality reasons, any items turned over for collection cannot be returned. They cannot accept drugs from commercial organizations. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

For more information contact Officer David Danielson at the Marana Community Resource Unit at 520-382-2051 or 520-382-2055.

Summer Schooling 2017, Pt. 7: Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

This week I am wrapping up my internship with the Town of Marana and next week I will begin my senior year at ASU. This is a sentimental time in my life and as I depart from the Town, I look forward to what the future has in store. I would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Town Hall who have taken the time to make me feel part of the team and show me firsthand how a municipality operates.  During this internship I was able to learn about the profession of public administration, explore the past, present, and future of Marana, and have a blast doing so!

I have learned how the water department manages to stay afloat with their constant stream of business and regularly changing regulations. I watched the Marana Airport’s projects take off as they plan huge improvements. I was able to observe the Town learn new tricks as they began offering Animal Services for their furry four-legged residents.  I witnessed the professionalism and dedication the Police Department displays on a daily basis as they patrol the Town. I was able to spend a day with the finance department who invest their time to ensure public tax dollars are being used responsibly. Overall I was able to learn from a dedicated Town staff that shows up every day with the goal of serving the public.

For my final project I will be coming back down to represent Marana at the Arizona League of Cities and Towns. This event hosts mayors and councilmembers from all across the State of Arizona and there is an unspoken competition between the other municipalities (as well as former intern-led Marana booths) to have the best booth at the conference. Since day one I have been searching for how to best represent the Town and after three months I feel confident that Marana will have the most memorable booth. Without giving too much away, we will be celebrating Marana’s 40th Anniversary while highlighting Marana’s unique businesses. Luckily the Town is filled with dedicated workers who are constantly lending a helping hand and want to help make it a success. As I sign off on my final blog I would like to thank you for accompanying me along my adventure here at the Town of Marana! –Thomas Prior

Thomas Prior is a Management Intern with the Town of Marana who is learning about all facets of local government.. He is currently a senior at Arizona State University’s Barrett the Honors College pursuing a Bachelors in Public Service & Public Policy with a Business Minor.

Youth Flag Football early registration underway

Whether your child wants to someday play tackle football, or just wants to get out and have some fun in the sun, Flag Football is a great way to do both.

Flag Football registration is currently underway. Marana Parks and Rec are already registering players for the upcoming youth flag football league. Although the leagues begin play in January, spaces are limited and this program fill fast. Plus, there is a price break for those who register early.

This is a 7-week recreational, but fast paced 5-on-5 recreational flag football league for boys and girls from as young as five to as old as 12. At the conclusion of the regular season is a single elimination tournament to crown champion teams.

The league provides players a fun and exciting opportunity to engage in limited contact, continuous action, and to promote teamwork and fair play. Players learn the fundamentals of football, as well as the rules of the game, and positive sportsmanship.

All players must participate in an open try-out in late October to evaluate their ability levels and help create balanced teams.

Leagues are created in two-year age blocks based upon the players’ ages as of August 31, 2017. The Rookie Division is for players ages 5-6, while 7-8 year olds will participate in the Semi Pro Division. The Pro Division is for 9-10 year olds and players ages 11-12 will compete in the All-Pro Division.

Register early to save for this program. Early registration fees are $70.00 for residents and $87.50 for non-residents. After October 6, the prices rise to $87.50/$95.00. Last minute registration begins on Oct. 13 and is $91.88 for residents and $109.33 for non-residents.

Want to prepare for try-outs or just improve as a player? We are offering a pre-season clinic during Fall Break to get players ready for the season.

Preseason Clinic info: https://apm.activecommunities.com/marana/Activity_Search/5595

The league is looking for volunteer coaches. This league is powered with the help of volunteer coaches and it can be a rewarding and fun experience. If interested being a coach this season, please contact Matt Christman at (520) 382-1963.

Countdown To Cotton Festival Blog No. 1

By the time the last of the fireworks exploded over the skies at the Fourth of July Star Spangled Spectacular we were already jumping head first into planning our next signature event, the Cotton Festival. In reality planning for the event began long before, but now that Independence Day is behind us, we go full bore into not only planning October’s Cotton Festival, but also the Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting, which occurs six weeks later.

All of our events take a lot of teamwork to happen. While we have an events coordinator who oversees the operation, we cannot put on an event that hosts thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people without the help of most of our departments, as well as Northwest Fire and other community partners. To make sure your experience at the Cotton Festival is an enjoyable one, all of our departments meet weekly to ensure their role in putting on the event is clearly defined and is working in harmony with all the other departments.

Like most of our signature events, this year’s Cotton Festival promises to be our biggest yet, and that means we have to plan to accommodate for more people, more traffic, and in turn, give them more fun things to do. Although we are in the early stages of planning, we have already expanded the number of carnival rides that will be available. This year we will have five FREE attractions for children of all ages, sizes, and thrill seeker levels. There will be things for adventuresome teens, to the most cautious toddlers.

That is just a start. We have already been hard at work coordinating our rodeo activities, looking for the perfect musical act to provide the soundtrack for the evening’s festivities, and are looking at how to get more volunteers involved. We truly want this to be a community event.

We have just begin putting together the plan for the “Chili Bowl”, the chili cook off hosted by the Community Food Bank in Marana. They are beginning to gather local businesses and organizations to compete for the best tasting chili. Cotton Festival attendees can pay to try bowls of chili and vote for their favorite. The funds raised from the tasting go to the Food Bank in their efforts to fight hunger in the community.

Yummy chili and a good cause sounds good to us.

We have listened to your feedback and we know that the animals at the petting zoos are very popular and that the kids just love to play in the fluffy cotton pile. We are hard at work brainstorming on how to make both of those experiences even better.

Soon it will be time to turn our attention to the food vendors that make Cotton Festival so much fun (and delicious.) Once again we are working with Marana High School to use the Cotton Festival as a way to let their clubs entertain the kiddos, while also fundraising for their own activities.

While October 21 seems like a long way away, it will be here before any of us know it. Although we are getting an early start on things, there is still so much left to do to make sure you have a great time at Cotton Festival.

We will keep posting updates at the Marana Newsroom as well as on our social media platforms, so keep an eye out.

See you in October.

Bridgework a part of Ina Interchange Project

The Town of Marana and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) are working together to build a new bridge on Ina Road traversing the Santa Cruz river. The Ina Interchange project, and the challenges to traffic that it presented, seemed like a perfect time for the Town and ADOT to partner on the bridge project.

This month they will begin pouring a new bridge deck over the Santa Cruz. That new bridge will be two lanes and upon its completion, all traffic will be diverted to it so that crews can demolish the existing bridge and begin construction of a new, second two-lane bridge. When the entire bridge project is completed Ina Road from I-10 to Silverbell will be expanded to two lanes in each direction, equaling the number of lanes on the east side of I-10.

The decision to build two lanes at a time will mean there will be very few traffic restrictions. While the first bridge is being built, traffic will continue to travel over the current two-lane bridge as has been the norm.

In addition to the bridge there will be some work done on the trail that runs under the bridges as well as efforts taken to make sure the bats that live in the area have their habitat maintained.

Marana Police's Citizen Police Academy accepting applications

The Marana Police Department is happy to announce their next Citizen Police Academy. The Citizens Police Academy is designed to provide our citizens and business community with a greater understanding of the department and its operations through classroom instruction and hands-on experiences. This Academy is a 45-hour block of instruction taught by department employees that showcases several units in the department. 
The program objective is to further the Department’s partnership with the community and make the Town of Marana an even better place to visit, work and raise a family.

TOPICS COVERED IN THE CLASS: 
• Introduction of Command Staff
• Hiring and training academy information
• Patrol duties
• Motor units
• Volunteers in Police Service
• Firearms
• Criminal investigations
• K-9 (dog) unit
plus many more.

ACADEMY REQUIREMENTS: 
• Must be 18 or older
• NO felony arrest or convictions
• NO misdemeanor arrests within one year of application

This academy is held every Tuesday from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm for 13 weeks. Classes start August 29, 2017 and go until November 24, 2017. For more information, visit our webpage at http://www.maranaaz.gov/citizens-police-academy, for a video and application. For inquires contact our Community Resource Unit at 520-382-2051. Seats are limited so sign up today. Sign-up closes for good on August 21, 2017.

Roadwork Update: Marana/Sandario

The Town of Marana will be realigning Marana Road, and as part of the project will be installing a traffic circle on Sandario Road. Sandario Road between Denny Street and the McDonald’s access will be closed for the installation of a new traffic circle. Traffic on that portion of Sandario will be detoured until October. The complete Marana Road realignment will be complete in December.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.

Detour Info:

Residential vehicles will be able to detour through McDonald's entrance at Sandario Road to Denny Street and access Sandario Road.

Commercial vehicles will detour on I-10 Frontage Road to McDuff Road to Grier Road to access Sandario Road.

Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction will increase congestion in the area. 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.

Tangerine Roadwork Update: August 1

The various projects on Tangerine have had some slight schedule changes. A few are running a little long, while some will end faster than expected. Here is the latest update.

 The project to work on waterlines on Camino de Oeste south of Tangerine Road will last until Friday, August 4. During this work, traffic will be shifted around the work area, allowing one lane in each direction. Resident access will be maintained during construction. Traffic control will be in place 24 hours a day.

Paving on Tangerine continues through Thursday, August 3 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The contractor is ahead of schedule paving the new westbound lanes of Tangerine Road from Tangerine Crossing Drive to La Cholla Boulevard. Beginning Wednesday August 2nd, paving will begin on side street entrances on the north side of Tangerine Road from Tangerine Crossing Drive to La Cholla Boulevard. Side streets will be intermittently closed as paving equipment progresses through the area. Please expect delays. 

Beginning Wednesday, August 2nd, from 5:30 am - 3:00 pm, the southbound La Cholla left turn lane onto eastbound Tangerine will be closed.  Left turns can be made from the southbound through lane.  Watch for signage.

Beginning Thursday, August 3rd, from 5:30 am - 3:00 pm, the northbound La Cholla left turn lane onto westbound Tangerine will be closed.  Left turns can be made from the northbound through lane.  Watch for signage.

KVOA: MPD dispatch upgrades could lead to Text-to-911

KVOA profiled the Marana Police Department's upgraded dispatch system may lead to more advances.

Marana is the latest Pima County jurisdiction to upgrade its dispatch system, which sets the stage for future hardware additions including a Text-to-911 system.

"Obviously there's a segment of our community that would benefit greatly from having a text to 911 capability, namely the deaf and hard of hearing,” said Sheila Blevins, communications supervisor with the Marana Police Department.

Text-to-911 is limited to consumers across the country. Lake Havasu City is the only community in Arizona currently using the system.