As part of the Town of Marana’s Pavement Preservation Program, crack seal work will begin on Twin Peaks Road starting on Monday, April 2 and continue through the week of April 23, 2018. The project will begin on Twin Peaks Road at Silverbell Road and continue all the way through Twin Peaks Road and Tangerine Road. The work will be conducted during normal business hours beginning at 7:00 a.m. Lane closures and light delays should be expected.
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.
Marana News: Marana joins PCWIN system
The Marana News wrote an article about the Town replacing the current public safety communications system with the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network radio system, or PCWIN.
Switching to PCWIN will enhance communication between the Marana Police Department and all other law enforcement and fire departments in the county. According to Marana Chief of Police Terry Rozema, who spoke to council at the March 20 meeting, there’s been a push to increase interoperability between public safety organizations ever since the terror attcks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“From a public safety standpoint, this is really kind of a no brainer for us,” he said.
MPD regularly works with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Northwest Fire District. The current system doesn’t allow MPD ease of communication with those entities, or other Southern Arizona law enforcement or fire service agencies that use PCWIN.
When MPD communicates with other jurisdictions, officers call MPD dispatch, who then call the other organizations on the phone—a process that takes time the officers don’t always have.
An example Rozema gave was MPD could be chasing a suspect that crosses into unincorporated Pima County, necessitating collaboration with Pima County Sheriff’s Department. By the time MPD conveys their location to the Sheriff’s Department, MPD officers are already in a different place, due to the time lapse.
Read the full story in the Marana News
Marana In The Media: I-10 Project in Marana Improves Traffic Flow
ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com had a detailed article about the Ina Interchange project. The story gave a through overview of the project.
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is improving traffic flow on Interstate-10 in Marana, Ariz., by constructing a new interchange bridge over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks at Ina Road. Besides providing better traffic movement, the $128 million project will improve safety at the location. Ina Road was closed in February 2017 and the project is on track to complete work in early 2019.
Funding for the work is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. Marana also contributed $7.9 million toward the cost of new bridges being built over the Santa Cruz River.
Ina Road will be widened to Silverbell Road west of I-10. An additional lane will be added, giving the highway four lanes in each direction. The project also will turn an aging intersection into a modern interchange. One of the major changes will be a new bridge to carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the railroad tracks.
The original bridge, which has been demolished, carried I-10 motorists over Ina Road. Crews have been working to rebuild a four-lane Ina Road west of the freeway. They dug holes for pillars to support the new bridge. A milestone was met at the end of January 2018 when westbound traffic was moved to the new eastbound pavement. That allowed for three lanes in both directions until the project is complete.
It also meant that the bridge and new westbound pavement could be completed.
“The new Ina Road bridge over I-10 is complete over the eastbound lanes,” said Tom Herrmann, public information officer of ADOT in Phoenix. “And with all traffic now on that pavement, we'll complete the bridge over the westbound lanes and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.”
Once completed, motorists using Ina Road will enjoy smoother traffic flow without regular interruptions for trains passing through. Originally, it was two lanes in each direction on the east side of I-10 and a single lane in each west of I-10. The project will result in two lanes in each direction to Silverbell Road in the west. Ina Road will have two bridges, one eastbound and one westbound, each with two travel lanes.
About a half mile to the west, crews have been working on a two-lane bridge on eastbound Ina Road where it crosses the Santa Cruz River. In an early February update, Herrmann reported that the eastbound Ina Road bridge had been completed. In addition to bridges, the project includes new ramps.
“Because we are replacing the two I-10 bridges with a single Ina Road bridge, we are building an entirely new interchange, including on and offramps,” Herrmann said.
Read the Full Article at ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com
Marana Public Works employees win street repair competition
On March 22, the Public Works Asphalt Crew took first place in the Crack Sealing Competition at the 2018 Annual Tom Sheetz Rodeo at the Town of Gilbert Public Works facility
The rodeo is an annual event held by the Arizona Maintenance Superintendents Association (AMSA) to showcase various skills used in the maintenance and repair of public infrastructure.
Marana’s winning crack seal team was made up of Adrian Rojel, Tomas Gonzalez, John Kaiama, and Fredy Castellanos. Two other Marana employees had good showings with Rich Jacinto competing in the Traffic Markings Event, while Shari Howard participated in the Wheel Loader Event. Competitors could only participate in a single event.
Other events included Asphalt Patch, Concrete Repair, Backhoe, Forklift, and Sign Placement.
According to their website, “the AZMSA is comprised of a diverse group of professionals from Public Works Directors to Equipment Operators and is supported by a variety of vendors that provide the tools, equipment, materials and knowledge necessary for us to do our jobs with excellence.”
"Rake-O-Vac" improving Marana ball fields
The Rake-O-Vac was utilized to remove burrs from fields, but it is also improving the turf.
The Marana Parks and Recreation Department has a very interactive Facebook page. Through the page they not only try to publicize their events and programs, but get feedback from those who participate in the program.
A few weeks back several parents of little leaguers who utilized the fields at Ora Mae Harn Park informed the staff that there were a large number of grass burrs in the baseball field grass and that they could not only be uncomfortable for the young athletes playing in them, but they were getting stuck to the uniforms, making it very difficult to get the uniforms clean.
Parks and Rec staff looked into the problem and found seeds down in the turf from kaki weed that have sharp points on them. This is how the plant propagates itself attaching to something walking through the area and being deposited elsewhere.
The Park Maintenance team was quick to respond and looked to figure out a solution to the problem. The maintenance team worked with the Town of Marana Fleet Division to refurbish equipment already in Town's inventory to help resolve the problem. They repaired the Rake-O-Vac and set out to see if it could fix the burr problem.
Not only did they reduce the number of burrs, but they found the machine was also helping to remove dead thatch from the turf. The thatch acts in a way that is similar to evaporative cooler pads and keeps the turf cooler. Once removed the Bermuda grass was able to thrive.
“The Rake-O-Vac is now onsite and being used to reduce the burrs, improve overall grass conditions, and enhance park user experience,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Maintenance Superintendent David Herman. "We like to think no seed, no weed."
With the success of the Rake-O-Vac, the plan is to now hit all of the other fields in the Town. With Little League season about to begin, those fields will get the first treatments, but soon the rest of the multi-purpose fields will also see the Rake-O-Vac make a visit.
The device uses large “fingers” to both sweep and vacuum, but can also be fitted with other attachments that can handle grass cutting, sweeping, and even leaf removal.
Applicants wanted for open position on Marana Planning Commission
The Town of Marana is seeking qualified citizens for a position on the Planning Commission. The term expires June 30, 2021.
The Marana Planning Commission is a Council-appointed seven-member advisory body which makes recommendations to the Marana Town Council on matters relating to zoning and land development, including the Marana General Plan (Marana's future vision for development) and applications for approval of rezoning cases, subdivision plats, development plans, and conditional uses. Applicants must be Marana residents.
The Planning Commission meets at the Marana Municipal Complex at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month. Agendas are available at the Marana Development Services office on the Monday before the meeting.
Deadline to submit an application is April 27, 2018. All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt.
Applications are available at http://marana.seamlessdocs.com/f/boards and can be submitted online. Call 382-1960 or 382-2655 for more information.
Posted: March 26, 2018
Marana Town Clerk
Marana Founders' Day 2018 photo gallery
View photos from this year's Marana Founders' Day.
Photos by J.D. Fitzgerald.
2018 Council Candidate Orientation and Voter Registration
On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, a candidate orientation will be held in the Council Chambers of the Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to assist prospective candidates with the process of running for office in the August 2018 primary election.
Marana holds staggered, non-partisan elections every two years. This year, four seats are open. Candidate packets will be available at the orientation and are also available online at http://www.maranaaz.gov/candidate-information in person at the Office of the Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk will give a brief presentation on candidate filing requirements, forms and campaign finance. The Town Attorney will advise candidates on legal issues and give a short tutorial on the Arizona Open Meeting Law. Also covered will be current law on posting political signs.
Information on registering to vote will also be part of the orientation. April 30 is the earliest date to turn in candidate filings, and May 30, 2018 is the deadline to file.
As of February 14, 2018, 24,992 Marana residents were registered to vote.
Historically, Marana’s Council Members have been elected at the Primary and then seated after the November general election.
For questions, contact Jocelyn Bronson, Marana Town Clerk, at 520-382-1960, or Hilary Hiser, Deputy Town Clerk, at 520-382-1962.
Marana park, officials voted best by newspaper readers
Playground at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park.
The Best of the Northwest Awards were released by Tucson Local Media on Wednesday, and the Town of Marana fared very well. The awards, which are voted on by readers of the Explorer, Marana News, and Foothills News, look at a wide variety of categories including public and private entities, and individuals.
Crossroads at Silverbell District Park was named the top park.
“Crossroads has more amenities than just about any other in the area,” the publications wrote. “Volleyball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a dog park and playgrounds lay right to the side of The Loop walking and cycling path.”
Two Town of Marana officials were also voted tops in their categories.
Marana Mayor Ed Honea was named Best Community Leader.
“Marana and the name Honea just go hand-in-hand, and Ed Honea is doing well for the five-generation Marana family,” they wrote. “Sitting his third separate term, Honea graduated from Marana High School, is a Vietnam War veteran and truly a man of his community.”
Marana Town Council Member Dave Bowen was the runner up in the award.
Marana Police Department Chief Terry Rozema was selected the Best Police Officer.
“With decades of experience in his field, Chief Terry Rozema leads his department by example,” said the publication. “Though he spent a great deal of his career with the Tucson Police Department, Chief Rozema has made a positive impression over the years on the residents and officers in Marana.”
MPD Sgt. Jeff Pridgett was third in the voting.
Marana had a place in two of the best biking trails. The Pima County Shared Use path, or the Loop as it is known, has several miles of pathways in the town and was the winner of the category.
The Tortolita Preserve Loop finished second for best biking trail.
Several Marana-based businesses also won their categories.
Best Bookstore: Bookmans Entertainment Exchane
Best Hotel/Resort: Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
Best Shopping Center: Tucson Premium Outlets
Best Physical Therapy Provider: ProActive Physical Therapy
Best Deli/Sandwich Shop: Baggin’s Gourmet Sandwiches
A Look At Pavement Preservation, Pt. 2
Marana’s Pavement Preservation Program was designed to give Marana great roads. There is a lot to the program, from what the program hopes to accomplish, what methods are utilized, and how the roads are selected for repair. In this multi-part series, we will look at all aspects of the program. Part 2 looks at how the Town rates the roads and figures out which projects become a priority.
A Look At Pavement Preservation, Pt. 1
The key to implementing preventive maintenance techniques and maintaining a pavement management program is developing and maintaining an inventory of pavement condition and quantity. In Marana, streets are broken into segments and staff survey the same locations on a biennial basis, counting cracks and deficiencies as identified in the Federal Highway Administration's Pavement Distress Identification Manual. We compare scores of the current assessment to those of prior assessments to determine the rate of deterioration.
Information is also collected from the Pima Association of Governments-sponsored Automated Road Analyzer (ARAN) van to rate the condition of Town arterial and collector streets. Data is combined with the Town’s pavement preservation program findings to determine the condition of the streets, the degree of need for repair, and the type of repair that is most appropriate. The most cost-effective solution is then selected for each street.
The Pavement Condition Index, developed by the Army Corps of Engineers, is generally accepted as the industry standard for scoring pavement condition. It provides a rational basis, calculating deterioration rate and deterioration modeling. The data can be used in conjunction with a pavement management program to develop a plan for pavement preservation, proactive maintenance, and rehabilitation.
Most of Marana's pavements receive some form of preventive maintenance based upon a general timeframe, but as the ability to rate and analyze pavement gets better, we will prioritize maintenance based more on pavement condition and construction type rather than just the elapsed time between treatments.
Fun, free events in Marana
Town of Marana Special Events Coorinator Monique Hagberg provided a message to the Marana News/Explorer News about all the great free, family friendly events the Town of Marana is hosting.
The Town of Marana has made a commitment to providing free, family-friendly entertainment for our residents. Whether you want a relaxing night under the stars or an activity-filled afternoon at our major festivals, we have something for you.
MOVIES IN MARANA
This past weekend, we had our first free Movie in Marana with a showing of Warner Bros. Picture’s “Wonder Woman” at San Lucas Community Park. Don’t worry if you missed it, because there’s a lot more to come. This movie series changes location throughout the year to showcase Marana parks including Ora Mae Harn District Park, the Splash Pad at Marana Heritage River Park and Dove Mountain Park.
The diverse locations provide fun programming to go along with the films. Our Saturday, April 21 showing of Pixar’s “Coco” will coincide with Marana Parks and Recreation’s “Camping Under the Stars” event. Whether you want to camp out for the night or just catch the film with the family, it’s guaranteed to be a fun evening.
In June and July, our swimming pool at Ora Me Harn Park will transform into a movie theater with two movie features. On June Saturday, 16, we will show Universal Picture’s “Despicable Me 3,” the latest installment of Gru and those trouble-making minions. On Saturday, July 21, the Force will be with us when we show Disney’s “The Last Jedi”.
In August, we move from the pool to our splash pad at Marana Heritage River Park to watch Paramount Animation’s “Sherlock Gnomes.” This event is always fun for the kids because not only can they play in the splash pad, but they can also frolic on the playground while still watching the screen.
Not only are the movies free, but families are free to bring their own food and beverages. We’ve seen everything from traditional tubs of popcorn and boxes of candy, to stacks of pizza and even some delicious homemade nachos. Fear not, if you don’t bring your own goodies, we usually have a food vendor on hand.
Bring your blanket and chairs, or you can rent some from us.
MUSIC IN MARANA
Our free Music In Marana concert series feature a variety of musical acts throughout the year at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. Our first concert is slated for Saturday, April 7, and over the next few months we will bring a number of great local musical acts to the Town.
The concert series features progressive funk-rock band OnesAll, high energy Little House of Funk, Marana-native country artist Caiden Brewer, and classic rock band The Drift.
Live music isn’t only offered at these Saturday night concerts. There will be plenty of live music at Marana’s Star Spangled Spectacular on Wednesday, July 4 and the Marana Farm Festival on Saturday, September 29.
Those two festivals along with December’s Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting make up our remaining signature events for this calendar year. All events are free. Star Spangled Spectacular is Southern Arizona’s largest Independence Day celebration with over 16,000 people in attendance. Marana Farm Festival features free carnival rides and a rodeo, and Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Light Show will once again feature a 40-foot tall digital light show set to music. All these events feature plenty of free activities for the kids and make a great family outing.
This summer will also see Marana ribbon cuttings for new parks projects including the opening of Tangerine Sky Park, the splash pad at Crossroads, and the new pocket park in Honea Heights.
Whether you like movies, music, big events, or just want to go to the park, Marana is the place for you and your family to have a fun, free time.
Visit MaranaEvents.com to plan your year with us.
Monique Hagberg is the Special Events Coordinator for the Town of Marana.
Beam Topping Ceremony celebrates Police Facility milestone
Another milestone was met in the construction of the new Marana Police Facility when the final steel beam was placed by contractors on Tuesday morning. To commemorate the event, Town Staff were given the opportunity to write messages of support on the beam before it was installed.
The beam topping ceremony was seen as a way for employees to be a part of the building’s history and to celebrate this construction milestone.
The new police facility is due to be completed later this year and will provide a state of the art facility for the Marana Police Department. The project is primarily funded through a dedicated half cent sales tax that will expire when all of the funds for the project are complete. By utilizing the dedicated tax, as well as RICO funds, the project will be completed debt free.
Prior to approving the funding for the facility, the Marana Town Council required the MPD to conduct a campaign of public education and outreach. Once approved MPD did their due diligence to research similar facilities to ensure amenities to accommodate the police department’s various services, as well as the capacity to manage Marana’s anticipated population growth, and the commensurate police department growth, over the next twenty years.
Among the features of the new facility will be: expanded training facilities, expanded storage and evidence rooms, new K-9 amenities, holding cells, and a new inclusive community room.
MPD Tri-Star program creating safer apartment communities
The Marana Tri-Star Program is a partnership between MPD, property managers and/or landlords, and residents to work together in a cooperative effort to foster a safer community. The program is designed to help reduce criminal activity and the need for police service calls at multi-housing properties.
By following the steps outlined in the Marana Tri- Star Program, apartments can help promote an atmosphere that is more desirable and safer for their residents.
To be compliant, property and maintenance managers must complete training, sign Crime Free Lease Agreements with all of the residents and show commitment towards the safe property standard of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) criteria.
“El Memorial De Don Frew Apartments management has worked diligently to provide that kind of environment for their residents,” said Marana Police Department Volunteer Thomas Cox who leads the Tri-Star program. “It’s a simple case where people care about where they live and want to take care of it.”
Currently there are six apartment complexes in Marana that participate in the Tri-Star program. El Memorial De Don Frew Apartments is the only Level 3 certified place of residence, while the rest hold Level 2 certifications.
The Tri-Star Program is designed to help residents, owners and managers of rental communities keep drugs and other illegal activity away. Participating in the Tri-Star Program does not imply there is no crime in the community; it means communities are taking steps to deter crime and have consequences when tenants are involved in illegal activity in and around the community.
Learn more about the Tri-Star Program at www.maranaAZ.gov/mpd
Lifeguards positions available
Looking for a summer job, or know a teen who is? Like to get outdoors, swim, and enjoy the summer? Then we may have the perfect job.
The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is hiring Lifeguards, including a Head Lifeguard, for an exciting summer working at the pool. These positions are short-term temporary during the pool season (May - October). Applicants must commit to work the entire season and must attend orientation and training provided by the Town.
Head Lifeguard
Lifeguard
Need Lifeguard Certification or just a refresher course? The Town of Marana is offering both. The Lifeguarding program will train lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water. Topics include water rescue skills, surveillance and recognition, first aid, breathing and cardiac emergencies, CPR, AED and more. The new program reflects the latest Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) science.
Lifeguard Training
Lifeguard Refresher
Guide to birding in Marana
By Janine Spencer
Environmental Projects Manager
Town of Marana
Why is Birding So Good in Marana?
Birding (i.e. bird-watching) has become an increasingly popular recreation in the United States. Southern Arizona is known as one of the premier bird hot spots in the U.S. People visit Arizona from around the world to view the great variety of species here. Southern Arizona is located at the junction of the Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, and the mountain ranges from Northern Mexico and the Southern U.S. This great coming-together of such a variety of habitat types means that we have bird species associated with all of those habitats here in Southern Arizona.
There are several different micro-habitat types within the Town of Marana, each with its own suite of bird species. The Tortolita and Tucson Mountains are located in the Upper Sonoran Desert Scrub, where golden eagles and other species nest. There are lush patches of riparian vegetation for wading birds and ducks along the Santa Cruz River, and the irrigated farmlands provide habitat for hawks, burrowing owls, and other species.
Where the Birds Are in Marana?
This article describes four good sites to view birds in Marana.
- El Rio Open Space is a fairly easy walking area where one can see riparian and grassland species, as well as views of raptors soaring above the nearby Tucson Mountains.
- The Crossroads Park River Walk along the Santa Cruz River is great for spotting riparian species, including many warblers, and during summer evenings bats emerge in vast numbers near the Ina Road Bridge.
- There are several good hiking trails Tortolita Mountains, with opportunities to see hawks, eagles, and many other species.
- The irrigated farm fields in Marana are especially of interest for locating raptor species.
El Rio Open Space / Coachline Gravel Pit
This site is listed in Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, Revised 8th Edition (2015) edited by Ken Kaufman. It is also advertised on the Tucson Audubon Society website, is mentioned periodically on the Arizona-New Mexico Birding Listserv site, and is part of a survey route for an Important Bird Area. El Rio Open Space was also featured in the April-June 2013 edition of the Tucson Audubon Society Vermilion Flycatcher magazine. This site is an excavated pit where sand and gravel were removed for construction of Interstate-10. It is bounded by the Santa Cruz River to the east and the northern terminus of the Tucson Mountains. Tucson Audubon Society has worked on riparian restoration, planting native vegetation here.
During rainstorms, the gravel pit fills with water, stays wet for months, and becomes a great spot to easily view waterfowl and shorebirds. Some birds encountered here have included: Belted Kingfisher, Pied-billed Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, several duck species, and more. The birding remains interesting even when the pond is dry; during the summer months, Bell’s Vireos nest in the tamarisk, Gilded Flickers, Lazuli Buntings, Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunners, an Eastern Phoebe, and many other species have been sighted. Even sandhill cranes stop by in the late fall, presumably on their way to the Wilcox Playa.
Hawks and falcons take advantage of the updrafts along the ridge of the Tucson Mountains, where you can spot Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Cooper’s Hawks are commonly sighted. A Black Hawk was once sighted during migration. The Sonoran Desert, with saguaros and prickly pear, directly adjoin the El Rio Open Space – so there are opportunities to spot Rock Wrens, Canyon Wrens, Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Verdins, Gila Woodpeckers, and hear the occasional downward trill of the Canyon Wren.
Directions: To get to the El Rio Open Space, exit Interstate 10 at Twin Peaks Road. Go west about one mile and turn right on Coachline Boulevard. Take Coachline Blvd north of Twin Peaks Rd. Park at the parking lot just before N. Turquoise Moon Way.
Crossroads Park River Walk (between Cortaro and Ina Roads)
This is a mile-long walk one way, on a paved pathway along the Santa Cruz River, between Cortaro and Ina Roads. Riparian vegetation along the river is lush with cottonwoods, willows, cattails, and tamarisk. The path is used by birders, walkers, and cyclists. Native upland vegetation has been planted along the entire length of the path
Birding is best here during breeding season when Yellow Warblers, Bell’s Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, Lucy’s Warblers and Common Yellowthroat are present. Other common or year-round residents include Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, Gila Woodpeckers, Black Phoebes, Say’s Phoebes, Verdins, Abert’s Towhees, Song Sparrows, Great-tailed Grackles, Gambel’s quail, and Lesser Goldfinches. Raptors include Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, and American Kestrels. Black-necked Stilts and several species of ducks (including an occasional wood duck) are common during the winter months. About 70-80 species can be seen here regularly, with rarities showing up at times.
Besides birds, you can also watch hundreds to thousands of bats emerge from the Ina Road Bridge on summer evenings. Mexican free-tailed bats are the most numerous occupants under the bridge. Some overwinter in Arizona, but many go to Mexico for the winter and return to Southern Arizona in the summer.
Directions: Take Interstate-10 to the Cortaro Road exit and go west on Cortaro Rd. Turn south on Silverbell Road an turn in at the Crossroads District Park sign. Drive toward the library and turn left into the parking lot by the volleyball courts. Walk east toward the tall swath of greenery along the river. There is a paved trail you can follow to the south to the Ina Road Bridge.
Tortolita Mountains
The Tortolita Mountains are located on the northwest edge of the Tucson Valley. The Tortolitas are a small, rocky, rugged mountain range near the Pima/Pinal County border. There are large, healthy stands of saguaro cactus and a few junipers in the higher areas. Elevations range from approximately 2,500 ft to 4,200 ft. There are several crested saguaros visible from the trails in the Tortolita Mountains. Vegetation is Upper Sonoran Desert palo verdi, mixed cacti, and Southwest riparian deciduous forest and woodland.
Cactus wrens, Rock Wrens, Roadrunners, Phainopeplas Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, Cardinals, Brown-crested Flycatchers, Gila Woodpeckers, Mockingbirds, Bell’s Vireos, Anna’s Hummingbirds, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Ravens, Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, and more occur in the Tortolitas. You may also catch a glimpse of the wild horses that inhabit the area, as well as Sonoran Desert Tortoises or Gila Monsters.
Directions: Drive north of Tucson on Interstate-10 and take the Twin Peaks Road exit, heading northeast. Go several miles and as you cross Tangerine Road, Twin Peaks becomes Dove Mountain Boulevard. Follow this road to its end (through the gates for the Ritz Carlton Resort). There will be a Marana parking lot on your right a short distance after the entrance gate to the Ritz Carlton. There are several trails in the Tortolita Mountains; you can obtain a map at the Marana Parks & Recreation Department. These hikes vary in difficulty so be aware to bring water and be well-prepared to hike.
The Farm Fields of Marana
There are a variety of species that can be viewed from public roads along the irrigated farm fields in Marana. Species range from waterfowl and shorebirds to burrowing owls and hawks. Some birds that are frequently viewed in the flooded farm fields and along irrigation ditches include: White-faced Ibis, Great Egrets, Red-winged Blackbirds, Horned Larks, and ducks. Between March and July, Burrowing Owl families live in burrows along the irrigation ditches. If you look carefully, you may see the youngsters peeking out of their hole, while a parent stands by watchfully. Some of the owls stay all winter, so it’s worth a drive any time of year.
Marana In The Media: MHC giving away "lock boxes" to combat opioid abuse
News 4 Tucson, KVOA had a story on Marana-based MHC giving away "lock boxes" to combat opioid abuse.
MHC Healthcare is fighting against the opioid abuse epidemic by providing lock boxes free of charge to patients who are prescribed potentially addictive drugs.
The MHC Healthcare foundation funded the purchase of 90 medicine lock boxes to begin rolling out to patients.
"This will help to secure the medicine for the patient and keep the medicine out of the wrong hands,” said Dr. Greg Redding, MHC Healthcare pharmacy director.
Redding noted the absence of any type of medicine security is a possible recipe for disaster.
"Somebody sees it in there who may have a drug problem of their own and they take some of the medication, it's stronger than what they're used to taking, then they're in real trouble,” Redding said.
Since June 15, 2017, the Arizona state health department has recorded nearly 1,000 suspected opioid deaths and over 6,300 overdoses.
The Town of Marana will be hosting a Dispose-A-Med event on April 14 at the Target on 3901 W. Ina Road from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. They will be collecting unused or expire prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Marana Founders' Day Parade Awards
The centerpiece of Marana Founders’ Day is the annual parade. This year’s parade made its way down a new route that included a trip down Main Street past MHC Healthcare and the Marana Municipal Complex.
The parade had over 90 entries including a marching band, vintage and new corvettes, horseback riders, and floats. This year’s theme was “Float Through Time” and the parade judges voted on awards in three categories.
Best Spirit: Marana Unified School District
MUSD came out in force, with students, teachers, administrators, and staff from all of their schools. Their entry “Floating Toward the Future” included foil covered letters, cardboard rocket ships, signs for every school, and even two people clad in green body suits. The MUSD representatives walked and rode, giving them one of the biggest entries in the parade.
Best Use of Theme: Marana Dental Care
Marana Dental Care earned high marks for their float which had a farm motif. Their float had a great attention to detail including kids in costume, a cardboard tractor and barn, hay, and a bandana pattern trim.
Judges’ Pick: Northwest Outriders
The Northwest Outriders 4H club had one of the longest floats with not one, but two flat beds. One contained a some of the animals that they raise, including goats and calves. The second had members of all ages sitting on hay bales and waving to the crowd.
Ribbon cutting to celebrate Sun Shuttle Service to Premium Outlets
To commemorate the launch of Sun Shuttle’s new public service to Tucson Premium Outlets, located near Twin Peaks Road and Interstate 10, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the Town of Marana, and the Marana Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting event on Monday, March 19. The event will be held from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. at Tucson Premium Outlets, 6401 W. Marana Center Blvd, at the Bus Plaza by the North entry. The public is invited to attend.
Sun Shuttle, the region’s neighborhood transit service funded by the RTA, serves Marana, Oro Valley, Catalina, Sahuarita, Green Valley, San Xavier, Tucson Estates and Rita Ranch/Southeast Tucson.
Sun Shuttle Routes 412 and 413 will provide service Monday – Saturday to the Tucson Premium Outlets. On Routes 412 and 413, passengers can travel throughout Marana, or transfer to several Sun Tran routes for free or to Sun Express Routes 104X and 204X for travel to Downtown or the Aero Park complex. To ride Sun Shuttle, the cost to the public is $1.75 one-way full fare, or 75 cents for seniors 65 years or older, persons with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and qualified low-income with a SunGO ID & Card. Children five years and younger can ride free with a paying adult.
For specific route information, visit the website at suntran.com/sunshuttle, or call the Customer Service Center at (520) 792-9222 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
KVOA: New park projects are underway in Marana
KVOA did a feature on the new parks/amenities being built in the Town. They came out and interviewed Parks & Rec Director Jim Conroy for the latest on Tangerine Sky Park, the splash pad at Crossroads, the pocket park in Honea Heights, and the new disc golf course.
New Parks
Sun Shuttle adding service to Premium Outlets
Beginning later this month there will be new service changes to Sun Shuttle Routes, including several that might impact Marana residents. New service to the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center
Starting Monday, March 19, two routes will be discontinued, while two routes will add additional stops.
Route 410: Saturday service will be discontinued due to low ridership over many years. The weekday schedule has also been adjusted.
Route 411: Service has been discontinued due to low ridership over many years.
Route 412: A new stop to serve the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center has been added. Weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted. Travel will be redirected west on Linda Vista Boulevard to serve the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center, and will no longer service stops on Tangerine Road and North Thornydale Road.
Route 413: A new stop to serve the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center has been added and weekday and weekend schedules have been adjusted.
The Regional Transportation Authority Board (RTA) recently approved the changes in an effort to increase efficiency and improve on-time performance. The current schedules and routes, which were set to expire March 6, will remain active until the changes go into effect on March 19.
Updated Sun Shuttle brochures are available now at suntran.com/sunshuttle and will be available on the vehicles starting Monday, March 12. Brochures provide passengers current fare information and detailed route schedules. The new schedule information will be effective through August 4.
