0 Comments
Fighting fires is a serious business. So is reducing fuel loads. Our town is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers to shepherd our efforts to safely burn brush and maintain Oracle's brush dump. Two recent structure fires testify to the ongoing threat. Terrible as they were they could have been much worse if surrounding properties had been torched.
Way back in 2017 Pinal County Open Space and Trails leader Kent Taylor spearheaded the Oracle Park improvement project. Several neighbors got together to offer their perspectives and students from the UA's School of Landscape Architecture were enlisted to help out. Then covid hit and things seemed to go sideways. But Taylor persisted behind the scenes among other things figuring out a funding stream and responding to neighborhoods concerns. Backed first by Supervisor Peter Rios, followed by Supervisors Kevin Cavanaugh and Jeff McClure, Taylor's efforts chugged along as plans were formalized and construction contracts bid out. Then in early March construction crews began showing up. That's when we knew the improvements were for real! Union Yes!
It seemed pretty much impossible a few short months ago that a group of young students in the Tri-Community could pull together a band concert in the San Manuel School District Auditorium before the end of the school year. After all, most of the 30+ members had never played their instruments individually much less collectively before the new band program began in the fall. But skeptics (Kaz and I admit to being among them) failed to reckon with the talent, professionalism, and determination of Lorena Candelaria. We know Lorena and her familly from church, Zumba, and the Oracle Community Center but had never been witness to her consumate skills in building a musical program from scratch with young people in a few short monnths. In that regard the concert last night was revelatory! There are so many back stories to this accomplishment that I can't begin to detail them here. There's the role of the Oracle Piano Society and the brilliant leadership of Dr. Stephen Cook and OPS board leader Rachel Opinsky (pictured above with Dr. Cook, Lorena, and congratulatory flower deliverer Kaz). There's the vital role of music in educating the young recognized by Mammoth-San Manuel school leaders. And there's Lorena's personal history teaching, raising a family and overcoming life threatening health challenges.
(That's just for starters.) "Amazing" is an overused word these days but here its richly deserved. The band concert last evening in San Manuel was truly amazing. Cuba is distinguished by the magnificence of its arts and culture creatives. Now upon return from our visit we can testify personally to this reality. It’s no surprise that the performative arts of Cuba resonated deeply with Kaz and myself. After all we have lived in Oracle for more than 40 years and our town’s future, a bit like Cuba’s, depends in part on diverse artistic endeavors to sustain residents and attract visitors. So now the “Oracle-Cuba connection” emerges as especially rich and timely. While on our trip to Havana we couldn’t even begin to plumb the depths of Cuban sensibilities, we did experience enough to come away blown away by the energy and talent that graced performances we witnessed. To a person our group of 37 from the US felt the same way. One of several high points of our shared experience was a concert led by Aldo López-Gavilán himself. When word of his concert spread, people of all ages and backgrounds flocked to the event. We overheard locals declare he could fill a stadium with fans of his musicality… on a day’s notice. During an almost three hour performance Aldo summoned masters (many of them youngsters!) of keyboards. drums, and horns to join him on stage, contributing to a sense of collective accomplishment that was met with raucous approval by the audience (including us). We came away believing Aldo and company were Cuban rock stars (or should we say “jazz stars”) true to their own unique calling. We applaud Steve and Bridget Cook and the Oracle Piano Society for any and all efforts to more deeply connect Oracle, Arizona with Havana, Cuba now and into the future.
Getting in and out of Cuba for a US Citizen is tricky. Though it’s about as far from Miami, Florida as Oracle is from Sky Harbor, a maze of obstacles awaits US travelers … which is why most visitors determined to visit Cuba need a leader/guide. We had one such leader and a support institution. The guide was Neil Birmbaum with Cuba Rhythm and Views. Our supporting institution was the Oracle Piano Society led by Steve Cook. Birnbaum is just quirky enough to be a good fit with Oracle residents like Kaz and myself. And his team working with him in Cuba is open to sharing insights into “the real Cuba” allowing us to feel a bit like insiders. We did a lot of walking which was a challenge for me with a bum ankle and balance issues. But I had a stick that helped out as did the supportive hands and shoulders made available at difficult moments. One of the walk destinations was a daycare facility for pre-school age children run by the Sisters for the Love of God. A ways up an Havana side street, a cavernous old building like so many in Cuba’s biggest city, housed the service. The children under the nun’s care literally lit up the place. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Catholic Church in Cuba supports such a vital presence. Exactly what it’s doing in a “communist” country is a bit of a mystery (along with many other mysteries unique to the island nation). Our visit was graced with the presence of these lovely youngsters, (Yes, we had permission to take pictures.)
If you take US government policy at face value, Cuba is a threat to our nation in the same category as Iran, Syria, and North Korea. So who would want to visit such a place after the previous administration declared Cuba “terrorist” in 2021? Shouldn’t we, citizens of the most powerful nation in the world (and 90 miles from the Florida coast), be too frightened or politically “righteous” to visit?
When the opportunity to spend five days in Cuba came our way through cultural visitation auspices of the Oracle Piano Society (OPS) we (mostly Kaz) did our own research. Our enthusiasm was super charged by a musical performance sponsored by OPS. Cuban pianist Aldo Lopez-Gavilan stunned us in last October’s event playing his own compositions. In fact, that evening as we entered the Oracle Center for the Arts with no particular passion for jazz, I was personally won over … a true convert. Is this what the US government means by “sponsoring terrorism”? In fact, Aldo’s performance solidified our commitment to the Cuba tour … from which we just returned. (More to follow) Check out what's happening off Tiger Mine Road. Landing fields blasted for supersized transmission towers.
---------------- SunZia/Pattern rip up the environment in our region:vid here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=315tG_E7pWc Drew Kirk's drone's eye view: https://www.facebook.com/100003989798004/videos/pcb.2818861061590193/767743985291447 --------------- Pulled from Facebook post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wEqgzJsOAE ------------------ Robson pushed SunZia transimission line corridor away from SaddleBroooke Ranch with one letter! https://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000166089.pdf The effort to stop SunZia from completing a massive power transmission line through the San Pedro River Valley (and now Oracle) is gaining momentum (https://protectthesanpedro.net/updates/). On January 17 2024 the San Carlos Apache, Tohono O’odham, Archaeology Southwest, and Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior, BLM, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to stop the irreversible damage being inflicted. And on February 5 the same party filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Corporation Commission. Coming and going around Oracle, whether picking up mail, patronizing a local business, walking the neighborhood, or just plain hanging out, one of the top-of-mind questions of late is: What’s happening with Way of Bean Coffee Club in its battle with Pinal County. (Recall that a large group of concerned citizens went up to Florence last August to push back on county efforts to bring “The Bean” to heel.) It seemed, despite the big numbers of folks making the trek to the county seat along with the numbers of letters and emails supporting Way of Bean, the county bureaucracy had dug in. There came a “cease and desist order”, a blizzard of threats, deadlines set, and the possibility of the Bean’s closure . It’s difficult to know what turned the tide since the “deadlines” came and went but that tide has turned… in Way of Bean Coffee Club’s favor. Was it public pressure? Was it other businesses weighing in with similar grievances? Was it someone in Florence-command-central (like the county manager) deciding the fight wasn’t worth the problems it was creating? Or was it all of the above plus a well crafted letter by Way of Bean’s owner/operator (Kristina Olivares) arguing her case? The upshot of all this is that the the county has backed off its complaints and reassigned the health department inspector in favor of a more relational guy… someone you might even want to have a cup of coffee with. 's When you stop to think about it, Oracle is a better place because a business owner backed by a group of residents and customers made their voices heard in a time and place that mattered.
Maybe we need even more of this can-do spirit around here when it comes to other pressing issues - like the outrageous shakedown of SCIP customers by another government bureaucracy that's supposed to be serving the public good. What do you think? NOTES FROM JANUARY 30, 2024 COMMUNITY MEETING RE: AMERICAN AVE ROAD SAFETY ASSESSMENT (RSA) Meeting Location: Oracle Community Center Meeting Date/Time: January 30, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Taken by Jean Wilcox, OSCR (Thanks, Jean!) Organized by Pinal County, attended by Supervisor Jeff McClure and his assistant Trecia, County Engineer Chris Wannaker, Construction Operations Manager Dedrick Denton, Public Works Manager Charles Williams, Senior Transportation Planner Steve Abrams, and Craig Ricketts presenter from the consulting firm that conducted the RSA.
Craig Rickett’s power point will be available from Pinal County after it is presented to the board of supervisors. Data was collected by a subcontractor, United Civil Group. The RSA provides qualitative estimates of safety and performance, and identifies opportunities for improvement. (Name of Rickett’s company?). American Avenue right of way (ROW) varies in width from 200+’ on the western end, down to 100’ for most of American Avenue, with a constricted narrower width at the curve just east of The Bean where the road crosses a small wash, then widens to 100’ and up to 200’ at the east end. Several of us from the immediate neighborhood worked with UA landscape architecture students and Pinal County's Kent Taylor. on this plan. Construction was scheduled to begin this month.
The original and newly arranged piano music of Johannes Brahms... left many in the audience "weak in the knees" (as Kaz put it). "Thrilling", someone else said. "Elevating and intoxicating," said another. .
As it aged it moved from our back yard to an old water trap slab on our property. There it sat or decades...deteriorating but retaining sentimental value for both of us. We had rescued it from the COD Ranch around the time of Elna Huggett's passing. When the time finally came to move it off property, we wondered who in the world might want it. Our first thought was perhaps the Oracle Historical Society (OHS). Having become expert in the restoration of significant pieces of historical value we figured our nearly century old swing set might merit their interest. Sure enough the answer to the "do you want it question?" was "Yes". So the four horsemen of the American Flag Gang showed up to take it on. Equipped with a flat bed trailer behind a sturdy pickup they hauled it off.
As of now - talk about going full circle - it's resting place when the restoration is complete is the American Flag Ranch (lovingly restored by OHS) which in past times was owned by the very same Huggetts who wiled away so many hours over so many years on that very same swing set. The fact is that Biosphere 2 itself has been well documented and made known worldwide - but largely ignored by many of us B2 neighbors is the enduring impact on Oracle as a community. Which happens to be a part of the larger story that requires local telling. Maybe a place to start is with individuals who played important roles in the Great Experiment itself and continued to put down deep roots in our town. Several are still around infusing Oracle with their personal and collective selves. I don't know how to properly characterize folks like this. "Leaders", "pacesetters", "history makers". None of the descriptives seem to capture who they are and how they have impacted Oracle.
I was making my way to the Oracle Post Office this morning when I spotted a guy bent over a machine of some sort on the steps of the Acadia Ranch Museum. My curiosity got the best of me so I swung around and parked across the street by the Little Free Library to assess what was going on. I should have known who would be there - one of the members of the locally famous American Flag Gang. One or another of AFG always seem to be doing something on the Oracle Historical Society property by way of improvements. In this case, it was Kevin Armbrust melting some of the remaing ice slicks that posed a hazard to visitors who might stop in.
Like many Oracle/Tri-Community residents Kevin has a powerful personal story that extends back into his days growing up in San Manuel, working for Magma Copper Company, being injured and dismissed when a load of pipe fell on him breaking his back...for starters. All this got me thinking about how much we don't know about our friends and neighbors who matter so much in our home place. A talented group of young musicians help out doing food prep at Rancho Robles. We really enjoyed their company and high spirits.
Which brings to mind Oracle's penchant for partnerships that build and reinforce the values of our town. The Chamber Music Festival is a big winner! Opportunities like this don't come down the pike very often - the right person, with the right experience, landing in the right spot! Lorena Candelaria: "I have been a “Oraclian” for 2 whole years now. The mothership hasn’t kicked me out yet! I had the second seizure in the West elementary band room in Coolidge that forced me to retire. I truly thought I would never get to teach band again. "It’s amazing how life can change in just 2 years! I get to share music with kids again in the MSMUSD, even if it’s part time! My heart is HAPPY and life is good! God is great! "Thank you to the Oracle Piano Society for making this venture possible for the local area kids and ME!!" Vivis Barba
"Congratulations my fav band teacher ever!!!! Because of you, I fell in love with my clarinet when you first taught me at Lincoln Elementary back in 1994! Keep it up Ms.Lugo (That's what I remember you by You are our future and more kids out there need you" ------------------------------------ Here's a way to make a contribution straight to the band program right now. Check it out and kick in if you are so moved. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2T1N1JQJ8990?ref_=wl_fv_le By coincidence my brother, John, and I attended "masterclasses" in the same week. His was in London mine, of course in Oracle. John is a life long pianist. He was raving about how great it was as a 79 year old who still takes regular lessons. The sum total of my musical experience was taking guitar for 2 years at the age of 12. So his experience was grounded differently than mine. Duh!
The fact is I had never observed a masterclass until the Oracle Piano Society/OrCA hit town. At least not musically speaking. Looked at as a teaching/learning experience without a music focus I've been in lots of them because I've had some great teachers in multip;le fields. Some of the same qualities apply across the board. To gardening, cabinet making, public speaking, organization building, child raising, every sport, writing, art appreciating, personal training, band. On and on. Performance mastery, attention, care, inspiration, challenge, precision are all part of the mix in master- class practice. This helps explain why Kaz and I appreciated the masters, students, and the impresario himself (at left in the above image) so much. At best this looks like a nothing sandwich. Dubbed the "Harbridge Ark "by local folks checking it out. At worst an ecological disaster in the making, Learn more here: www.coppercreekmine.com/subscribe/
Tiny Mammoth has some big growth plans
Fading community looking to revitalize through annexation of 16,490 acres By Brian J. Pedersen Arizona Daily Star Apr 10, 2008 A mammoth land grab by one of Arizona's smallest municipalities is being hailed by town officials as a way to finally bring growth and revitalization to a long-stagnant community. Critics, however, say the moves made by Mammoth late last year could spell doom by stretching thin an already-stretched revenue stream. In November, Mammoth, a former mining town 30 miles northeast of Oro Valley, annexed 16,490 acres that increased the size of the town from just under one square mile to almost 27. (To continue click the "read more" below) Located on Oracle's doorstep, the proposed development has a complicated history dating back to an annexation by the town of Mammoth in 2007. It calls for several thousand new residences and a new school. This may have a big impact on our future with all kinds of questions that need answering.
Talk about photogenic! How about these leading lights at the Oracle Community Center. But looking good played second fiddle to another gratifying community gathering - a Thanksgiving meal.
Most of what we know about the Faraday project in the Galiuros is taken from https://www.coppercreekmine.com/subscribe/ . A community event conducted by Faraday folks a few weeks ago in Oracle didn't shed much light on the situation. But it did make me stop and take note of a familiar dynamic with which many of us are familiar.
Having lived in Arizona for over forty years we've seen many schemes come and go. Willow Springs, Cherokee, Rancho Coronado, Buffalo Bill Cody's gold mine claims, not to mention long forgotten gold and silver digs. When I say come and "go" I don't necessarily mean stake-in- the-heart gone. In fact a thing called "Cielo" seems to be a sort of zombie project still on the books in Mammoth and Arizona State Lands - never having been de-annexed as far as I know. So there it lies in the land of the real estate undead. Another bad idea in purgatory. Indeed, there's a ton of real estate plattings, zonings, PADs, area plans, and mining claims littering our landscape as half dead schemes of aspirants looking to leverage someone else's money. So what about Faraday? Some say it's a "bull shit scam". Others point to the drilling, bulldozing, building and water pumping on location as "real". Maybe even real enough to appear on a "prospectus" in money-ville if not "real" enough to lead to the actual blasting, hauling and smelting of ore that is what mining is all about. There is a common denominator here. Water. There's the rub. Any way you look at it there isn't enough of it to undergird what project touts propose. The "episode" I just published about Jim Huntington on frankpierson.substack.com is by far the most viewed of the series to date. Maybe it's because JC is such a fascinating character, born and raised in the Tri-Community only to return from a stellar IT career in Metro Phoenix to publish The Oracle and defend our community against all comers. Maybe it's because he woke up local residents to the twin threats of of water contamination and scarcity when many of us had fallen asleep. Or maybe it's because he was skeptical about the claims of power players who would exploit the natural beauty of our region for economic benefit. Where and how he died is an important part of the story too. That's when fire and flood enter the picture.
----------------- More to come on JC. A friend of mine said after the Voices in the Oaks concert this afternoon was a classmate in San Manuel! I'm looking foreard to hearing her stories. The OAST studiio tour reminded me once again how difficult self promotion of one's own work is. No agents heaping praise on creative ventures - just an artist self touting, putting it out there. It's a risky business that inevitably attracts slings and arrows. "I don't like" this a customer mutters about a piece that took weeks to create. So and so is much more accomplished "we're wasting our time here. Let's move on." "The colors suck." Hard stuff for a creative to deal with, especially those new to the scene. Vulterable. Speaking of vulnerable it's not just artists with their work. It's also new businesses boot strapping, standup comics launching, And I'd include all sorts of crafts, musicians, and food entrepreneurs (bagels anyone?) in this discussion.
Take Tina Bolt for example. We renewed our connection on the art tour last weekend. Not only around fabrics and hand made constructs of all kinds but also "fermenting" vegetables. That's right! Oracle Ferments. She and her musician husband, Austin Owen, a locally renowned musician, offer a range of products of their own creation that includes bread, pizza dough and sauce. And they deliver which is kind of an unbelievable convenience. How about that? |
AuthorKaz and I moved to Oracle in 1979. The house we bought dated to the late 1940s. With little advance knowledge of the place, we set out to build a new life together, intending to settle in and raise a family. Categories
All
Archives
February 2025
|