InMaricopa was there in 2004 Here’s a peek into the past with some stories InMaricopa broke in its first year of existence.
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Andrew Cole benefits raise $20,000 March 15 In our first story ever published, friends, family and neighbors of Andy Cole came out in droves for a pair of fundraiser events to help defray Cole’s medical expenses. Cole was a 52-year resident battling cancer. More than 300 people attended the barn dance, which featured silent and live auctions, live music by Jim Monk and his Almost Country Band and tunes spun by DJ Eddie Rodriguez. Cole died Sept. 10, 2010.
Votes are in for first elected city council May 19 For the first time, the people of Maricopa elected a city council. Six of the 12 candidates joined Kelly Anderson, elected in the primary, on the council for two- or four- year terms. Stephen Baker, the leading vote-getter, and Phyllis Von Fleckinger were the only rookies to join the council. Anderson, Will Dunn, Edward Farrell, Kelly Haddad and Brent Murphree were returning, having served on the interim city council appointed upon the city’s incorporation Oct. 15, 2003. Anderson was The May 26 Maricopa Unified School District board meeting included a work-study session on a revised kindergarten schedule to commence with the 2004- 05 school year. The changes proposed by MUSD Superintendent Alma Farrell, which would incorporate full-day and alternating full-day kindergarten in addition to the existing half-day schedule, were met with opposition from the PTO. MUSD instituted but later rescinded free full-day kindergarten during the recession. Proposed park negotiations to begin Oct. 6 The Maricopa City Council met Oct. 5, to grant permission for negotiations to begin with Element Homes, the agent and developer of Glennwilde. Element Homes agreed to build a public park, which opened in 2006 as Pacana Park. Ground broken on second elementary school Oct. 8 Ground was officially broken for the second new appointed mayor June 1, 2004. Kindergarten schedule prompts spirited debate May 26 elementary school built in Maricopa on the north side of Rancho El Dorado Parkway. Update: After the opening of Pima Butte, MUSD created four more elementary schools. PGA, British Open champ comes to town Dec. 14 World-famous professional golfer John Daly brought his game to Maricopa. On Dec. 17, the PGA Tour Pro appeared — and played — at Southern Dunes Golf Club, which in 2010, was purchased by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and rebranded Ak-Chin Southern Dunes.
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“I’ve always enjoyed the magazine and found it to be a good advertising medium. It gave us just another source of getting the message out to our customers.” Rick Anderson, Orbitel Communications co-founder on why he became a day one advertiser
Bashas’ preview quite a party July 13
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Bashas’ opened its doors to thousands. A celebration the day before the July 14 grand opening filled the parking lot and store aisles alike. Bashas’ became the city’s first supermarket. Its presence gave Native Grill and Wings, at the time known as Native New Yorker, the confidence to open a restaurant a year later.
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City to acquire library’s assets Aug. 4
The Maricopa Community Library became the Maricopa City Library following the Aug. 3, unanimous vote of the Maricopa City Council. It was an agreement by which the city accepted the donation of the library, its operations and related assets, and it became effective Sept. 1 that year. The Maricopa Library and Cultural Center on Smith-Enke Road opened in 2009. The former Maricopa Community Library is now the Maricopa Veterans Center. Maricopa ‘booming’ Aug. 14 Destination Maricopa met for the third time Aug. 13, at the First Baptist Church with 25 interested citizens in attendance. “Everyone knows Maricopa is booming,” said Councilman Will Dunn. “In 2000, we had 1,048 residents and today there are about 7,000. With approximately 230 building permits per month, that’s roughly 1,000 new residents each month.” Update: Recent U.S. Census figures have Maricopa’s population at a tick over 70,000.
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24 New Resident & Visitor Guide 2024 • InMaricopa.com/NewResidentGuide
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