FROM THE EDITOR
I IN CHARLOTTE IN THE AUGHTS, I USED TO PICK up the Observer every morning. When Barack Obama was running for president the first time, in 2007, I remember seeing former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on the front page. I had never heard of him. Then again, I was a grade schooler on the opposite side of the country. It was a story about immigration policy. A decade and a half later, unwittingly, I became Arpaio’s neighbor in Fountain Hills. I could walk to his house on Vía Del Sol, and I did sometimes. I ended up spending a year writing a cover story in Phoenix New Times called “Inside Joe’s Brain.” I love when things come full circle like that. For example, Brian Petersheim Jr. caught up this month with his former Maricopa High School teacher, Brad Chamberlain. Remember how weird it was running into your schoolteacher at the grocery store as a child? Imagine following him into a dimly lit Tempe foosball hall. And here’s a fun one: A couple of months ago, one of our advertising professionals happened upon some hobbyists inside a Maricopa computer repair shop. Now, one of them is on our cover. David Iversen writes about the Belegarth Medieval Combat Society. There are worse ways to escape reality than LARPing — but we all need a break sometimes. Even our state representatives and senators sometimes travel by secret passageway; Republicans escape to blindingly blue offices to sip Coke Zero away from Nerding out
Publisher SCOTT BARTLE
the chaos inside the chambers. How do we know? Monica D. Spencer spent a week at the Capitol to better understand those who represent Maricopa. And the girls who won Maricopa High School’s
Editorial Director ELIAS WEISS
Advertising Manager TAWNI PROCTOR
only state championship in 2015 love to transport mentally back to that hardwood court. Fortunately, they were willing to do so with Jeff Chew. My escape was always reading newspapers and newsmagazines like this one. Ever since I was in school, reading the Charlotte Observer every day. Whether you nerd out about print journalism like me,
Advertising VINCENT MANFREDI AMBER ROGALLA BRITTANY RUSSELL MICHELLE SORENSEN Writers AMANDA ATLER AL BRANDENBURG JEFF CHEW KRISTINA DONNAY JUSTIN GRIFFIN DAVID IVERSEN MICHAEL MCDANIEL DAYV MORGAN
or dueling Lord of the Rings-style at Copper Sky, or anything else — make time to escape into your own little world from time to time. We’ll all be here when you get back. I, for one, think Maricopa is the perfect place to return to.
BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. MONICA D. SPENCER SHERMAN AND EUPHEMIA WEEKES
Photographers BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. DAVID IVERSEN VICTOR MORENO MONICA D. SPENCER
ELIAS WEISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Elias@inMaricopa.com
LITTLE TO NO WAIT TIMES • 24/7 HOSPITAL & EMERGENCY SERV ICES SPACIOUS PRIVATE INPATIENT ROOMS • PERSONALIZED CARE PLANS ON-SITE CLINICAL PHARMACY, LABORATORY & RADIOLOGY SUITE HIGHLY SKILLED STAFF & PROVIDERS • RAPID ACCESS TO YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS Your Community. Your Hospital. Maricopa's state-of-the-art Hospital and 24/7 ER is ready to serve you. uality Care Close to Home Q
Designer CARL BEZUIDENHOUT
Send your reactions with a photo of yourself at the QR code to be published in a future edition of InMaricopa magazine.
MISSION Inform readers/viewers. Enrich advertisers.
BELIEFS We believe in: • An informed citizenry. • Holding ourselves and others accountable. • The success of deserving businesses.
CONTRIBUTORS
VALUES
• Integrity • Accountability
• Open, honest, real-time communication • Prosperity for clients, community, company
Volume 20, Issue 4 InMaricopa 44400 W. Honeycutt Road, Suite 101 Maricopa, AZ 85138
520-568-0040 Tel News@InMaricopa.com Advertising@InMaricopa.com
JEFF CHEW A decade later, veteran reporter Jeff catches up with the only Rams team to win a state title.
AMANDA ATLER Entrepreneur and sommelier Mandy celebrates her popular wine bar’s half birthday.
AL BRANDENBURG In February, we learned how to grow ‘em. Now, gardener Al teaches us how to make the most of our tomatoes.
Published advertisements are not an endorsement of products or advertising claims by InMaricopa . No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of InMaricopa . Copyright 2025.
WWW.EHC24.COM/MARICOPA 10960 N. John Wayne Parkway | Maricopa, AZ 85139 | 520.534.0700
InMaricopa.com | April 2025
6
Powered by FlippingBook