COMMUNITY
InMaricopa was there in 2004 Here’s a peek into the past with some stories InMaricopa covered in its first year of existence.
Manfredi said early on he noticed InMaricopa offered an important service to the growing community. “When I first moved to Maricopa, InMaricopa (85239 at the time) provided us with a lot of information about the community,” said Manfredi. “We read the newspaper, magazine and website. I am proud to be part of a company that provides that much information to new and existing residents.” Manfredi said the reason he became a partner in the company is Bartle’s belief system. “Scott is a different type of person,” Manfredi said. “He gives 100% to what he is doing. He is a guy who has integrity. When it comes to even the smallest thing, you know you can trust and rely on him to do the right thing. You don’t find that much in the world today. When he gives his word, he follows through. He’s a guy who holds people accountable, works hard and he loves the community.” Success over the long haul Bartle wanted a publication that would be around for years to consistently inform citizens about the goings on in their community — the good, the bad and the ugly. There were plenty of shortcuts that could have been taken along the way, but Bartle realized the focus from the start was on quality journalism and not making a quick buck.
“My life would have been easier and profits much greater had I not been so committed to content and quality,” Bartle said. “That’s not a regret per se, but the business model I chose was not for the faint of heart.” Along the way, Bartle has nurtured a company that thrives on telling the stories of Maricopa. He roots hard for Maricopans and the businesses who have supported InMaricopa along the way. Bartle said during the last 20 years, his greatest pleasures have come from the success of this community and its citizens. “Employing Maricopans and contributing to other entrepreneurs’ and business owners’ and operators’ success makes me proud. So does much of the content we publish that is easy to take for granted. If we don’t tell many of the stories we tell, they will never be told. And I’m proud we are still standing two decades later when countless other businesses — and many naysayers — are not.” As for the future of InMaricopa , Bartle said it’s all about the community. “I really defer to our readers and our advertisers to identify what the future looks like. We are just a conduit to serve the community — both the business community and the general citizenry,” he said. “We are small enough and nimble enough that we can make changes to our business model as necessary to fill the voids that exist.”
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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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“My favorite thing about InMaricopa is the kindness shown throughout the community.” AUDRA BRATTON, THE VILLAGES AT RANCHO EL DORADO
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“I’ve always enjoyed the magazine and found it to be a good advertising medium. It gave us just anoth- er source of getting the message out to our customers.” RICK ANDERSON, ORBITEL COMMUNICATIONS CO-FOUNDER ON WHY HE BECAME INMARICOPA’S FIRST 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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“If there is an accident on the 347, let me just check the InMaricopa page real quick. They have better updates than Google maps!” MARCELLA MACYN SENITA
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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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