TheMarana, Voice of Marana since 2007 The The Voice Voice of of Marana, Oro Oro Valley Valley and and Northwest Northwest Tucson Tucson
Volume 29 Number 49 Volume Volume 29 29 ••• Number Number 49 49 December 7, 2022 December December 7,7, 2022 2022
INSIDE
This This Week Week
NEWS NEWS............................. .............................5 5 Aquatic Aquatic center center closes closes for for improvements improvements
FEATURES................... FEATURES................... 14 14 You You can can count count on on the the snow snow falling at La Encantada falling at La Encantada
SPORTS....................... SPORTS....................... 19 19 Athlete Athlete of of the the week week
LIVEN UP ..............................................9 LIVEN UP ..............................................9 BUSINESS .......................................... 11 BUSINESS .......................................... 11 FEATURES ......................................... 13 FEATURES ......................................... 13 SPORTS .............................................. 18 SPORTS .............................................. 18 HEALTH ............................................. 20 HEALTH ............................................. 20 PUZZLE/HOROSCOPES ................. 23 PUZZLE/HOROSCOPES ................. 23 WORSHIP/CLASSIFIEDS ............... 24 WORSHIP/CLASSIFIEDS ............... 24 MLS MLS #22229120 #22229120 MLS #22229120
www.explorernews.com www.explorernews.com www.Maranaweeklynews.com
OV town manager recruitment has begun Town hopes to alleviate holiday stress, depression
BY BY HOPE HOPE PETERS PETERS
Tucson Tucson Local Local Media Media
F
or or the the town town of of Oro Oro Valley, Valley, the the search search for for Mary Jacobs’ replacement comes Mary Jacobs’ replacement comes down down to to finding finding the the right right recruiter. recruiter. Officials Officials say say they they have have in in the the executive executive search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates. search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates. The The recruitment recruitment firm firm will will determine determine what what the the council wants in a manager. After that, council wants in a manager. After that, adveradvertising, tising, recruiting recruiting and and preliminary preliminary interviewing interviewing will begin. The recruitment will begin. The recruitment agency agency conducts conducts background background checks checks and and then then it it brings brings three three to to five candidates to the council for more five candidates to the council for more interinterviews. views. When When the the council council selects selects someone, someone, the the agency will help negotiate the contract. agency will help negotiate the contract. During During the the Nov. Nov. 10 10 town town council council special special sessesJim Conroy, Marana’s director of parks and Wayne Barnett, Marana’s deputy director of sion, which was open to the public, Ralph Ansion, which was open to the public, Ralph Anrecreation, said the new recaand aquatic center parks and recreation, said, “We really tried to dersen & gave brief on dersen & Associates Associates of gave acommunity. brief overview overview on keep the community involved and engaged,” in will be the heartbeat the (Photos the process for the proposed proposed for the the search. search. RecruitRecruit- the planning process. Marana Parks and process Recreation/Courtesy) ment usually takes about 90 to 120 ment usually takes about 90 to 120 days, days, and and the the organization is working with each member organization is working with each member of of the the town town council council to to learn learn what what they they would would like like to see new to HOPE see in in the the new town town manager. manager. be making adjustments and (design firm) ArBY PETERS In a previous statement, In a previous statement, Mayor Mayor Joe Joe Winfield Winfield chitekton will start to develop the construction Tucson Local Media said said he he and and the the council council are are committed committed to to “cast“cast- documents Chris worked the town of and as has the timeline moves from Chris Cornelison Cornelison has worked for for the on town of ing a wide net to ensure we find a quality ing a wide net to ensure we find a quality cancan- there, Oro Valley for 10 years, most recently as interim we hope to break ground during the hetoMarana Parks and Recreation de-in Oro Valley for 10 years, most recently as interim didate carry on the great work of the town didate to carry on the great work of the town in summer town Valley/Submitted) of ’23. It(Town will of beOro approximately a year (Town of Oro Valley/Submitted) town manager. manager. partment is” moving quickly on the new the the years years ahead. ahead.” of construction. So, we hope to be open in the multigenerational recreation and aquatic Jacobs Jacobs resigned resigned in in September, September, and, and, toward toward the the summer or fall of 2024.” centermonth, build, which was approved by the didate has selected. end has been been selected. end of of the the month, the the Oro Oro Valley Valley Town Town Council Council didate At Marana’s town meeting on Oct. 19, 2021, mayor and town council in October 2021. In the meantime, Oro Valley Town held a special session to discuss its recruitment the meantime, Oro ValleyOrdinance Town Council Council held a special session to discuss its recruitment theIn mayor and council passed No. “We are making great progress,” said Jim unanimously approved the promotion of efforts. unanimously approved the promotion of its its efforts. 2021.022, amending the tax code by increasing Conroy, Marana’s parks and recreation director. then-deputy town manager Chris Cornelison Soon, then-deputy town manager Chris Cornelison Soon, Ralph Ralph Andersen Andersen & & Associates Associates will will prespres- the tax rate town on certain activities by one-half “It’s a the very robust atime as far as planning and to manager on Cornelient to interim interim town manager on Nov. Nov. 2. 2.and Cornelient to to the council council a job job description, description, marketing marketing cent for the design and construction, fixworking with theother architects. We hope to havefor a son has worked for the town of Oro Valley for brochures and recruitment material brochures and other recruitment material for son has worked for the town of Oro Valley for design to share withwill theprovide mayor and council in 10 years, but six years ago was hired as deputy approval. Council direction to the approval. Council will provide direction to the 10 years, but six years ago was hired as deputy See CENTER Page 4 January, for their review. to From there, we will town manager. firm firm and and staff staff about about how how to proceed proceed once once aa cancan- town manager.
Marana soon to break ground on rec center
T
$450,000 $450,000 3BD/2.5BA +Loft 3BD/2.5BA +Loft 3BD/2.5BA (2,250 sq+Loft ft) (2,250 sq ft) 2-story with 2-story with solar & views solar & views
12840 Drive, Creek Drive, Oak Creek N Oak 12840 N Drive, N Oak Creek 12840 Oro 85755 AZ 85755 Valley, AZ Oro Valley, Oro Valley, AZ 85755
BY BY KAREN KAREN SCHAFFNER SCHAFFNER
Tucson Tucson Local Local Media Media
J
oy, oy, gifts gifts and and glitter: glitter: For For many, many, this this is is what the holiday season looks like. what the holiday season looks like. Not Not so so for for everyone, everyone, however. however. For some, the For some, the holiday holiday season season can can be be aa very difficult time, a time to endure very difficult time, a time to endure and and survive. survive. “Sometimes “Sometimes life life circumstances circumstances get get you you down, ” said Kristy Diaz-Trahan, director down,” said Kristy Diaz-Trahan, director of of Oro Oro Valley Valley Parks Parks and and Recreation. Recreation. “This, “This, perhaps, perhaps, is is the the first first Christmas Christmas you you don’t have a parent (or loved one). don’t have a parent (or loved one). Or Or even even if if it’s it’s not not aa first, first, there’s there’s some some melancholia melancholia that that relates relates to to some some tragedies tragedies in in the the past past that that you you can navigate the rest of the year but can navigate the rest of the year but when when it it comes comes time time for for the the holidays holidays and and all all these these get get togethers, togethers, that that level level of of angst angst comes comes up. up.”” For those people, or for anyone any For those people, or for anyone any time, time, Oro Oro Valley Valley Parks Parks and and Rec Rec is is hosting hosting an an event event that that not not only only showcases showcases some some of of the the mental mental health health care care services services available available in in Oro Oro Valley, but also gives people the freedom Valley, but also gives people the freedom to to ask ask questions. questions. The The event event will will be be held held from from 66 to to 7:30 7:30 p.m. p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Oro Valley Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Oro Valley CounCouncil cil Chambers. Chambers. Participation Participation is is free free and and the the meeting will be on Zoom, too. meeting will be on Zoom, too. “It “It is is aa safe safe place place to to attend; attend; you you can can attend attend in person or via Zoom, ” Diaz-Trahan in person or via Zoom,” Diaz-Trahan said. said. “On “On Zoom Zoom you you can can also also contribute contribute quesques-
$330,000 $330,000 3BD/2BA (1,300 SQ Lisab@LongRealty.com Lisab@LongRealty.com 520-668-8293 520-668-8293
#1 LONG AGENT & #1 REALTOR IN ORO VALLEY #1 LONG AGENT & #1 REALTOR IN ORO VALLEY
Voted Best of Northwest Realtor & Realtor Team Voted Best of Northwest Realtor & Realtor Team
See See STRESS STRESS Page Page 66
3BD/2BA (1,300 SQ 3BD/2BA (1,300 SQ FT) HOME WITH FT) HOME WITH PRIVACY AND PRIVACY VIEWSAND VIEWS 12843 N Desert Olive Drive,
12843 N Desert Olive Drive, Olive Drive, N Desert 12843 Oro 85755 AZ 85755 Valley, AZ Oro Valley, Oro Valley, AZ 85755
MLS MLS #22229273 #22229273 MLS #22229273