Ten New Years Wishes for Queen Creek

10 New Years Wishes Queen Creek and surrounding areas. (not necessarily in this order).

1. That city and county planners make a moratorium on new housing developments in the area. We'd like for our homes to retain their value and this would help immensely. We have more than enough new or almost new empty houses in the area.

3. That we continue to see quality restaurants and retail move in the area.

4. That developers and the city work to make our community walkable or bike friendly with wide sidewalks and bike trails.

5. That taggers find some other outlet for their art besides scribbling nonsensical signatures and the like all over town.

6. That the community supports deserving local businesses so that they can thrive and afford to pay their rent and continue providing us businesses with local flavor.

7. That employers with decent wages decide to locate in Queen Creek and that the businesses that have been in the area for year continue to experience success.

8. That more people care about their community and neighborhoods and get to know their neighbors on a more intimate level. (This is on my personal list for this year)

9. That people take pride in their community starting with their own properties.

10. That Pinal County and Queen Creek powers that be take each other into consideration before making decisions that affect their neighbors.

Please feel free to add to my list.

Queen Creek Lights

Nice Christmas light display near Ellsworth and Ocotillo.

Walk Score Jumps 13 points

In October of 2007 I blogged about the Queen Creek Walk Score.

Walk Score Blog 2007

The Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100. The walkability of an address depends on how far you are comfortable walking—after all, everything is within walking distance if you have the time.

Here are general guidelines for interpreting your score:

90 - 100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.

70 - 90 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.

50 - 70 = Some Walkable Locations: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car

.25 - 50 = Not Walkable: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.

0 - 25 = Driving Only: Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

In October of 2007 the Queen Creek Walk Score using zip code 85242 was 46. We have risen to the ranks of 63! We are now somewhat walkable.

If you are interested here is the link to the Walk Score site to check your own Walk Score.

Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address

I'd love to hear your comments about the walkability of Queen Creek and the Queen Creek Area.

Local Christmas Decor

These giant Christmas balls were spotted at the Queen Creek Market Place.

'Tis the Season.

Breakfast at Schnepf Farms Restaurant

I wanted to show a few more photos of the quaint restaurant at Schnepf Farms. The few times I have been there it was not very busy and the food was very good. I hope more locals will patronize this place as it is very nice.

Jars of goodies for sale.

We bought some of these awesome fresh cookies. Delicious!

Cotton Harvest

I've taken a few photos to share of the local cotton bales. These were beside the side of the road next to the fields. I find this fascinating.



The cotton fields are very pretty right now with cotton ready to be harvested. I think the fields look like popcorn balls. So pretty.

Queen Creek Farmers Market

This Saturday was the first Queen Creek Farmers Market. It was held at the in front of the new Queen Creek Library. This happens to be a great place to hold an event like this.




The event was very nice and organized. They had a DJ and later a live band. It had a cool community event feel to it with families walking around with their tots and dogs.





My only wish is that there were more farm fresh veggies for sale. There were only about two vendors who actually sold produce and the choices were limited. The majority of the vendors were selling handmade items and crafts. I'm not complaining too much as the craft vendors were great. There were wool vendors who spun their own wool, a booth from the Olive Mill and Schnepf Farms. There was a lovely woman who made awesome greeting cards. A number of excellent jewelry and beading booths. I made a few cool purchases myself and as usual made a few impulse buys.


I met up with a friend from Gilbert who has not spent much time in QC. After we left the farmers market we drove over to Schnepf farms and had breakfast at their restaurant. I had never eaten there before and was pleasantly surprised. We had a breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon and biscuits topped off with some delicious coffee. It was very relaxing and the food was great.

We continued our Queen Creek themed Saturday morning by crossing the street to the olive mill to stock up on some excellent olive oil. Oh my... they just happened to have a wine tasting event. Another nice surprise.

After our wine tasting we headed over to the Pork Shop so that I could stock up on my favorite bacon and pepper sticks. Gotta contribute to the local economy.

This was such a fun morning that I'd highly recommend this mini-tour of Queen Creek to anyone. I am not sure when the next Farmers Market will take place in QC but when I hear about it I will post it.

Library Opening Flag Ceremony

The Cub Scouts of Queen Creek did a wonderful job at the flag raising ceremony at the grand opening of the Queen Creek library.

Library Grand Opening Today

The new Queen Creek Library opens today!
10 - 2
21802 S. Ellsworth Rd
Ellsworth Road north of Ocotillo Rd.

Thanks for Voting

Thanks for voting. It's nice to know that we can vote peacefully and orderly. Way to go Queen Creek.
God Bless John McCain, God Bless Barack Obama and God Bless America.

Happy Halloween

Watch out for trick or treaters this evening.

About Town

The new Florence High School complex is coming up nicely on Gantzel.

Banner Ironwood Hospital, under construction on Ironwood / Gantzel Rd.

The new Shoe Pavilion in Queen Creek, going out of business almost as soon as it opened. A sign of the economy I'm sure.

Morning traffic jam again on Ironwood approaching the 60. We need two left turn lanes. The delays in the morning are quite annoying. Add another 20 minutes to your commute.

FREE MUSIC

Just so you know, San Tan Village offers FREE music every Friday and Saturday from 6 - 8 pm near Harkins Theatres.

From their website:


Weekend Music

Now through Saturday, December 27, 20086:30pm - 9pm

Enjoy the relaxing sounds of music, Friday and Saturday evenings!From now through the end of the year, SanTan Village will host music every Friday and Saturday evenings, from 6:30pm - 9pm in the Gathering Courtyard in front of Harkins Theatres.

Enjoy entertaining sounds from local solos, duos and trios, providing an ambient environment unlike any other shopping destination in Gilbert. *Music will stop in the Gathering Courtyard on Saturday evenings during the Fall Concert Series, October 25 - November 22 and will resume on November 29.

Friday, October 17: Mary Hoffman - Country Western
Saturday, October 18: Pete Pancrazi - Jazz Standards
Friday, October 24: Patte Williams & Company
Friday,October 31: Whitney Steele - Contemporary Folk
Friday,November 7: Mary Hoffman - Country Western
Friday, November 14: Pete Pancrazi - Jazz Standards
Friday,November 21: Blues Legend Hans Olson

Free is Good. - Agreed?

Hooray for Uncle Bears !

Uncle Bears Bar and Grill opens in Queen Creek. Locals rejoice.

I finally had the chance to check out Uncle Bears Grill and Bar on Rittenhouse. It has only been open for a few weeks. When the Uncle Bears opened on the Power Road location we could never get a seat in the place as it was packed.

This location is extra roomy with a giant bar that seats about twenty. There is an outdoor patio area and tons of big screen TV's for any sports enthusiast. It has a nice comfortable atmosphere and the food is decent too.

Hooray for Uncle Bears! We wish you luck in Queen Creek. Thanks for considering Queen Creek as a location. We sorely need more establishments such as this.

Uncle Bears is located at 21151 E Rittenhouse, Queen Creek AZ 85242.

http://unclebearsgrillandbar.com/

Gone

One day it was an old house with some horses in it's small yard. The next day it was a burned out building and eyesore on Ocotillo. I blinked my eyes and it was gone. Bulldozed. Not a bad thing.


I do worry about those big trees on Ocotillo near Ironwood. I always wonder how old they are and what type of trees they are. How many animals live in them. I fully expect for them to be torn down in the sake of progress. I'm sure someone thinks they are dangerous. I think they are interesting and beautiful. They are more than likely some of the oldest trees in the area.


R.I.P. old burned out building.

Queen Creek and Pinal County Keeping it Real

I've been reading that the town of Queen Creek wants to keep a sort of rural farm theme going as the town develops. This means public art with farm themes ie. metal cows, tractors everything with a sort of modern rusty look. These are the themes I am seeing at the new shopping hubs in the area.

I wonder how the new giant high voltage franken-poles for the new substations that are to run through town will fit into that theme.

I love the way some of our surrounding cities are disguising cell phone towers to look like tall palm trees.

I vote for a giant cowboy power pole sort of like the old Vegas cowboy. This would make it interesting AND a tourist attraction. Maybe he could point the way to the Olive Mill or San Tan Flats which are two of the most original and classy and fun places in the area.

On the edge of Queen Creek, Pinal County is taking this rural / farm theme a to a whole 'nuther level.

Landscaping in the medians are au natural with tumbleweeds growing right down the middle of the streets. Some are even big enough to block your view in a turn lane. We also have natural tumbleweed removal - it's called monsoon winds.

On a recent week we all had the pleasure of a dead cow laying on the side of the road. Now THAT has a rural country feel. The majority of the homeowners in the area do not have a rural farming background so this was a super treat as many of us have never seen a dead cow in full view before.

I personally like a prettied up "rose colored glasses" view so we don't scare the tourists away.

Way to go Pinal county for Keeping it Real. What a great theme for a beautification project. Who needs metal cows when you can have the real thing.

About Town

A horse nibbles on some grass along Ellsworth Road.







Here are a few images from around Queen Creek in the past few weeks.





Barney Family Sports Center is coming along nicely.

Nice big tree at Arid Zone Trees on E. Germann.

Some rural graffiti.

Have a nice day!

Arid Zone Trees

While driving on the most eastern part of Germann Rd. I could not help but notice some wonderful landscaping along the side of the road. This is the location of a company called Arid Zone Trees. They specialize in trees and plants that grow in our growing zone for commercial use. Simply beautiful.

Kudos to AZT for adding beauty to the area.







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