Agri-tution Shocking Scandal

Agritopia - Street Scene

Rarely do we I get a chance to comment on something as an alleged breakup of a prostitution ring in a nearby suburban neighborhood.

Nice Bungalow in Agritopia

Apparently the police department in our neighboring town of Gilbert broke up a prostitution ring in Gilbert's golden neighborhood of Agritopia. Evidently the "ring" employed about 100 people. I guess that's just one other creative way to pay your mortgage in these tough times.

Under Construction

I love Agritopia. The neighborhood is reminiscent of an old time neighborhood with front porches and nice clean streets. Very sweet. It just goes to show you that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

An adorable cottage - no one standing on this corner.

Don't worry Agritopia, I think that since the police were on the case they have saved the reputation of your charming neighborhood.

Below is the article from the Arizona Republic - comments are my own.

Arrest in prostitution ring shocks Agritopia residents
- Aug. 6, 2008 07:12 PMThe Arizona Republic
Residents in Gilbert's Agritopia community, an area of cottage-style houses with an urban farm, were shocked when police arrested a resident suspected of being a key player in a Valley prostitution ring. (Shocked is an understatement except maybe for that one soccer mom)
Phoenix police arrested Peter Shifman, 56, this week and seized his home and vehicle. Police suspect Shifman of being the ring's accountant. (Can they seize your stuff if you are just a suspect?)
He faces nine felony charges, including money laundering, conspiracy and maintaining house of prostitution. (otherwise known as a Bungalow of prostitution)
At least 100 people worked in the Phoenix-based operation that set up high-dollar dates through various escort Web sites including AZ Confidential, Escorts in Action, and Hips Touring, police said. (Not to mention Craigslist and word of mouth)
At least 50 were arrested in raids that began Monday. (Holy Smokes)
Some of Shifman's neighbors were surprised that police suspect their neighbor being involved in the operation.
"They're just good salt of the earth, honest people," David Barber, who lives across the street from Shifman and his family. (Just makin' an honest living)
Barber said he never noticed anything suspicious about Shifman or his home.
He described him as kind-hearted and a good neighbor, even questioning how involved Shifman might have been in the prostitution ring.
"I'll wait for the trial to be over to find out," he said.
Neighbor Sherry Charniski said Agritopia is not the kind of area police visit frequently, which added to her shock of Shifman's arrest.
"It took us all by surprise," said Charniski, a neighbor. "I mean, this neighborhood? This is basically a Christian neighborhood." (Huh? - Who makes the determination if a neighborhood is Christian or not?)
Cottage Living magazine recently named Agritopia, near Ray and Higley roads, the top neighborhood for 2008. The neighborhood features a Christian school, community center and various parks for its 300 classical and 150 cottage-style houses.

The Great Wall

This new barrier popped up this week where the construction is going on at the Links Golf course. I'm assuming it's for dust, but possibly so we can't see what is going on behind the great wall.



We had a little rain this weekend and I noticed that a nice section had fallen down. Ha! We can see inside.

Say Hello and Goodbye

Ironwood and Ocotillo, former home of The Links Golf course and a few do it yourself instant car lots.




Note: many of the photos this week are taken from my car. Yes, the windows need cleaning.


Let's start with the goodbyes. Say goodbye to The Links as we know it. Won't the snowbirds be sad when they come back this fall to find their favorite winter golf course is gone. We had previously heard that they were going to creates some shopping and high dollar homes. Only time will tell.
Water truck spraying where the impromptu car lot used to be.

There has been much action on the corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo in the past two weeks. I've spotted major bulldozing and land stripping in preparation for... ?

Say HELLO! Hello to the Queen Creek Library that is currently under construction. Looking good.

Let's get those stupid taggers off the streets and into the library for some reading.

Say Hello! Hello to the Barney Family Sports Complex. It's bigger than I thought it would be.

Say Hello! Hello to the new high school being built on Gantzel. It's coming along nicely.

Say Hello! Hello to Ironwood Crossing a new development in Queen Creek. What housing slump?

Something for everyone - From the Low 100's, Mid 100's and Low 200's.

Now this is something I have never seen before. I hope the firemen have a key.

Welcome to Stepford.

Some random construction on Gantzel.

Well, we keep hearing about the housing crisis and money crunches but that hasn't stopped anyone from building in Queen Creek. I wonder if an E-coli scare would slow things down.... but I'll save that for another blog.

Best Bacon

I do not know if I will ever buy grocery store bacon again. I bought some country ribs and bacon at The Pork Shop in Queen Creek this weekend. All cuts were excellent.

Please know that I am not related to anyone at the Pork Shop (that I know of) . I am talking about them because I love their products. If you have not stopped there to buys some pork products you are missing out.

They have excellent brats, sausage, meats and meat sticks. We love the pepper sticks at our house. If you have a hankering for a meaty burrito they have those made up also.

Support your local butcher. In my opnion The Pork Shop is the best around.

3359 E Combs RdQueen Creek, AZ 85240 (480) 987-0101

Grand Opening Bargains

The new Fry's Marketplace in Queen Creek at Gantzel and Combs is open. They have some nice grand opening bargains like strawberries 10 for $10 with a Fry's card.

The store is brand new and pretty awesome.

Support your local restaurants

Support your local businesses. I'm recommending Sushi Creek at 21805 S. Ellsworth Rd.

They have traditional sushi and rolls. I love the Big Foot Roll.

Sushi Creek has happy hour EVERY DAY from 2-5.

If you hate sushi, they have an "I hate sushi" menu with burgers wraps and other non-sushi items. You can even call in to-go items.

Check them out at www.sushi-creek.com .

How Queen Creek Got It's Name

My Mother-in-law from Ohio had asked me a few times if I knew how Queen Creek got it's name. Now I know.

I was perusing the internet and found a nice article that someone had written about the Chandler area. Click here to read article . This site spoke about silver mining around Globe and Superior. Click on the link for the full article. Here is a quote from that link.

"Silver fever sent prospectors out to search for more, and in 1880 an outcropping was found near Superior. Because the ore found there was nearly as good in quality as that of the Silver King Mine, the new mine was dubbed the Silver Queen Mine. "

"Just at the base of the Silver Queen Mine was a creek. Nearby is an oddly shaped mountain which resembles a picket post, so the creek came to be known as Picket Post Creek. With the opening of the new Silver Queen Mine, the creek’s name was changed and has since been known as Queen Creek."

The creek runs through our town today. For most of the year it is a dry wash.

From the book "Around San Tan Mountain" I found that the actual town of Queen Creek was called originally called Rittenhouse. A petition requesting a name change from Rittenhouse to Queen Creek circulated in 1947.

I picked this book up at Barnes and Noble. It is from the "Images of America" series. It is titled "Around San Tan Mountain" by David Salge. If you are interested in the area and how it came to be this is a very nice historical book with lots of photos from the early settlement near the San Tans.

This book has made me more curious about the area. It also has made me even more aware about how fast our community is changing compared to 100 or even 50 years ago.