Congratulations to our fellow Palm Creek residents who made the news this week!

HAPPY TRAILS: Winter visitors help build trails they enjoy at CG Mountain

Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012 8:29 AM MST

Steven King/Dispatch, Three winter visitors hike along a trail at Casa Grande Mountain Park early Tuesday morning. Pictured are, from left, Peter Hughes from British Columbia, Skip Emerson from Oregon and Jim Price, a full-time RVer from Texas.

While most hikers do not expect to move mountains, a group of winter visitor volunteers have worked for years to help improve Casa Grande Mountain.

As leaders of the Palm Creek Hiking Club, Skip Emerson and Peter Hughes spend much of their week on area trails, leading groups of hikers on excursions, scouting new trails and volunteering, often alongside AmeriCorps crews and others, to create new trails and maintain current ones in Casa Grande Mountain Park.

“We use these trails, and volunteering to help maintain them or improve the park is our way of giving back,” Hughes said.

Hughes and Emerson are among the many winter visitors whose volunteer labor has helped to accelerate development of a system of multi-use trails and paths in Casa Grande Mountain Park.

“We’ve been supporting Casa Grande Mountain Park since the beginning,” Emerson said. “We always have a good time.”

When new National Civilian Community Corps AmeriCorps teams are assigned to the Casa Grande Mountain trail development project, Emerson and Hughes, along with fellow volunteers Jim Price and Dan McDougall, are among the winter visitors who work alongside the crew, helping them to become oriented with the mountain and the project and teaching them to create new trails.

Between the community trail building events and day-to-day work on the mountain, about 60 percent of the volunteers at Casa Grande Mountain Park are winter visitors, said Anita Avila, a spokesman for the Casa Grande Community Services Department.

Since work began in Casa Grande Mountain Park on the southern end of the city in 2007, nearly 12 miles of trails have been created or improved.

The mountain park trails officially opened in November.

“Since the trails are 100 percent built by volunteers, having all hands on deck helped us to open the mountain as soon as we did,” Avila said.

She estimated that to date, about 8,042 feet of newly developed trails on the mountain are the direct result of winter visitor volunteer labor.

“Aside from monthly trail builds, we have winter visitors working with AmeriCorps during the week and preparing for trail builds, which involves marking the trails to be built with construction markers and other preparation like lunch and such,” Avila said.

Emerson, who lives in Oregon and spends six months every year in Casa Grande, regularly encourages members of the Palm Creek Hiking Club to participate in the Community Service Department’s monthly community trail building events at Casa Grande Mountain Park.

The work day events often attract 100 community volunteers at a time and anywhere from 15 to 30 of the volunteers are from Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort, said Hughes.

“We usually end up with more than we need,” said Hughes, who lives in British Columbia, Canada, during warmer months.

Last year, the volunteers from Palm Creek contributed 370 man-hours at Casa Grande Mountain Park, building an estimated 1,500 feet of trail, Hughes said. This year, they expect the same.

Price, a winter visitor from Texas who resides at Eloy’s Robson Ranch, also rallies residents of his community for the monthly Casa Grande Mountain trail building events.

“We don’t have as many volunteers from Robson Ranch as Palm Creek has, but we get a few,” his wife, Sue, said.

Like Hughes and Emerson, Price spends at least one day a month on the mountain, sometimes more.

“When the new AmeriCorps teams come in, he goes out there to teach them how to lay trail,” Sue said.

Hughes said that volunteers often realize the satisfaction of trail building work as soon as a day’s work is completed.

“You work on the trail and then you feel good walking back down the trail you just made,” he said.

Emerson was one of the founding members of the Palm Creek Hiking Club, which was started in 2002. He had retired in 1998 and soon after, he and his wife turned to full-time traveling in their recreational vehicle.

Emerson said he started hiking as a way to see the new places he and his wife were visiting.

“It’s exciting to see what’s on the other side of the hill,” Emerson said.

Hughes began helping with the hiking club in 2006 and over the years, the group has grown to include about 60 members.

Together, the club visits various locales within a 75-mile radius, taking hikes that range from easy four-mile wilderness walks to more challenging nine-mile adventures along rugged mountain terrain.

Besides Casa Grande Mountain, the group tends to visit other popular hiking spots such as Lost Dutchman State Park, Piestewa Peak, Sabino Canyon and other places.

Hughes said the group tries to avoid using the same trail twice, so a group of eight experienced hikers often scout nearby areas for new locales.

“Arizona has some of the most beautiful hikes,” Hughes said.

He added that hiking appeals to people, including retired individuals, because it helps them realize their capabilities.

“A lot of people underestimate their capabilities,” he said. “Then they get out there hiking or building trails and they realize what they can do.”

The New Sewing Room is Open!

Yahoo!  The new sewing room is open, alive, and full of activity.  I peeked in the door Monday morning and was amazed to see all the activity.  The sewing group seems like a huge sorority of women who share the same talents and skills and creativity to come up with the lovely projects they create.  Be sure to mark the annual quilt show on your calendars!  Saturday, February 18

Cabinets and lockers are still under construction.

The old sewing room will soon be available for more meeting space for our card clubs, special groups, and activities.

Outside I saw Dora and the housekeeping staff busy at work washing and drying all the tables we used at the welcome back party Saturday.  There is so much work done behind the scenes for each of our events!

Weekend Post

You must go to see the Desert Dwellers presentations!  Phil is an amazing speaker!  He can even talk faster than me!  I talked with him briefly at the Welcome Back party on Saturday and told him how impressed I was that he could pack so much interesting information into a very entertaining presentation.  He laughed and said he calls it “Edutainment”.  He has even been approached by Nickelodeon to give presentations to their young audiences.  He reminds me somewhat of the Crocodile Hunter – Steve Irwin.

There are two more presentations coming up so get your tickets before they’re all sold out.  The next show on January 17 will feature the critters of the desert and he promises to have some live specimens.  Phil is also the one who leads and sponsors the tours into the Grand Canyon.  See his website at:  www.wildmanphil.com

You may have already met Phil’s friend “Stumpy”.

We had perfect weather for the big Welcome Back bash on Saturday.  Thousands of people were present to get their free hot dogs and ice cream.  Had to laugh though when we saw that by far the longest line was always in front of the beer tent.

Zumba dancers entertained us.

Just about every club and organization had a table set up to greet passersby and tell them about the fun and activities available.  I was busy working at the Computer Club table most of the time so didn’t get too many pictures but I did want to feature our Urban Miners (the recycle team) as they are the ones who crush all those cans and turn them into cash. 

I hope everyone stopped the Chick-fil-A cow and thanked them for all those free breakfasts we enjoyed at their restaurant.

Take me out to the Ball Game!

What a fun time we had out at the softball field Thursday afternoon!!  I believe there are 4 or 5 Palm Creek ball teams this year.  It appears this sport is increasing in popularity with our Creekers!  If you haven’t been out to watch a game yet, you’re missing out on some great fun (AND some delicious hamburgers and cheeseburgers at the Home Plate Grill!!).

I happened to be at the ball field as two Palm Creek teams were playing against each other.  Since these folks all know each other, are good friends,  and have great times together, their competition becomes very entertaining.  It’s funny when someone gets a good hit.  You want to cheer for him…..but you’re hoping your other friend will do well and catch the ball.  Then when they do catch it, you feel bad for the batter who had a great hit.  So you wind up cheering and laughing no matter what happens.  This particular game was a winner for everyone as it ended with a score of 16 1/2 to 16.  What????  How can they have a score of 16 1/2????  There are many “special” rules for senior softball.  Since they do not allow tie games because of time allowances, the home team automatically gets a free 1/2 point.  Thus in a tie, the home team actually gets to record a win. 

Check out the league scores and schedule on their blog.  Go to Palm Creek Blogs then click on Softball Teams.

Fans were doing the wave to cheer on their super heroes.

Bill has been the announcer for as long as I can remember.  His commentaries add to the fun of the event.

Women are not excluded from these teams!  Aggie and Lori do a fantastic job and it is so fun to have them on board.  Here Aggie is on duty as 3rd base coach while Lori is up at bat. 

As I was heading back to the parking lot after the game, I came across this group of characters who made some wise crack about seeing me without a camera in my hand.  SURPRISE!  My camera is never very far away.  I quickly pulled it from my pocket and the guys tried to scatter.  Gaylen hid behind his buddy but I caught him in a second shot and photoshopped him back into view.  Ha Ha Gaylen.

Wednesday

This morning at our weekly Computer Club meeting, we had some special guest speakers from the Casa Grande Cartridge World store on Florence Boulevard.  Meet owners Dennis and Yvonne Jenkins.  What an interesting and informative presentation!  Dennis and Yvonne showed us the inside of our ink cartridges and explained how they work.

They also showed how the quality/quantity of ink has changed recently. The sponge pad area of the cartridge is what holds the ink. The bottom cartridge is the previous model, the top cartridge is what we’re buying today. Notice the big empty air pocket! It’s like our boxes of cereal – same size box but lots less contents! Click over to our Computer Club blog for more photos and detail: PALM CREEK COMPUTER CLUB   Thank you Dennis and Yvonne for a very informative meeting!

As I walked past the San Tan room later in the day, I could hear the cheerful sound of the chorus hard at work practicing for the upcoming spring musical.  The door was slightly ajar so I poked my camera inside for a quick picture of the group hard at work. 

I was going to take a quick hidden video when conductor Betty started yelling stop stop stop. I ran for cover because I thought she was yelling at me as an interruption. As it turns out, she never saw me….she was just busy at work to get the gang back on the correct track. It makes for a cute story though.

Around the corner folks were busy having more fun at the card tables.

While outdoors in the wonderful sunshine, lawn bowlers were playing a match while our dedicated landscape employees were hard at work keeping our resort beautiful.  I sure hope you all give them a friendly wave and say thank you when you walk by.

Golf lessons were underway out on the course.

Have you seen the new parking area over by the north pavillion?  Good idea to give them some dedicated parking space!

AND….Ranger Bob was on duty with radar gun in hand keeping an eye on traffic!  SLOW DOWN and drive safely.

Monday Night & Tuesday Craft Fair

Monday night was Bingo night as usual except we had a bigger January crowd.  During the break, I wandered over through the office area and noticed this huge painting that I hadn’t seen before.  I guess I haven’t really taken a close look at the lobby lately because it is usually packed full of incoming guests waiting to register. 

All new furniture this year.

I stopped in the SanTan room to say hello to the card making group…stamping…paper design…or whatever the group is called.  There are so many fun hobbies to take up our time.  Look at the beautiful handiwork they create.

Here are some sample cards by Nikki Rainha (pictured at left).   I hope these crafters will display their works and sell some of their handiwork at the Palm Creek artists show on Thursday, March 1.  That’s another date to make sure is boldly engraved on your calendar.

I’m guessing that scrapbooking is another active and creative hobby.

Today (Tuesday) was another one of our famous craft shows.  How fun!  It was a beautiful sunshiny day so the place was crowded with eager shoppers. 

Some of our local ‘creekers’ had their own booth to display and sell their handiwork.  Here is Dale Merschman and his wife showing off Dale’s wood carving talents. 

From a scrap piece of bark comes some amazing art work.

Lu Johnson and her hubby were there again with their fantastic pueblo houses.  Lu creates all the little characters, bowls, accessories in pottery and then delicately hand paints them.  I bought one of these little houses a couple years ago so eagerly look for their booth at every craft fair so I can add one more piece to my collection.  It is so HARD to limit myself to just one piece each month!

Bob Hernick displays his craftsmanship with a saw blade and creates some beautiful artwork.  I have several of his pieces in my living room too.

Joan is there with her beautiful paintings.  Oh to have that kind of talent!

Bob Horvet was carving away at another of his creations.  Look at the awesome Santa Claus selection!

George Waters is famous for the uniquely designed earrings he creates but I’m always fascinated by the beautiful workmanship on his Pegs & Jokers game boards or his Fast Track games.  If you want one, you’d better place an order with him as they sell faster than he can create stock.

Of course, these fun events couldn’t exist without the flotilla of volunteers working behind the scenes.  After wandering through all the booths, we headed out to the sunshine on the patio for a delicious lunch.  I stuck my camera in through the window to try to capture the army at work.  They really have to be organized to handle the volumes they serve. 

And…..let’s not forget the men at the grill.  Dang…….those hamburgers are delicious!

I had to smile as I made my way back to the parking lot when I saw all the bicycles out front.   I know I can speak for myself and a good number of friends who admit they hadn’t been on a bicycle for years until they moved into Palm Creek. 

Of course, the parking lot for golf carts was crowded too.  That’s our mode of alternative fuel transport.

To top off the day, we smiled as we watched the Geico banner sailing overhead.  I’m guessing our cropduster wanted to put his plane to good use.

It was another fantastic day in our beautiful resort.  Do any of you readers have photos you’d like to share?