Growing onions in the desert? No need to cry
Perhaps you’ve had the same experience: onion bulbs from the big box stores that never develop into the big, dry ones like you buy...
It’s time for Little Leaguers across Maricopa to play ball
What is it about the smell of fresh-cut grass, the good feeling of a warm afternoon and the pop of a thrown baseball into...
Senior advocate: Dealing with annoying, maybe illegal robocalls
Robocalls, those prerecorded, unsolicited annoyances that are becoming all-too-frequent in many households, have reached epic proportions. They are the largest source of consumer complaints...
Koczor: Seniors at risk from falling
Falls are a real and growing risk to older adults’ health and independence and, in some cases, to their very lives. Falls can cause...
Meet the Maricopa Master Gardeners – and become one
Let’s explore the Master Gardener program in Maricopa. But first some history on two key related organizations.
The Land Grant College Act of 1862 ceded...
Continuing-care retirement communities worth a look
More than 2,000 continuing-care retirement communities exist nationally. They include all phases of senior living: independent, assisted, memory care and skilled nursing, packaged into...
The Roselle: A tropical plant that’s found a new home in Maricopa
By Amanda Rice
Hibiscus sabdariffa or roselle, is known by a number of names across the world, including Jamaican sorrel, Flor da Jamaica, Florida cranberry,...
Koczor: Seniors can learn from headaches
By Joan Koczor
Headache is one of the most common and debilitating pain conditions in the world. The World Health Organization names headache the third...
February is American Heart Month: Is your ticker in good condition?
In the early to mid 1960s, more than half the deaths in the U.S. were caused by cardiovascular disease.
To heighten awareness, the first American...
The messy business of creativity
Fine arts are a funny thing. They’re often the first on the chopping block where funding is concerned, yet the movie you just watched...
Smith: Relationships must be nurtured
For most of us, quality of life is likely determined by relationships, not by things,
according to research.
As we age, life can present harsh realities...
September is Suicide Prevention Month — and perfect time to learn signs, symptoms
Every 11 minutes, a person dies by suicide. In 2020, 45,979 individuals took their own life. Almost as many people who live in the...
Enhancing elementary school learning
The word “elementary” has two seemingly conflicting definitions. For some, elementary means basic or simple as when Sherlock Holmes said, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”...
Memory Café offered by Pinal-Gila Council for Seniors
A recent article by Ginger Fligger with Pinal-Gila Council for Seniors states 173,000 people in Arizona will live with Alzheimer’s or another condition that...
Rest of the story about Brian Simmons
Some people regarded Brian Simmons as the town nuisance, and he certainly did have a history of bizarre behavior around Maricopa.
This month in our...
Solo agers: Procrastination not a good plan in dealing with your affairs
Last month, I wrote about the importance of reaching out to those who might be facing isolation during the holidays. That prompted me to...
The beauty of mathematics
What is mathematics?
To many readers of this column, it is subject matter you must learn in school with a series of rules and methods...
What to expect from Social Security in 2022
Over 50 million Americans rely on Social Security for at least a portion of their retirement income. When you consider that 180 million people...
Smith: In emergencies, preparedness instills confidence
It’s that time of year when we are reminded by Mother Nature that emergency situations can happen quickly with limited warning. Although Arizona has...
Algebra a tough equation to solve
Algebra (specifically, high school algebra) truly is a gatekeeper to a student’s future.
Non-technical college degrees generally require completing a college algebra course, which might...
Koczor: C’mon man, it’s time to get healthy
Some men just don't like talking about their health.
Even when they see a doctor, one of five men admit they haven’t been completely honest...
Senior Living: Time to downsize, de-clutter
Some of us are reaching that stage of our life when we are considering downsizing. Some are looking forward to removing the clutter and...
Smith: Watch out, I have things on my mind!
I’ve had a bunch of interesting tidbits running through my mind the last few weeks.
InMaricopa magazine’s focus last month on volunteerism struck a nerve...
Maricopa seniors should be prepared for disasters to augment city plans
While images of hurricanes and wildfire destruction have been in recent news coverage, homeowners, renters and business owners can ill afford to ignore other...
Morgan: While helpful, home warranty only goes so far
Of an estimated 21,000 existing houses in the city limits of Maricopa, nearly 8,000 of them are at least 15 years old.
At that age,...
A love-hate relationship with oleanders
If oleanders are toxic, why do we have so many of them growing in Maricopa? Here’s the scoop on the good, the bad and...
Siegel: Rewarding responsible behaviors in elementary students
This is the second of a two-part report on the lack of responsibility displayed by elementary school students. Input was obtained by querying educators...
Koczor: New driver’s license requirements in effect next year
Effective Oct. 1, 2020, driver's licenses in Arizona will not be compliant with the REAL ID Act, according to Arizona Department of Transportation. The...
Beecroft: Patient care is highest priority
By Dr. C. Jon Beecroft, Maricopa Foot and Ankle
My patients frequently ask how COVID-19 has changed medicine. My answer to patients may not be...
Accelerated learning program to kick off in kindergarten
In recent years, the Maricopa Unified School District has made a concerted effort to improve the assessment of the learning that occurs in its...