Hendrickson: Preview of winter magazine

Check your mailboxes for the Winter Edition of InMaricopa Magazine. I think you’ll be entertained by the amazingly diverse people of Maricopa, their interests and impact.

I know I was.

It was my first month as a Maricopa resident, so I was excited to meet the people I had the opportunity to write about and read about others you’ll meet in these pages. In our People section, you’ll meet a Senior Olympian who overcame the odds, the energetic Friends you really want to be friends with at Maricopa Public Library, and a volunteer at Maricopa High School who goes beyond the expected. Speaking of MHS, student D’Asia Simone will catch you up on nail trends, and student chef Victoria Andrade shares a great recipe, all courtesy of the talented DECA club.

That’s what I mean by diverse.

Our cover story on K’Bella owner Karen Benedek may reveal the unexpected. You can track the numbers on our entertainment venues Harrah’s Ak-Chin complex and Copper Sky. And you’ll learn a few things about Maricopa’s K9 canine, Ike.

In our Government section, learn Mayor Christian Price’s expectations of the city this year, meet new council member Henry Wade and catch up with Kelly Anderson, who is now the chairman of a state board.

Master Gardeners Julie Olsen and Dave Brady shared tips with me about raising a cool-weather garden, as Wayne Naegle does. Staying outdoors, I was allowed to listen in as the manager of a rejuvenated golf course explained to a Hall of Fame pro the changes made.

The smart and creative side of Maricopa is seen everywhere. Rebecca and Mark Molus gave us the inside scoop on their interior design, changing a model home into a model of individuality. Meanwhile, kids and parents joined a teacher at Pima Butte Elementary to make the robots they always wanted to make.