Sahuarita celebrates its 14th birthday

Bounce houses, a climbing wall, an original T-shirt and some new events contributed to the fun Saturday as the Town celebrated its 14th birthday at Anamax Park.

New at Fiesta Sahuarita this year was an early morning 5K Run and one-mile family walk/run, organized by Steve Taggart of Tagg Running Events.

In the 5K, there were 70 participants. The overall male and female winners were Declan Kennedy (18:34), and Rebecca Moore (24:06).

In the one-mile walk, there were 20 participants and Taggart said the total of 90 was close to the 100 he sought for a first-time event.

Also new was an amusement-park style ride with a driver pulling open cars of contented youngsters around and around as parents watched their kids enjoying this simple pleasure.

Art and craft vendors were added to the mix this year. One of the talented crafters was Julia Valenzuela, whose vibrant crepe paper flowers created an eye-stopping show of color.

Mayor Lynne Skelton recognized Haley Castillo, a ninth-grade student at Sahuarita High School, as the winner of this year’s Fiesta logo contest. Haley’s colorful design graces the front of the T-shirts that were given out to the first 1,000 visitors. The logo includes a sunburst with a cactus donning a cowboy hat, a five-pointed star with stars and stripes of Old Glory, musical notes and a creative design done in red, orange, blue and green on a white background.

“I’m proud to wear her design,” Skelton told the audience. She then told Haley, “I expect to see your designs on clothing in stores in a few years.”

Popular again this year was YMCA’s 25-foot “Triangle Y Ranch” climbing wall. Several staffers ensured that each young and brave soul was properly helmeted and harnessed before scaling the wall and then having some sensation of flying while descending.

A patient line of climbers watched those before them and waited their turn for this popular attraction.

The town’s Parks and Recreation Department, led by Debbie Summers, didn’t hold back. There were refreshments and the chance for kids of all ages to meet fire and rescue personnel— even those on the SWAT team.

The mayor opened the event at 2 p.m. as the Sahuarita Explorers Honor Guard positioned Old Glory, the Arizona state flag and the Sahuarita town flag in place and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

A five-piece band called “Still Cruzin” played just the right tempo and volume of music with Eric Mellen on guitar, Scott Bish on bass, Keith Leon on drums, Rob Francis at the piano keyboard and Chuck Maultsby as vocalist.

This year’s bounce houses included one with a wide slide and one with basketball hoops. What's next?

Anyone with a sweet tooth had a variety of ways to satisfy it. There were mini donuts, Italian ices, pina colada, kettle korn and the quintessential carnival food — cotton candy.

A variety of community booths were present including United Community Health Care, the Joyner-Green Valley Library, the Community Food Bank, Green Valley Assistance Services and Carondelet Medical Group.

Ample Parks and Recreation staff ensured that every kid had several fun things to do, that the activities were safe and there was plenty of food, music and information for all.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.