Talk of the Town: April in Arizona is special

What a delightful Easter holiday I had with my family this past Sunday. I heard from many of you loyal readers as well, telling me that your Easter this year was extra special. Sunrise in Arizona makes any day a spiritual experience, no matter what.

The Walk Across Arizona wrap-up celebration was held April 7 at the La Posada at Park Center’s Madera Room. The Promoting a Health Life Style subcommittee of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council just completed the eighth year of the Walk Across Arizona program.

During the 2009 Pima County campaign, 91 teams of up to 10 members each, representing the Greater Green Valley area and Tucson walked a total of 123,777 miles to date. The program ended March 28 and team captains are still entering and updating the miles walked by team members. The Greater Green Valley area had 26 teams represented with the largest representation of 53 teams from the University of Arizona campus.

Welcoming those in attendance were Linda Block, associate agent Family and Consumer Health Sciences at Pima County Cooperative Extension, and Dr. Robin Harris, UA College of Public Health.

Activities at the Wrap-Up Celebration included a motivational talk by Ann Sirianni, certified fitness trainer, on the importance of maintaining a physical active lifestyle throughout the year with an emphasis on weight bearing exercises as we age.

Additional activities included the sharing of success stories by Nereida Borrego from La Via Memory Center, and Alexia Silva, a team captain and La Posada employee, awards, recognition for participants and door prizes. Silva’s team, Work Hard, received the high mileage award with 2,159 miles during the eight-week program. These awards applied to the Greater Green Valley area.

Jim Casanova, La Posada director of Human Resources, was captain of the team with the most creative name: Soles With Soul. Casanova entered La Posada employees in the Walk Across Arizona as part of their employee Wellness Program called Healthy Life.

Most senior awards were given to Oliver Walker, 97, and Sarah Hewitt, 92. Teams with the highest reported miles walked include: La Posada Walk Hard with 2,159 miles and Portillo Ridgerunners with 2,156 miles.

The Promoting a Healthy Life Style Task Force wishes to thank the following community sponsors for their generous support of the Walk Across Arizona program: La Posada at Park Center, Friends In Deed, Green Valley Community Coordinating Council, Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce, Green Valley Recreation, The Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

More information about Walk Across Arizona is available at: http://cals.arizona.edu/walkacrossaz to view miles walked in Pima County and throughout Arizona. Other counties currently participating include Gila, Maricopa, and Navajo.

Chapter BO of the P.E.O. Sisterhood of Green Valley is proud to present a continuing education grant to Kristen Alvaraz. Alvarez is a 2004 graduate of the University of Arizona and has a master’s degree in reading education. She teaches in the Sahuarita Unified School District. The grant will allow Alvarez to take the necessary courses required to keep her teaching certificate.

The P.E.O. Sisterhood, founded in 1869, is a philanthropic educational organization whose purpose is to bring opportunities to women to further their educations.

P.E.O. sponsors five educational projects:

Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., is an accredited liberal arts college for women.

P.E.O. educational loan fund is a revolving fund to lend money to worthy women students to acquire a higher education, loaning $92 million to 40,000 women since 1907.

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship fund was established to assist international students to pursue graduate study in the U.S. and to promote peace through education and understanding.

The P.E.O. program for continuing education provides need based grants to women that need to return to school for further education.

P.E.O. scholar awards assist women pursuing advanced degrees or engaged in advance research.

This past Jan. 21, The Legends hosted its first weekly mixed golf event at Torres Blancas Golf Course. There were 24 players and prizes for the players who got the longest drive (men) and longest putt (ladies). Participants paid $2 that went into a pot to pay the winner. That winner in turn then donated half of the winnings to the Green Valley Community Food Bank, an idea originated by Ann and Bruce Ostern. To date, the group has raised $235 for the food bank. The event was organized each week by Terry and Marge Hurley.

Some prior winners include: Barbara Webber, Diana Erikson, Janice Morrison, Linda Watson and Marge Hurley, in the longest putt competition.

Evelyn Goade of Green Valley celebrated her 90th birthday March 28 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Granby, Mo. The party was hosted by her children and their spouses, Charles and Joan Goade of Neosho, Mo., and Jim Goade and Mike and Sherie Goade, all of Green Valley. Grandchildren included Lisa Horine and her husband Brad, of Dallas, Texas, and Kirsten Kelly Scott and their son Marcus of Neosho.

There were 152 guests in attendance, including her niece Diana Pusey and nephew James Dykes of Atlanta, Ga., nephew Charles Curtis Kelly of Des Peres, Mo., niece Virginia Ritan of Middleton, Ohio, nephew Mike Wildeman and his wife Joanne of Bend, Ore., nephew Gene Goade and his wife Betty of Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., niece Lee Ann Dingham and husband Clifford of Neosho, niece Johanna Goade of Granby, Mo., niece Kathy Skaggs and husband Dale of Granby, niece Linda Baugh of Springfield, Mo., and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews, former co-workers and friends.

Jerry Carter presented Evelyn with a proclamation from the Newton County Commission honoring her as an outstanding employee and citizen of Newton County for her many years of service.

rford@gvnews.com