Council Hears Downtown Strategy
Comes back for approval on Tuesday, Sept. 21
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
When the City of Apache Junction and its City Council recruited G&G Consulting to create a “Downtown Redevelopment and Implementation Strategy,” they did not want a “fancy report that looked good, that was going to sit on a shelf and collect dust,” according to the City’s Business Advocate Janine Solley.
   The organization that they hired, G&G Consulting, understood that and hit the ground running with the project, Solley said.
   G&G Consulting’s Ed Gawf presented highlights of the “Downtown Redevelopment and Implementation Strategy” during the City Council’s September 7 regular meeting in chambers.
  “The plan that we have tonight is one that is ‘our plan,’” Gawf said. “The City Council’s, the City staff’s and, most importantly, the city’s plan. All we’re doing is the transmitting, if you will. We put it into a format that’s understandable and do-able.” \
   The plan was crafted from a prior work and integrates the views of the city’s residents, City staff and City Council.
   “When you boil it all down to the real essence of a plan, it’s as simple as A, B, C,” Gawf said. “A is the vision. B is the series of goals and strategies to achieve the vision. C is implementation. It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t implement it.”
   Gawf briefly went over the vision, which is one that is shared, “to create a downtown within the community as a central place or focal point that residents and visitors alike would identify as the functional and symbolic ‘heart’ of the city.” during the City Council’s September 7 regular meeting in chambers.

See A-1 and see Downtown, A-8

A.J. Radio Station KBSZ Undergoing Changes
New name is ‘Entertaining Talk Radio NBC 1260 AM’
By Betty Swanson
The News
Elvis and The Beatles are making way for news, Barry Kluger and “Culinary Confessions” at Apache Junctionbased radio station KBSZ 1260 AM. Rock ‘n’ Roll oldies are out and a new entertainment talk/lifestyle format is in.
   The format change came about mainly because of the station’s new affiliation with NBC Radio, a name change to Entertaining Talk Radio NBC 1260, and the addition of a new 96.1 FM counterpart station.
   But, the other big change involving the radio station that moved to Apache Junction, and was granted a license to set up shop and start broadcasting on May 7, 2010, was the moving of the station studio to Scottsdale.
   Station owner John Low explained that the studio relocation was done to establish a more centrally based East Valley location that guests and clients can access more easily.
   But, despite all of these changes, Low wants to reassure the people in the community that they will still be served.
   “We are not abandoning Apache Junction,” said Low. “Our door is open. We encourage organizations, the city, and the schools to stay in contact with us. We have every intention of supporting Apache Junction,” he emphasized.
He explained that includes airing public service announcements (PSAs), and doing stories and interviews on topics of interest to the community.

See A-1 and see Radio, A-3

‘Marriage Ref’ Coming to A.J.’s Dolce Vita
Casting team will appear at noon Tuesday, Sept. 14
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
An NBC comedy panel show that allows guest celebrities to judge disagreements between couples will hold a casting call for participants from noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 14, at Dolce Vita.
   According to Dolce Vita’s website, “The Marriage Ref,” the latest primetime venture by Jerry Seinfeld, is looking for “outgoing and opinionated married couples.”
   Dolce Vita, located at 3301 S. Goldfield Road, Apache Junction, is inviting the public to the casting call, which will include a couples dance, refreshments, prizes and the chance to travel to New York to be on the show.
   “I was completely in shock when I got the phone call,” said Lori Tuter, Dolce Vita director of sales and marketing. “They seemed very excited about coming here. I think it’s going to be a terrific event.”
   Tuter said that although “The Marriage Ref” is targeting seniors, any married couple is invited to try out. Those interested should call (646) 379-0434 or (480) 288-1818 and leave a message with their phone number, names and number of guests.

AJHS Boys Swim Team Sinks Competition
School records set by Pennick in the 100 butterfly and the boys 200 freestyle relay in first meet
By Chuck Baker
The News
Two swim meets down, two wins for the Apache Junction boys. In the first meet of the 2010 season, the Prospectors tallied 125 team points to beat both Gilbert Campo Verde (110 points) and Higley (70 points) as Richard Pennick established a new school record in the 100 butterfly with his time of 57:44 and the boys 200 freestyle team of Pennick, Jim Huynh, Mackenzie Hvidsten and Emerson Tucker also set a new school record with their combined time of 1:37.69. Then last Tuesday at home, Apache Junction sank Cave Creek Cactus Shadows 112-72, Pennick going 56:97 in the butterfly, breaking his own mark set a week earlier.
   The previous school record in the 100 butterfly had been 59:10 set back in 2004 by Ryan Finn. It was also Finn’s relay team that had the school record in the 200 freestyle relay with a combined time of 1:38.81.
   In last Tuesday’s home win over Cactus Shadows, Pennick took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23:90 and also in the butterfly with the new school record time, Huynh took first in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51:62, Ty Adair grabbed first place in the 100 backstroke with his time of 1:06.50, Chris Richmond won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:20.12, Cody Ploense came in first in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:34.41, and the AJHS boys swept the three relays, winning the 200 medley with a combined time of 1:58.51, the 200 freestyle with a combined time of 1:38.94, and winning the 400 freestyle with a combined time of 3:42.22.

See B-1 and see Swim B-6