When Oro Valley Town Council gave initial approval for the Aquatic Center in December 2011, it was with the vision that the facility would be both an economic driver for the town and an improvement to quality of life for our residents. It has been just two short months since our grand opening, and I am proud to announce that the facility has been an overwhelming success on both accounts.

Century Theatres

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R – Ariz., visited BASIS Oro Valley on Thursday to discuss issues affecting Arizonans and the nation.

A tentative increase in the Oro Valley Police Department’s budget this year was a cause for concern for some members of council during a study session last Wednesday at Town Hall.

In an effort to recognize some of the community’s outstanding  youth, the Oro Valley Town Council recently recognized Copper Creek fourth grader Michael Chen.

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council made official the annexation of 107 acres in the northwest area of Ina and Oracle roads. The three-year process came to a close earlier this month after the town secured more than the required support of 50 percent of the area property owners, representing more than 50 percent of the assessed property valuation.

Despite a struggling national economy, the 2013-2014 fiscal year budgets are looking optimistic for the northwest towns of Oro Valley and Marana.

In a 5-2 vote, Oro Valley Town Council enacted an ordinance on Wednesday that will allow the sale and consumption of alcohol at Steam Pump Ranch for special events.

In what looks to be a long session for the Arizona Legislature, town officials in Marana and Oro Valley are nervously waiting to find out the outcome of House Bill 2657.

Oro Valley council voted unanimously on March 20 to direct staff to clean up ambiguous language relating to the town’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) regulations.

Runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers from all 50 states and three different countries flocked to scenic Oro Valley on March 24 for what proved to be another very successful year at the 9th annual Arizona Distance Classic. 

“Regional collaboration is what happens when you think outside the box…By creating and taking advantage of opportunities for partnership, we have learned to extend our resources while redefining success and financial stability.”

Oro Valley could become the second northwest-area town to receive a medical marijuana dispensary in about a month’s time.

In 2003, John Corbett, owner of All About Running and Walking, Gregg Forzst of Ventana Medical Systems, Jami Eggold of Northwest Medical Center, and Ainsley Reeder from The Town of Oro Valley collaborated to bring a world-class half marathon to Oro Valley. 

To Arizona Distance Classic Race Director David Babner, who has seen and organized his fair share of races around the country, there is just something special about Oro Valley.

Welcome to the ninth annual Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and Northwest Medical Center 5k, hosted by Ventana Medical Systems and presented by The Town of Oro Valley, Northwest Medical Center and All About Running and Walking. The Arizona Distance Classic has become the ultimate spring celebration of the active healthy lifestyle in the world-class town of Oro Valley and this year again benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program.

Politicians work for us

Coinciding with the retirement of former Parks and Recreation Director Ainsley Legner, the Town of Oro Valley has officially hired Kristy Diaz-Trahan to take over the position. The former Recreation Services Division Manager in the City of Albuquerque, Diaz-Trahan began work on Feb. 4.

Following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 children and six staff members were killed by a lone gunman, state and federal lawmakers began discussions on how to better protect America’s students.

Viable activities being denied

If you hiked from Tucson to Portland, Maine, down to Miami, then to Seattle and finally back to Tucson, you would still be about 800 miles short of how far Sun City Oro Valley residents Bob and Leslie Esparza have hiked.

The Oro Valley council voted 6-1 on Wednesday night to fund $2.1 million in contingency reserve funds to underground utility lines along Oracle and Tangerine roads in a three-project proposal brought forth by Tucson Electric Power several months ago.

It was a near-empty council chamber by 10:20 p.m., but it was about that time the last item on the Jan. 16 agenda was addressed – and it proved to be one that sparked some heated rhetoric between the members of the Oro Valley Town Council.

Oro Valley residents are saying no to above ground utility lines that could be erected along the town’s scenic corridor on Oracle Road, despite the fact the decision could come with a hefty price tag to the contingency reserve fund.