June 2015

Contact Information

Debi Kilpatrick

Hours of Operation are:
Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
168 E 4th Street
Benson, AZ 85602
info@bensonchamberaz.com
520.265.8031

Pioneer Days in St. David

Come join the festivities at St. David's Annual Pioneer Days! A 2 day event July 17 & 18th includes:
Speakers on the local history
Raffle of a Heritage Quilt valued at $1500.00
Fireworks
Dr. Mayberry demonstrating old time plowing techniques with horses and oxen
Pioneer Days Parade
Old Fashioned games for children of all ages
BBQ dinner
Food and Craft vendors
Interested in becoming a vendor?
Contact: Lori Arnold at lori.arnold66@gmail.com or 520.221.1133
Interested in entering the parade?
Contact: "All in a Day's Work" is the theme. SaintDavidHeritage@gmail.com or call 520.720.4469
Want quilt drawing tickets that benefit restoration of the 1938 St. David School's  Elementary and Auditorium building?
Contact: Wilda at 520.720.9440, stop at the school office, the St. David Water Co. office, or purchase at the Cowboy Way in Benson.

Welcome New Members!

Kartchner Caverns State Park
Chris DeMille
pio@azstateparks.gov
Join Date: 05/01/2015

86 Cafe
Pedro & Maria Santiago
Join Date: 05/19/2015

Kartchner Caverns Gift Shop/Cafe
Elaina Cole
Cole-elaina@aramark.com
Join Date: 06/08/2015

Marilyn Gourley
Join Date: 06/10/2015

Barney's Auto
Leland Barney
custombuyer@yahoo.com
Join Date: 06/16/2015

Unlit Vapor Shop
mnmsalas@gmail.com
San Pedro Lodge No. 55, F&AM (Masonic)
Roderic Wagoner
Website
rod.wagoner@gainbroadband.com
Join Date: 06/24/2015

Hartmann Commercial Real Estate LLC
Alain Hartmann
Website
alain@hcreinc.com
Join Date: 06/26/2015
 

Thank You to Renewing Members!

Southwestern Power Group
Martin Bailey
Website
mbailey@southwesternpower.com
Member Since: 01/01/2009
Renewed On: 05/29/2015

Villa Del Sol
Vivian Boutkan
Website
VillaDelSol@vimresidential.com
Member Since: 05/15/2014
Renewed On: 06/26/2015

DiPeso Realty & Apprasals L.L.C.
David DiPeso
Website
david.dipeso@dipesorealty.com
Member Since: 01/01/2000
Renewed On: 05/21/2015

Cochise Senior Meals Fund Raising
Marilyn Gourley
Member Since: 03/01/2013
Renewed On: 06/26/2015

Down By The River Bed & Breakfast
Mike and Angie Hug
Website
info@downbytheriverbandb.com
Member Since: 01/01/2009
Renewed On: 05/21/2015

Arizona Skyline Assisted Living Home LLC
Shay Hurbon
Website
johnnyhurbon@gmail.com
Member Since: 01/01/2008
Renewed On: 06/05/2015

SKP Saguaro Co-op of Arizona Inc.
Tisha Luzadder
Website
SKPSaguaro@gmail.com
Member Since: 01/01/2009
Renewed On: 05/22/2015

Cox Communications
Judy Wilson
Website
Judy.Wilson@Cox.com
Member Since: 01/01/2009
Renewed On: 05/20/2015

Amerind - Spotlight Business and other news!

Congradulations to the Amerind for being June's Spotlight Business of the Month!
The Amerind was established in 1937 and has over 27,000 pieces of arts, artifacts, and crafts in its collection. They have various classes, (check the Chamber's calendar), they have activities for children, an art gallery, serve as a host for researchers and archeologists, and is just a wonderful, beautiful, and educational place to visit! Cochise County's Little Jewel in the Desert is a definate added bonus for surrounding communities, tourists, residents, and serves as a major educational experience to learn about indigenous people.
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Congratulations to Our Most Recent Class of Docents!
If you take a group tour this summer or fall, you may find one of our new docent graduates helping guide your tour. Volunteer docents take nine classes over a period of nine weeks to gain the skills needed to guide guests on tours of the museum and art gallery. Interested in becoming a docent? Amerind Museum docent classes will resume in the fall. Call Ron Bridgemon for more information at 520-586-3666 ext. 11 or email rbridgemon@amerind.org.

Interested in becoming a volunteer?
We need you! And there are options to meet every skill set. Call Tammy Stansberry at 520-586-3666 x.12 or email tstansberry@amerind.org. You will love volunteering at Amerind, and Amerind loves its volunteers!

Fat Possum Coffee House Expansion of Services

Just letting everyone know that the Fat Possum Coffee House has a new menu board up that is easier to read. They have many "named drinks" to choose from, and they are focusing on the Italian sodas and cooler drinks now that summer has arrived. All of the coffee choices and concoctions are available too. They are now offering lunches at a very reasonable price. A brown bag lunch with your choice of sandwich is $5, and the BBQ plates that vary from week to week, are usually $7.50 - $8.00, with varying types of BBQ. Give Fat Possum a call at 586.4350 to find out what is on this week's menu!

Denny's Grand Re-Opening

Our local Denny's has had a facelift & remodel! They are inviting everyone to come down on Monday, July 6, for their Grand Re-Opning. All day long they will have various specials going on for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They are inviting everyone to come down starting at 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Many prizes will be given away during the celebration. So come on down and check out their new digs, take advantage of all of the special prices that day, and maybe even will a prize!

Show Your Support for The Villages at Vigneto!

The Villages at Vigneto

The Villages at Vigneto provides an opportunity for the City of Benson and Cochise County to offer its residents a responsible, comprehensive well-planned community that will create more than $20 billion in economic benefits for the region, significantly increased property and sales tax revenues, a higher demand for goods and services, and the creation of thousands of new jobs.

Benson and Cochise County residents could experience the positive economic impacts of The Villages at Vigneto in early 2016, when development is slated to begin and hundreds of new jobs are created. During the build out of the community over a 20-year period, 16,000 new jobs will be created. When the build out is completed, The Villages at Vigneto will have created more than 8,500 permanent jobs.

Additional facts: - High quality residential, retail and commercial uses offering residents opportunities for social interaction, recreation, employment, dining, shopping, arts and entertainment, education, public safety and healthcare services close to home. - A water management, conservation, reuse and recharge plan that augments and supports the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) approved Designation of Adequate Water Supply issued to the City of Benson more than 15 years ago. - Water consumption rates similar to Tucson and Phoenix, which are nationally recognized cities for their water conservation practices. - Abundant open space including natural, undisturbed washes and wildlife corridors, public and neighborhood parks, and connecting trails throughout the community. - More schools, healthcare services and community recreational amenities. - Upgraded infrastructure, roads, utilities, public safety and emergency services. - Significant long-term business opportunities for Benson, Cochise County and the region, during and after the completion of the community, for several industries: real estate brokerage, construction and renovation; manufacturing and wholesale; retail; transportation and warehousing; education; healthcare; professional services; arts and entertainment; hospitality; lodging; food and beverage; public safety, social services; and government.

Economic Statistics for Benson and Cochise County: (Source - U.S. Census Bureau) -Benson poverty level is 19.7 percent; Arizona is 14.9 percent (Source – Cochise College Center for Economic Research) -Number of jobs lost in Cochise County in 2014 = 600 -Number of businesses closed between 2006 and 2013 = 25 -Number of businesses in 2006 (height of economic growth) = 230 -Number of businesses today = 205 (Source – City of Benson) -Number of new business permits between 2008 and 2014 = 9 (Source: Dr. Robert Carreira, Director, Cochise College Center for Economic Research) “In 2013, new residential construction in Benson was at its lowest level on record, with records back to 1996. There were only two new home permits issued in Benson in 2013 (down from 10 in 2012 for the fifth consecutive year of decline). The number of new home permits in Benson in 2013 was down more than 98 percent from the housing boom peak of 104 back in 2006. In 2014, there were 0 new homes, and so far in 2015, one permit has been pulled for a new home.” __________________________________________________________________________
If you would like to express your opinions about The Villages at Vigneto, please write letters to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sallie Diebolt, Chief, Arizona Branch Regulatory Division - Los Angeles District US Army Corps of Engineers 3636 N Central Ave, Suite 900 Phoenix, AZ 85012-1939 sallie.diebolt@usace.army.mil

Make your voice heard! Please take a little time and have your support for this boon to our county and economy noted with the right people.

Please send letters expressing your opinions about The Villages at Vigneto to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sallie Diebolt, Chief, Arizona Branch

Regulatory Division - Los Angeles District US Army Corps of Engineers
3636 N Central Ave, Suite 900
Phoenix, AZ 85012-1939 sallie.diebolt@usace.army.mil

Please write letters and make comments on articles published about The Villages at Vigneto by contacting the following media representatives:

San Pedro Valley News (Benson)

Chris Dabovich, Managing Editor, managingeditor@bensonnews-sun.com

Dana Cole, Reporter, dana.cole@svherald.com

Francis Wick, Publisher, francis.wick@svherald.com

Letter to the Editor-Online Link: https://bensonnews-sun-dot-

com.bloxcms.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/

Sierra Vista Herald

Eric Petermann, Managing Editor, eric.petermann@svherald.com

Dana Cole, Reporter, dana.cole@svherald.com

Francis Wick, Publisher, francis.wick@svherald

Letter to the Editor-Online Link: http://svherald.com/content/2012/01/07/242733

Arizona Daily Star

Bobbie Jo Buel, Editor, Newsroom, Executive Editorial, bbuel@tucson.com

Tony Davis, Reporter, tdavis@tucson.com

Tim Steller, Columnist, tseller@tucson.com

Chase Rankin, Publisher, Crankin@tucson.com

Letter to the Editor-Online Link:

http://speedway.tucson.com/letters/?template=&action=letter

Arizona Daily Independent

• Letters can be emailed to the editor at: editor@arizonadailyindependent.com
Benson | San Pedro Valley News - June 2015