May/June
2006
Douce�e To Celebrate 25 Years As Tucson Builder
At May Civano Neighbors Meeting
T
om Douce�e, celebrating his
organization’s 25 year anniversay in
May, will present updated plans for two
of the remaining unbuilt areas in Civano
1, Block 2 and Lot 526 (west of the school)
at the May Civano Neighbors meeting.
Douce�e, President and Chief Executive
Offficer of Douce�e Homes, Inc., will also
reflect on the changing face of development in Tucson as he and the Douce�e organization review their 25 years as builders and developers.
“We are excited to be bringing these
two projects to Civano this summer,” said
Douce�e. “Site improvements will be underway at both sites at the same time with
product openings this fall.” Both projects
have already received tentative plat approval.
Block 2, located east of Nightbloom and
to be known as the Orchard, is planned for
23 lots with Douce�e’s Arizona Ranch type
product (home.) Lot sizes will average
10,000 sq. feet and prices for the homes are
expected to run from the mid-$300,000s to
$500,000. An additional 5 larger lots at the
south end are being reserved for possible
development in conjunction with the two
acre commercial parcel (zoned neighborhood center) located next to Drexel.
Lot 526 will
be developed as
a variation on
Douce�e’s Presidio at Williams
Centre development, awarded a
Grand Award in
the seventeenth
Annual Builder’s
Choice design
competition. The
project will have twenty single family
homes ranging in size from 1225 sq. feet
to approximately 2000 sq. feet with prices
starting around $200,000 to $325,000.
Douce�e, born and raised in Michigan
before living in California for 20 years,
has been a Tucson resident sine 1980. He
has been a Real Estate Broker in California and Arizona, has a Bachelors Degree
in Business from Cal State Fullerton, a
Master of Business Administration from
the University of Oregon, and further
graduate study at the University of California, Irvine.
He is Past-President of the Southern
Arizona Home Builders Association,
board member of the Northern Arizona
Builders Association, Past-President of
La Paloma Country Club, and board
member of the Pima County Real
Estate Research Council. Douce�e was
also named one of the Tucson Fathers
of the Year in 2005. Douce�e Homes is
currently active in the Tucson, Arizona
and Flagstaff market areas, specializing
in infill development and fee building
opportunities.
Other May meeting topics will include a
Powerpoint presentation by Mary Ann
Cleveland on the “Passages of Tucson”
project planned for Vail along the north
side of I10 and whether to join as a
signatory agreeing to protect the
Cienega Watershed.
Instant Communication: www.CivanoNeighbors.com
THE TOWN CRIER
Civano Neighbors
5165 S. Zenith Way
Tucson, AZ 85747
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Dated Material
PAGE TWO • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
Civano
History
by
Paul Rollins
R
What Divides Us?
Square-Peg CC&Rs in a Round-Hole Community
ecently we received a notice from the
HOA management company politely
informing us we had fallen short of one of
the Civano CC&Rs (Covenants Conditions
and Restrictions). The exact paragraph
number and wording of the rule in question were highlighted. It was all quite official… and legal.
The notice reminded me of the never-ending enforcement debate in association-governed communities (HOA in our community) across the country and of the Civano
history in particular.
When I worked for Civano’s original developer, it was always understood we were
creating a unique community where shared
values would trump rigid rules. We would
fulfill all the legal community documents’
requirements, but in a more innovative,
Civano-appropriate way. We would reinvent the governance of planned communities the same way we were reinventing
environmental and other standards.
Naive, perhaps, but was it really? Would
a more enlightened, less rules-focused
approach of governance have worked for
Civano? Would it still?
That the developers of any planned community must codify some form of governance, including CC&Rs that will guide
the new community during at least its
first years, is indisputable. The developer,
however, has great latitude in the philosophy and specifics of that governance, and
therein lies the dilemma. How does the
developer fulfill his legal requirements
without dividing the community?
We need some design and regulatory
standards to help maintain our beautiful
community. The question is one of degree
and focus. Ultimately, time and financial
pressure forced the original developer to
spit out rushed, barely adequate CC&Rs
and governance structures with the
thought they could always be improved
at a later date. They were adequate, but
not innovative. The near-boilerplate documents paid li�le heed to the new urbanist,
mixed-use aspect of Civano and established a traditional management structure.
The result has been problematic. It is what
divides the community.
Several years ago when in Virginia, I
met with a national expert on planned
communities to explore the possibility of
restructuring Civano’s whole community
governance. I knew it would be very difficult to accomplish, but I needed to know if
it even made sense. Was I a naive idealist
or was there, in fact, a be�er way? There
was. There is.
The expert said that if a planned community is not structured correctly from the
beginning, it will become rules dominant
and the community will be forever divided by enforcers and non-enforcers of the
CC&Rs. Authoritarian rule will divide the
community and, like some Star Trek episode of eternal struggle, that division will
literally define the social structure of the
community for all times. Sound familiar?
Apparently, there was be�er governance advice available—advice that other
communities sought and are still seeking today. Verrado in Buckeye, Arizona,
NorthWest Crossing in Bend, Oregon, and
other new urbanist communities have
developed more user-friendly governing documents. Updated approaches
to community governance have promoted community cooperation over
rigid rule enforcement.
Can Civano do the same? Can the
Civano governing documents be
changed to reflect a more enlightened
approach to community governance?
Not easily, but it can be done. It
would take a financial commitment
and considerable political will to
make the change. But consider the alternative if we don’t try: The Star Trek
episode will continue and we will
swirl through time in endless conflict.
There will always the obvious question about the appropriate degree
of CC&R enforcement. But, perhaps
the question we should be asking is
whether a traditional, cookie-cu�er
approach to community governance
is the best idea for Civano in the first
place.
Did you know?
n Planned communities first
developed in the 1800s. Today,
50 million Americans live in
250,000 association-governed
communities in the United
States.
n Four out of five housing starts
in the past five to eight years
have been built as part of an
association-governed community, and 6,000 to 8,000 new
community associations are
formed each year.
n The estimated annual operating
revenues of U.S. community
associations are $30-50 billion.
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Trip Report:
PAGE THREE • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
Baja California, Fish Tacos, & The World’s Tallest Boojum
By Simmons Buntin
I
t is dangerous, we are told, to ignore the real
world for a fantasy life that affords us internal
pleasures but does little for the salvation of
humanity and the earth itself. To that I say:
boojum!
And with that nonsensical word, this spring I
headed off with two other pioneering Civanoites—
Scott Calhoun and Dan Weber—to Baja California,
Mexico, in search of un-iteneraried adventure,
Photo by Sco� Calhoun
Simmons, Dan, and Sco� stand in front of
the world’s tallest boojum, somewhere in
Montevideo Canyon, central Baja California.
fresh fish tacos, and the world’s tallest boojum,
Fouquieria columnaris. What we found—in the
sweet silence afforded by not having cell phones
or laptops—was a land far less commercial and far
more authentic than much of the desert Southwest
north of the border. Indeed, Baja was full of
pleasant surprises at every turn.
We entered Mexico forty miles east of San Diego,
through the town of Tecate, with its namesake
brewery, tree-lined central square, colorful vendors,
and famous bakeries. Right away we could tell
that Tecate is not the clichйd Mexico border town.
Secluded from nearby U.S. interstate traffic, Tecate
rests in a valley of the lower Sierra Juarez: a
mountain town with clean streets, bright buildings,
and—we learned as we stopped for lunch—
excellent chile rellenos.
From Tecate we drove the thin, shoulderless
Mexico Highway 1 south through the Ruta del
Vino, a surprisingly agricultural area with wineries,
olive orchards, flower gardens, and other farming,
Photo by Sco� Calhoun
Tacos de pescada y Tecate cerveza at La Hamaca in Bahia de Los Angeles.
all with advanced irrigation systems. Nearing the
Pacific coast, we crossed the fog-laden coastal
range, moving from the rocky (though not dry)
northcentral Baja mountains to the surprisingly lush
coast north of Ensenada.
We made just a quick stop in traffic-snarled
Ensenada to stock up on essentials before heading south
toward San Quintin and a coastal campground. Our goal
this first night was to camp on the beach, finding the
freshest fish possible. Scott’s Baja guidebook provided
plenty of campground options, so we detoured from the
well-paved highway to the small village of Entrida and,
at the Cocina Familia Erendira, our first and—dare I
say—the most delicious tacos de pescada of the trip.
Certainly the battered, deep-fried dorado filets on a bed of
fresh cabbage and corn tortillas with a delightfully spicy
salsa set the benchmark.
The evening came to a close as we rolled through
dirt roads and strawberry fields to a small RV park on a
sloping bluff overlooking the Pacific. We set up camp in
the dark to find a sky brilliant with the wash of the Milky
Way; more stars in the moonless sky, we agreed, than
we’d ever seen before.
The next morning we woke in a light fog, with the
waves rolling in to the west and a crimson sky to the
east. Scott was the first to swim in the mighty Pacific,
challenging Dan and me to do the same—and making a
pact to swim in the waters off both Baja coasts. There’s
nothing quite like body surfing in icy waters and
shockingly strong currents, and I have the scars to prove
‘But oh, beamish nephew,
beware of the day,
If your Snark be a
Boojum! For then
You will so�ly and suddenly vanish away,
And never be met with
again!’
— Lewis Carroll,
from “The Hunting of the Snark”
it.
That morning we made plenty of stops on our drive
south, filling our digital cameras to the virtual brim
with new discoveries: near-translucent agaves, fields of
harvested cactus, ground-swelling yucca, blazing Mexican
fire barrel cactus, and finally: boojum. Our first sighting
was exciting not only because it meant we were closer
to our goal, but also because these boojum—or cirio,
meaning candle in Spanish—were draped in a moss fed by
Pacific fog.
We stopped for more fish tacos at El Rosario, our last
point along the western coast before heading inland. Once
again we were not disappointed, though I did make a bit
of a scene by unplugging the singing bass mounted on
the wall above the cash register. In my defense, I came to
Mexico to get away from annoying Wal-Mart rubbish like
that.
By afternoon we reached Cataviсa in central Baja,
where we set up camp and then headed out to the
surrounding boulder fields. Here we found a diverse array
of boojum, cordon cactus, elephant trees, ocotillos, barrel
cactus, cholla, and a wide variety—in the broad, sandy
wash adjacent to our campground—of flowering lupines,
salvias, and more. One of the biggest delights was
coming into the oasis of Mexican fan and blue palms, their
prismed fronds silver-blue in the waning afternoon light.
That evening we dined at the local cantina, settling for
beef tacos as that’s all there was. Disappointing, but a
relaxing meal in a beautiful area nonetheless.
Another spectacular sunrise greeted us the next morning.
Scott headed for the low-bouldered scarps east of the
campsite while I headed to the palm-lined arroyo north,
both with cameras in hand. Dan, likely wiser than both of
us, stayed at camp to enjoy fresh-brewed coffee and the
morning’s waking birds, such as a vermilion flycatcher
shining like a jewel in the camp’s large mesquite.
After we broke camp, we drove south again on Highway
1 until we reached the intersection with Highway
3, east toward Bahia de Los Angeles and the Sea of
Cortez. While the climate was drier the farther east
we drove, the cordon and boojum, south of Highway 3
specifically, appeared taller and more dense. Later that
afternoon, when we returned to scout out the world’s
Photo by Sco� Calhoun
Sco�, Simmons, and Dan greet their first baja
morning at their campside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
tallest boojum, that proved to be true.
By lunchtime we reached Bahia de Los Angeles
and looked out into the azure waters of the Sea of
Cortez, with its brown, mountainous islands and
diving pelicans. We found a beach campground with
handcrafted cabanas and set up the tents. Fulfilling
our pact, we swam in the much warmer, much calmer
sea, snorkeling or just enjoying the view of the beach.
Our next stop was a small store, though we were
looking for Bahia’s best fish tacos. Fortunately, the
local basurero bus driver had us follow him to La
Hamaca, where we enjoyed tacos de pescado of a
different nature: batter-fried fish on fresh flour tortillas,
with mouth-watering pico de gallo, mayonnaise, and
limes. Better than the first night’s? Hard to say, but
definitely close!
Bellies full, we drove back on Highway 3 to the
Mission de San Borja turnoff, a tight and rocky dirt
road where Dan let me get my 4x4 kicks by driving.
After careful searching and re-searching, we found
the world’s tallest boojum in a thick forest of cordon,
boojum, and Mexican ocotillo trees, nestled between
the red cliff walls of Montevideo Canyon. I am not
at liberty to provide more location details than that,
though Dan did take GPS coordinates.
The warm afternoon light provided plenty of
photography opportunities, and after the work of
estimating the boojum’s height, we drove to a series
of cliff paintings beside a primitive campground. We
explored the petroglyphs until sunset, then drove back
to Bahia de Los Angeles and yet another outstanding
serving of fish tacos as the laughter and calls of a
co-ed volleyball game drifted over our patio from a
nearby park.
Continued on next page...
Photo by Simmons Buntin
Sunrise across the by at Santa Rosallita, quite
possibly the perfect place to retire early.
PAGE FOUR • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
The Town Crier is the newspaper of Civano
Neighbors, our neighborhood association. We
publish six regular issues per year. Anyone can
contribute, contact the editor for information.
Editor: Judie Kelly, 885-6601
[email protected]
Production Manager: Viviana Tornero
Contributors this issue:
Simmons Buntin, Sharlene Gillette, Rick Hansen,
Margaet Hoeff, Judie Kelly, Beth Morgan, Al
Nichols, Paul Rollins, Viviana Tornero
Photos this issue:
Simmons Buntin, Scott Calhoun, Paul Rollins,
Viviana Tornero
Advertising Info:
Paul Rollins, 296-8181
[email protected]
Leadership Team:
Spokesperson:
Rick Hanson, 546-2928
[email protected]
Treasurer:
Ardi Whalen, 885-8211
[email protected]
Members At Large:
Bob Small, 207-8314
[email protected]
Cecilia Garcia, 867-6162
[email protected]
Karen King, 909-7496
[email protected]
Roger Waite, 546-1206
[email protected]
Daniel Weber, 731-8768
[email protected]
Dr. Leanna Palermo
• Spinal Care Doctor
• Raw Foodist
• Nutritional Mentor
- Baja trip continued from page three
Returning to camp, we found an old washer drum that
proved to be the perfect fire pit. Dan lit a fallen branch
of elephant tree, and its incense-quality aroma filled the
air. We nearly drifted off on the calm waters of the Sea of
Cortez before turning in for the night. Unfortunately, that
night the wind ravaged our campsite, and none of us slept
very well. Scott nearly lost his tent—with him in it.
By morning the wind was gone and the tide was way out,
providing an opportunity for tidepool exploring.
Despite the wind—or perhaps because of it—Scott came
up with a plan to more accurately measure the boojum,
and after a breakfast of cereal we headed back to the lofty
plant. Using our tripods, a compass, and a 50-foot string
for measurement, Scott and Dan were able to measure the
height using the calculation of similar angles: 81 to 90 feet
tall.
Time for more photos before taking the wonderfully
lonely road south to the San Borja Mission, located among
both hot and cold springs in the mountains of central Baja.
Built in 1762 by Jesuit missionaries, the stone compound
receives few visitors, so the lone guide was quite happy
to see us. Though unschooled, he spoke both Spanish and
English and gave us a thorough tour.
Opting to skip out on a dip in the hot springs, however,
we decided to cut west to reach the Pacific coast again.
We were not disappointed to find tacos de pescado for
lunch along the way, of course. On the Pacific we were
seeking a sheltered bay, and that’s precisely what we
found at Santa Rosalallita. A wide, well-paved road
has recently been added off Highway 1, and a harbor is
under construction. Our goal was to get away from this
modernism, though, so we scooted north on the high bluff
above a wide, sandy beach until we found a road that—for
50 pesos per vehicle—allowed us to drop into a perfect
stretch of beach and low sand dunes.
We pitched our tents, fell into rhythm with the breezes
off the bay, and then walked along the beach. The sand
was fine and light, revealing clams and starfish here
and there. It was sheltered by a rocky point south that
divided the bay from the rougher waters of the full Pacific.
Offshore, a shrimping boat bobbed, and to the north, in the
distance, the mountains of the coastal range bled into dusk.
Night came slowly, so we explored the vast, vegetated
dunes after setting up our tents. Deciding to dine in, we
had a potluck of dried fruit, summer sausage, beef jerky,
cheese, and granola bars. As with all our stops, cerveza—
Tecata, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, Tijuana TJ—
quenched our thirst. Because we were on the eastern side
of the bay, the sun set not over the water but behind us,
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behind the dunes, to the west. Though disorienting, the result
was a spectacular sunrise over the water, to the east, with the
shadow of the shrimping boat small and idyllic among the
breaking waves.
The next morning Scott and I set out to find the source of
the calling we heard the previous night. Finally we made our
way to the volcanic point, where we found deep, rich tide
pools and, loping through the waves that broke off the point,
a lone sea lion undoubtedly catching up to the colony of the
night before.
Our goal this final full day in Mexico was simple: to get
to Ensenada and enjoy fish tacos at the very source of the
culinary art form. Passing through El Rosario again, we
made a stop at a random outdoor eatery, again delighted by
the fresh fish and many salsas and sauces. Add in a Mexican
Coca-Cola, and we were all set for the drive.
As we drove north, a slight but steady rain settled on the
region. Far from depressing, however, the rain brought
out the brilliant reds of the fire barrel cactus and radiant
yellows of San Diego sunflowers. By the time we reached
San Quintin—and stopped for roasted garbanzo beans—the
clouds had broken and there was a coolness in the air.
A bit precariously, we parked in Ensenada and made our
way to the main Mercado area, which was too touristy for
our tastes. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to
eat, the tacarios along the wharf were closed, so we moved
back to the Mercado and found a restaurant recommended
by an American ex-pat who operated a foreign curio shop.
Though not as side-of-the-road as we had grown accustomed
to, the sit-down dinner of tacos de pescada was nonetheless
tasty, and washed down well with cerveza and vino. Before
heading off into the sunset and out of town, we bought the
requisite gifts for our families.
It was dark by the time we left Ensenada, and driving on
Mexico Highway 1 in northern Baja at night is a whiteknuckle experience at best. Still, we found the roadside RV
park about twenty miles north and—among the cool, moist
evening and occasional hooting owl—made camp by lantern
glow and settled in for the night.
The next morning Dan was drenched, as he didn’t bring
his tent fly along. Still, he was a good sport and, by the time
we all enjoyed a delicious breakfast of huevos rancheros
and omelets in Tecate, he was mostly dry. We wandered the
streets of that lovely city after breakfast, then headed back
into the U.S., back into the whirring, buzzing, wide-laned
American life, where I had six messages waiting on my cell
phone. I soon realized that my heart, however, stayed behind
in Santa Rosalallita.
I hope to reclaim it again before too long.
- end
PAGE FIVE • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
I
w
e
i
V
y
In M
A Column by Judie Kelly, Editor of The Town Crier
t is music to my ears when the Town
Crier receives a round of applause. I’m
fla�ered and humbled every time it happens.
Fla�ered because I think for a moment
that people appreciate the work that goes
into the making of each issue, and humbled because without my predecessor and
my support staff there would be no Town
Crier as we know it.
Let me start by saying that in the beginning, about three and a half years ago,
Craig Altchul gave birth to the Town Crier
all by himself. He was the editor, designer, production manager and advertising
guy for most of the first two years. Peggi
Simmons did the final proofing and never
missed a thing that I could spot.
When it came time for Craig to step
down, I somehow stumbled into the job of
editor having said something stupid like,
“How hard could it be?” I quickly found
out.
Craig provided a list of dos and don’ts
which I still refer to as Craig’s rules. They
are actually from the Associated Press
Stylebook which we use as our guide
(usually.)
Included in his list were items such as:
“Never use 18th or 21st. There is NEVER a
reason to use an exclamation point. Editors have a saying: ‘Save it for the second
coming and then think twice about it.’ It
is 8 p.m., not 8:00 p.m. It is never P.M. or
A.M., nor am or pm.” And so on.
The fact that I knew nothing at all about
journalism and very li�le about using the
computer beyond sending and receiving
e-mail, became apparent all too soon. I
was in tears trying to do what Craig said.
Really advanced things like, “Just cut and
paste it into Word and send it as an a�achment.” Huh? For starters, I didn’t have
Microso� Word, only Works. I didn’t
know cut, paste or a�achment from the
Easter Bunny.
But with lots of help from my friends
and family, and with Shelley DeVere as
production manager and Paul Rollins as
advertising director, we managed to put
out our first issue in January of 2005. And
it didn’t look too bad.
Shelley has been juggling being out of
the country with her “real” job and doing
the layout work for the Town Crier for
over a year. She’s done a marvelous job
and now is taking a well-earned retirement as Viviana Tornero has volunteered
to take the production position. A huge
thank you to both Shelley and Viviana.
Paul is our fantastic advertising director. He has set up a billing system and
kept track of our advertisers as well as
having added many new accounts. The
ad revenue more than pays for the printing and mailing costs of the Town Crier.
Money in excess of our expenses goes to
the Neighborhood Association to help
fund events in Civano.
Paul is taking a six-months respite from
his duties as advertising manager. He
and Jan are planning to travel from May
to October, (good move.) Thank you to
Roger Waite for agreeing to take on this
responsibility in Paul’s absence.
Brian Zacher keeps our circulation list
up-to-date - another job I have no idea
how to do. Thank you, Brian.
Ardi Whalen had agreed to do the final
proofing on this issue as Viviana and I
crossed paths in and out of town the last
two weeks of April.
And then there are our regular columnists and the occasional submi�ers of articles, our roving reporter, our advertisers,
and on and on goes the list of folks who
make the Town Crier happen.
I don’t think for a minute that my job as
editor is any more important than those
of the other willing and able people who
work to make the Town Crier as good as
we can make it. In my view, to borrow
and alter a phrase, “It takes a village to
put out the Town Crier.” And Civano is
just the village to do it.
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PAGE SIX • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
Speaking of Aging in Community,
that group of about a dozen
committed volunteers has been
A column by neighborhood association
active in developing and releasing
spokesperson Rick Hanson
a survey to find out more about
needs and possible volunteers in
the
neighborhood.
If you haven’t done so
hat a great neighborhood we live in.
yet, now is the time to fill out the survey
We’ve just completed the fourth
form and return it to the working group. I
annual Civano Community Picnic and
know that in addition to the idea of finding
this one was far and away the best ever.
Attended by more than 150 Civanoites, the individual, volunteer help for folks that need
it, a speakers series on aging topics is under
picnic food was delicious, the sports field
discussion, as well as a number of other
was covered with activity, five Civano
merchants had displays and items for sale, ideas.
And then there are the volunteers that
and the Aging in Community folks were
do things like raise and take down a flag
getting feedback with their survey. Truly
every day, who put together an Easter egg
an outstanding afternoon.
hunt for all the youngsters in Civano, and
Not only did we cover our costs, we
who help out at the Civano Community
were able to pay $90. each to the HOA
School. And there are the volunteers who
and Civano Neighbors to be used in
clean up messes in our common areas left
neighborhood projects. Thanks to all
by others, who have worked with Pulte
the volunteers from the sponsoring
Homes to assure Sierra Morado will be
organizations, Civano Neighbors and the
attractive and livable for residents, and the
Civano 1 HOA, for their efforts in putting
many neighbors who met to discuss what a
on the picnic.
Rick’s Ramblings
W
Pet Forum
-by Beth Morgan
J
umps, hoops, tunnels, a dog walk, a
teeter-to�er, weave poles, and a
chute, are some of the obstacles that
dogs maneuver when they are trained
in agility. Dog agility is a relatively
new sport begun in the 1970s in the
United Kingdom. There are now major
competitions held worldwide.
The main purpose is for the dog
and owner to enjoy working together
– to have fun. The premise is that the
owner and dog maneuver through a
course of obstacles. The owner’s job is
to communicate the course to run, and
the dog’s job is to run it. A small aside
here: the owner must also run it.
Dogs run off leash, so the handler’s
only controls are voice and body language. In competition both accuracy
and speed are important. While the
greatest enjoyment for both the owner
and the dog is the actual running of a
full course, there are many steps and
classes to reach that goal.
The good news is that the classes
are also enjoyable and are designed to
please the participants. For those dogs
and owners with a competitive nature,
there are state and national competitions for prizes. If you would
like to know more about dog
agility, here are four web sites for
southern Arizona that you might
like to explore:
www.u.arizona.edu/~valeryt/
www.humane-so-arizona.org/
training~classes.htm
www.karyngarvin.com
www.scramblers.org
Pet Profile
Tess and Dusty are two shelties who
live with Nancy and Bob Daliege on Kay
Gartrell Place. Tess, six years old, has
been training and competing in agility
for two years. Bob is her handler, and he
says that the experience has been a wonderful confidence booster for Tess and
great fun for him.
One of the benefits of agility is the
bonding that occurs between the dog
and its handler. Bob says Tess is boss; she
communicates her frustration by barking
at him when he does not give appropriate commands. Tess and Bob have gone
from novice class to elite, the top level, in
statewide competition in all categories.
Dusty is eighteen months old. According to Nancy, he is a free spirit - a clown
who is more athletic and social than Tess.
She said his nickname is “Crash” because
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hospital in our community should look like. There
are the volunteers who organized a book club and a
speakers series and Civano Neighbors and ….Well,
I think you get the idea. Civano is blessed with a
vibrant group of volunteers.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t more
opportunities. In particular, Tim Siemsen has
recently volunteered to chair the Safety Working
Group, agreeing to work with both Civano
Neighbors and the HOA to develop programs and
strategies to enhance our safety here in Civano. If
you feel called to help with that effort, send an email to Tim at [email protected].
Glenn France could use some folks on the
Houghton Corridor Working Group as we begin
the process of evaluating proposals and projects
which will affect us all as land is developed around
us. Although this is still in the future, the Civano 1
HOA will have a building to use which may require
some volunteer efforts to staff and manage.
We can all do our bit to keep Civano and our
individual neighborhoods and activities fresh and
alive.Volunteer and keep enjoying this wonderful
community.
Yours in community,
Rick
he sometimes forgets to look where he is going. Dusty has been in training with Nancy
as handler. He entered his first competition in
April, and won second place in “tunnelers,” a
game category.
Watch for more information on an agility
demonstration here in Civano by the Dalieges, Tess and Dusty in the near future.
Pet Literature
Here is a book recommendation for all readers (read aloud for the very young all the way
up to interested adults): How to Talk to Your
Dog by Jean Craighead George. Ms George is
a well-known author of juvenile fiction. This
book is a charming and informative description of how to communicate with your dog,
including what tail positions mean and what
facial expressions may convey. A four-star read
in my book.
A Reminder
Be a responsible pet owner.
Keep your pets leashed
when away from your yard,
and pick up a�er them.
Cats too.
PAGE SEVEN • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
Aging In Community Group
H
by Bob Small
ave you received the Aging in
Community Survey in the mail?
Did you fill it out? Did you return it?
Did you have unanswered questions
or concerns about this survey? If you
did not fill the survey out, there may be
several reasons. You might be unsure
who should be filling it out – head of
household, the person who may be in
need, everyone in the house?
You may be saying “I don’t need help
now, but maybe in the way distant future
I may.” So then, why fill this out now?
You may not need any help now, but
if and when you do, you can call on the
Aging in Civano Group at any time. Our
lives are fluid, and one never knows
what each day will bring. Therefore, we
plan to talk about Aging in Community
with every issue of the Town Crier – so
you can have current information when
you need it. We will keep you informed
of what is happening.
Leslie Hunten, MSW, Outreach
Coordinator for Neighbors Care Alliance
– part of the Pima council on Aging – is
helping the steering commi�ee with
organizational structure. Questions to
be resolved are: Who will coordinate
this effort? Where will the office be? Who
will be volunteers? And, who will keep
track of, record and coordinate individual
needs and encounters”? If you have these
skills, or are willing to acquire these skills,
please come help us and our community.
George Nicholls has completed
training from the Pima Council on
Aging in the Ambassador Program. He
has an extensive list of information he
can provide to you or get for you, and
can help with referrals for a variety of
assistance needs, such as legal assistance,
frauds and scams, health care services,
and many other topics.
You can call him direct at 546-6377. Do
you have questions about Medicare Part
D – and who doesn’t? You can receive
one-on-one assistance from the Tucson
Medical Center Health Care Services
– Phone number 324-1960.
Remember, according to ancient
wisdom: “When you give of yourself,
the years drop away, you smile and your
heart is full.”
If someone has a laptop computer and a
printer that they could donate to the AIC
group please call Bob Small, 398-7100 or
li�[email protected].
Visit the Civano Neighbors web site at:
www.civanoneighbors.com
for up to the date neighborhood information, discussion forums, and more.
May/June
2006
F.Y.I.
Civano Book Club has enjoyed a lively
year. Through our reading and discussions
of fiction and non-fiction we have learned
facts, formulated opinions and enjoyed
friendships. This is a group for men and
women who enjoy reading and sharing
their thoughts with others.
Our final meeting before we break for the
summer will be on May 8, at the Activity
Center. We meet from 7 to 8 p.m. Come
and join the discussion of this month’s
book, “The Clearing,” by Gatreaux. The
review and discussion will be led by Ann
Edwards. We invite you to join us.
Civano Nursery’s 2006
First Annual Artisan’s Fair
Saturday, May 13 - Sunday, May 14, 10
a.m. - 4 p.m.
Welcome Breakfasts
May 20, Breakfast, 8:30-11:00
10638 E. Karen Gannon Place
Host: Dolores Rivard
June 17, 8:30-11:00
10366 E. Cele Peterson Lane
Hosts: Brenda Patrick and Phil Ogden
No July Breakfast
Spanish Club needs more members.
Our group meets weekly on Sunday afternoons for six-week sessions of conversational Spanish with an instructor who
is a native speaker. We will begin again
at the end of April or beginning of May.
If you are a beginner or already speak
some Spanish and would like to join
us, please call me at 296-5757 or e-mail
ermorgan@a�.net.
PIGS’ REVENGE II
By Resident Engineer Al Nichols ([email protected])
Yeh, right. Just try to blow this house down. In case you missed it, there was a bale raising party at
10577 John McNair on Saturday, April 8. This will be the first load-bearing straw house in Civano
built strictly according to our local prescriptive code not requiring professional assistance to get a
permit.
Our first straw bale home is on the corner of Wayne Moody and Zenith Way, now owned by
Richard Ashley. Our new neighbors on McNair will be constructing by the load-bearing method
“It’s not easy being green.”
which will be significantly less costly than the post and beam method used on the Wayne Moody
– Kermit the Frog, 1972
bale home.
Tucson was, and maybe still is, one of only two locations where this style of construction is
allowed as a prescriptive method in the United States.
There is a rumor that New Mexico is also starting to allow this style of construction.
Keep an eye on this project in Civano and see how the rest of it goes.
Quite by accident, I was allowed, by Fannie May, to live (and pay rent) in the Wayne Moody
straw bale home for three years, as nobody would pay the sale price they were asking at the
time. There is, in my mind, no style of construction that can surpass the bale home. During the
swing months, with no heating or cooling, the home was +/- two degrees from 75 F all day and
all night. Average utility bill — $45 per month. For the month of May you may expect: Average Temperature 73.9 F (23.3 C ), Relative humidity 22%, Wind speed 9.2 mi/hr ( 4.1 m/s)
and 4 Heating degree days with 159 Cooling degree days base 65 F (18.3 C).
PAGE EIGHT • CIVANO NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION • THE TOWN CRIER
Meet Your Neighbors
... is a regularly occurring column featuring Civano residents old or new.
If you know an interesting neighbor or are one yourself, submit an article and a photo to the editor.
Say Hello to Neighbor, Penny Pederson
By: Your Roving Town Crier Reporter
F
or Penny Pederson, living in Civano
is a personal experience – a
harmonious gathering of people living in
one cohesive community. She describes
it as a “tribal existence – a village where
people of different ages are brought
together in a more natural way of living.
Here, we have a diversity of elders,
Photo by Viviana Tornero
Penny Pederson on the patio of her Civano home.
retired people, singles, couples, families,
and children. It’s not so large or impersonal
that one couldn’t find the edges that
embrace it. And, because it’s newer, it’s a
place where everyone can be the new kid
on the block.”
Because of this, developing a sense
of extended family has come easy for her.
She happily shared, “I am surrounded
by really nice people from all over. This
community is a true reflection of how
I feel, especially with the responsible
uses of energy and the appreciation of
environmental awareness.”
Well acclaimed for her creativity in
many realms, Penny was drawn to
Civano six years ago for its unparalleled
sense of community. Applying her
artistic talents to her home and garden
was done with loving hands and creative
vision. Se�ing foot in her courtyard is
like entering a gateway to an “integral
environment” fusing both interior and
exterior into one joyful space.
Penny’s home has been listed on two
Tucson botanical tours, the recent Master
Gardener tour, and it will soon be featured
in an upcoming issue of Be�er Homes
and Gardens. It’s no wonder her garden
receives such rave reviews; since the
mid ‘90s, Penny’s architectural landscape
designs have been featured in seven Be�er
Homes and Garden’s special
interest publications as well as
being featured in two issues of
Workbench magazine.
Creating integrative living
spaces that incorporate
interiors and exteriors is what
Penny does best. From east to
west coast, from tea houses
to full-scale finished homes;
from gazebos, to gardens and
then some, Penny’s clients
appreciate her wabi-sabi style
of integrating nature and
architecture with aesthetic
calm. Her love of design
and her innate talent for
architecture brings both homes
and gardens dynamically alive with the
infinite pale�e offered by nature.
Penny’s list of personal accomplishments
is impressive. Her path encompasses many
phases of a fulfilling art career stemming
from a degree in graphic design from
the University of Arizona, evolving into
a career in architecture and landscape
design. She has been an illustrator for
Hallmark Cards, an associate producer and
art director for an Emmy award winning
CBS television show and has personally
received three of her own.
Wanting to incorporate her innate talents
of design and architecture led Penny
from a career in visual arts into the multidimensional art form of architecture and
landscape design where she works to this day
designing and creating integrated spaces.
For more than two decades, Penny has
put her vocational a�ributes to great use
by offering her expertise as a volunteer for
Habitat for Humanity where she focuses on
teaching women to build homes, work with
tools, and understand how things are put
together.
Incorporating as many natural elements
as her mind can envision into aesthetically
pleasing forms is her joy. Whether it be
implementing water features, dry river
beds, Japanese and natural gardens,
or creating simple and peacefully
transformed spaces – suffice it to say that
quite an energized and kindred spirit is
amongst us.
Penny happily resides in her
neighborhood of choice, with Yo-Yo, her
feisty Calico cat, and Chloe, her demure
Tabby. They look forward to ge�ing to
know more and more neighbors as our
community grows and evolves.