- Signs were paid for by the San Tan Valley Chamber of Commerce, that label the area and let the residents & visitors know that they are entering and leaving San Tan Valley.
- Banner Hospital opened its doors November 1st, 2010 and babies are being born with San Tan Valley, AZ on their birth certificates!
- An incorporation effort took place and whether you agreed with who was running it, funding it or whatever, people still came together, to share their views about this topic. One of the biggest challenges this area has always faced is coming together with a voice - although not everyone agreed with everyone, many people of this area came together to discuss it and that my friends is progress.
- My husband and I relaunched SanTanValley.com as a FREE tool for San Tan Valley guests and residents to use to learn about our area.
- Heart for Others, organized by LifePoint Church, donated 100% of the money raised to our community and local programs that benefit many of our residents, including raising money for Jordan De La Torre, a beautiful girl who was diagnosed with cancer.
- Groups of people got together to collect soda can tops to make bracelets to raise money for Shawn Giamani, a precious little boy, who also is battling cancer.
- Now just think for a moment about Jordan and Shawn and how many people they have brought together - to help remind people of what is truly important - what love, support and strength can do for not only one person, but for an entire community. That's something none of us should forget.
- Pan de Vida provided 100 families a Thanksgiving Meal
- 100 Families with gifts & food for 284 children for Christmas - again thanks to Pan De Vida
- Johnson Ranch Animal Clinic Donated Pet Oxygen Masks to Local Fire Houses
- Michael Trujillo was the first Florence High School student to win a Merit Award (Runner Up for Best in Show) at the AZ State Fair!
- The Total Lunar Eclipse on the Winter Solstice was something that many people were able to watch
- Hospice of the Valley opened in Pinal County
- Plans were finalized and San Tan Valley is getting its first library which will open in January of 2011
- A new Charter School, Legacy Traditional School, opened with 700 students.
For those of you that were touched by Emma and Taylor Bailey, and I can't imagine anyone who wasn't, August 10th was a very sad day as the beautiful girls passed away due to an unexpected complication in a surgery that was to get them ready for their heart transplant. I remember sitting on the soccer field watching Mandy and Tor caring for the girls, watching Paige play ball (against my son) and what a beautiful family they were. Mandy moved around so easily changing the girls, feeding them. We started chatting about how she makes all of the girl's clothing and how different their personalities were. Watching Emma and Taylor sitting together playing, you might not even notice that they were conjoined. They were simply 2 beautiful sisters, that touched more lives in their short time here, than most of us can wish to do in our lifetime. I was always told that G-d gives children with special needs to parents with special abilities. Mandy and Tor, your lives were blessed and mine changed, simply because you allowed your girls to be a part of my life, even if only for a short time and for that I am thankful.
Many of us made new friends in San Tan Valley and some had family members move here as well. These simple acts are helping to create the kind of community that only love and support can bring. It is community that all of us in San Tan Valley are looking for. It's coming together, it's being proud of where you live and standing up for it.
So now that I've looked back at 2010, I would like to wrap up with a hope for 2011. That the negativity will stop. That we will unite and move forward, agreeing to disagree at times, but still listening and keeping any self motivated agenda items off the table.
San Tan Valley has amazing potential. It's up to us though. Are you ready?
Wishing you health and happiness in 2011.
Tisha
