Donna Thompson For many reasons, Pinal County public schools have an average third grade math proficiency score of 20%, which is significantly lower than the Arizona statewide average of 34%. Overall, this puts Arizona in 45th place for math according to NationsReportCard.gov. Holy cow! Peak math scores were recorded in 2019 and have never recovered. Over the…
Tag: community
May 2026, Front Page
Fruit Pickers Spectacular Harvest Season
Corey Loyd The SaddleBrooke fruit pickers (SB pickers) recently ended their picking season for the year after a spectacular three months of picking fruit throughout SaddleBrooke. The SB pickers is a group founded four years ago by Dotti McKee and Jill Darban with a few others who saw the need for fruit to be harvested…
Sports, April 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Playing in the Wind
David Zapatka Wind is the great equalizer on the pickleball court. It doesn’t matter how polished your dink game is or how powerful your drive is; a stiff breeze can turn your best shots into unforced errors in a hurry. The good news is that with a few smart adjustments, you can use the wind…
March 2026, Clubs & Classes
A Night of Roots and Rivalry: Italian Heritage Club Triumphs at Trivia Night
Andy Marino The SaddleBrooke Activity Center was transformed into a vibrant “piazza” this February as the Italian Heritage Club hosted an unforgettable evening for more than 50 residents. The room was a sea of il Tricolore—the green, white, and red of the Italian flag—with classic Italian melodies providing a soundtrack to an evening centered on…
Generals, March 2026
38 New Preserve Residents Meet and Greet at Brunch
Bonnie Barazani The Preserve held the annual “newbies” brunch on Feb. 1 at the Barazanis’ home. All new residents who moved into The Preserve in the past year were invited to attend. A home-cooked meal was provided at no cost to them. A good time was had by all 38 “newbies” who met other new…
Sports, February 2026
Relishing Pickleball: Mastering the Spin Game
David Zapatka Spin is one of the most underrated game-changing skills. While beginners often focus on simply getting the ball over the net, intermediate and advanced players know that adding spin can create awkward bounces, force errors, and open up the court. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your offensive tools or add finesse to your…
Sports, February 2026
Let the Games Begin
Ellen Avenoso We are off to a quick start in the new year with our first event, the popular 3 Jills and a Jack Tournament on Jan. 27. Previously a biennial tournament, last year’s event proved so popular, we have now given it an annual spot on our calendar. It is sponsored by A1 Golf…
Generals, February 2026
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Happenings – February 2026
SBCO Helps Feed Students During Winter Holiday Break Nancy McCluskey-Moore Many students in the Mammoth/San Manuel Unified School District receive free breakfast and lunch when they attend school. When the extended winter holiday break rolls around, some of these children are in jeopardy of not having enough good quality food to eat, since they cannot…
February 2026, Front Page
SaddleBrooke Sunrise Rotary: Better Busy Than Bored!
Christianne Dettmann Did you find some hidden gems this past fall at any of the Golden Goose Moonlight Madness sales? Did you visit the Rotary’s “Quilts of Love” sale at the Sunny Side Up Café on Oct. 28-29? Did you score some great deals at the IDWI (“I Don’t Want It!”) sale in the Mountainview…
Features, January 2026
Ask Emma
Emma, a little white dog who lives in SaddleBrooke Hi Progress friends! I’m Emma, a cheerful little bichon-poodle mix living here in SaddleBrooke with my human Bill. You may have seen us out walking the golf course paths or cruising in our golf cart. In this column I share a dog’s-eye view on your questions…