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Good morning, Oro Valley! In today’s edition: Pickleball reservations go online, a $27 million Project Blue decision, a reptile ramble, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Updates for court users: Kino Sports Complex has launched online pickleball reservations. Expanded hours and required bookings start Jan. 12, along with a new hourly fee for court use — see what’s changing and when.
Major community investments ahead: Pima County Supervisors will review Project Blue proposals and decide how to allocate over $27 million from a land sale, including money for relocating the Trap and Skeet Facility — get all the funding details.
Human story behind housing aid: Arizona has allocated $13 million and $8 million for eviction and homelessness prevention as filings decline, with a single parent and Chicanos Por La Causa illustrating the stakes — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Kiwanis partnership supports program: Oro Valley’s annual Christmas tree recycling is underway at Naranja Park and runs through Jan. 19. The drop off site is open during daylight hours seven days a week. Volunteers are onsite 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Remove all decorations. Mulch will be used for composting. See location, dates and guidelines.
Cider, but make it local: Noble Hops pours crisp cider alongside its drafts, so skipping the IPA debate is easy. Settle in with gastropub comfort plates, linger on the patio, and call it a win. Friendly, unfussy, and exactly what your evening needed.
Warm up your nest: If your living room feels a little meh, Nest in the Desert has handpicked furniture, lighting, and desert-chic accents without the dust. Friendly design help turns corners into cozy nooks, pulling everything together… so your space finally feels like home.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
📸 Smartphone Photography Walk @ El Rio Preserve | Wednesday (1/7) at 8:30 AM – Put doomscrolling on pause and bring that trusty phone to El Rio Preserve for a guided smartphone photography walk. Learn easy tricks to capture desert light, birds, and Santa Cruz River views, then humblebrag with frame-worthy shots. Less inbox, more egret, and zero filters required.
✍ Author Talk & Book Signing: “Lieutenants and Light” @ The National Parks Store | Wednesday (1/7) at 11:00 AM – Settle in for an author talk and signing as Robert E. C. Davis unpacks Lieutenants and Light, a deep dive into the U.S. Army’s heliograph networks across Arizona and New Mexico in the late 1800s. Basically, texting by sunlight, but with uniforms, grit, and receipts.
🐍 Reptile Ramble @ Tohono Chul Park | Friday (1/9) at 10:00 AM – Whether you’ve lived here long enough to argue about monsoon start dates or you’re just reptile-curious, Tohono Chul’s Reptile Ramble is a chill stroll with docents and some very photogenic scales. Meet snakes, lizards, and tortoises, learn a bit, then savor the gardens.
This weekend
🍎 Free Produce Giveaway @ Interfaith Community Services | Saturday (1/10) at 5:30 AM – Interfaith Community Services hosts drive-through produce giveaways at six Tucson spots, open to anyone, no paperwork, no hoops, just trunk space. Volunteers load rescued fruits, veggies, and a few extras, and it will not count against your monthly emergency allotment.
🚗 Cars & Coffee @ Lowe’s Home Improvement | Saturday (1/10) at 7:00 AM – Bring your nostalgia, your coffee order, and your best parking-lot small talk to Tucson’s longest running, largest monthly, free Cars & Coffee, hosted by Obsessions Car Club. Expect gleaming classics, slick modern builds, and plenty of revs without the drama.
🥫 Knight of Columbus Food Drive @ Saint Odilia Catholic Community | Sunday (1/11) at 8:00 AM – The Knights of Columbus are rallying a food drive for Casa Maria, and yes, your pantry purge counts. Drop off shelf-stable goods, or write a check if you prefer efficiency. It is neighbor-helping-neighbor, quietly heroic, and exactly the kind of good this town does best.
🎶 The Limeliters @ Gaslight Music Hall | Sunday (1/11) at 2:00 PM – Folk legends The Limeliters are bringing six decades of harmony, wit, and guitars to remind us why the 60s still hums. With over 25 albums behind them, expect tight vocals, smart storytelling, and songs where you can actually hear the words.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Oro Valley report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 67°F – Low: 48°F – Precip: 7%
Partly sunny, with a high near 67. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 64°F – Low: 46°F – Precip: 32%
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
This rare adobe brick residence in Oro Valley’s Stone Canyon is defined by warmth and character. Classic desert construction meets modern restraint, with soft arches, exposed adobe and concrete floors. The kitchen centers a generous island and a sunlit breakfast nook. A tailored mudroom adds a bench and drop zone, and the laundry offers cabinetry and a workstation. Two bedrooms anchor the main home, plus a separate guest suite with private exterior access.
Living spaces include an office by the primary suite, a fireside room framed by sweeping desert scenery, and a family room. Nearly 2.3 acres with an adjoining parcel and a trail. Stone Canyon Club membership required.
Take a peek inside →
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