Good morning, Gilbert. An extreme heat warning runs from 10 AM today through 8 PM Friday, with afternoon highs of 109 to 112, so plan errands and outdoor time early.
- 🏄 Surf park developer walks away from Gilbert Regional Park. White Water West is out. The Cactus Surf Park site is unbuilt.
- 🗝️ Gilbert 14-year-old gets the key to the town. Royal Cothrun helped a woman with dementia find shade.
- 🏠 Median sale price is $579,000. Down 1% from a year ago. 46 days on market.
- 🍕 Rosati's Pizza signs on Ellsworth Road. Chicago-style, just east of the town line in Queen Creek.
- 🌾 Agritopia farm tour Tuesday at noon. Plus dueling pianos and Beer Barn Bingo on Wednesday.
- 🎓 Senior assembly at Higley HS Thursday. Senior sunrise breakfast at Mesquite Friday.
- 🎸 Around the Valley. The Guess Who, Benson Boone, and Phoenix Rising at home.
The surf park is off
The developer behind Cactus Surf Park at Gilbert Regional Park has walked away, leaving the site with no builder.
Key facts:
- What: Cactus Surf Park, the planned surf lagoon and adjacent development at Gilbert Regional Park.
- Who's out: White Water West Industries, the wave-technology firm attached to the project.
- Other names in the file: ACA Arizona, LLC, and The Strand.
- Where: Gilbert Regional Park, in the town's southeast.
- Status: Nothing built. The concept has been circulating for years without breaking ground.
The town has not named a replacement operator or said what happens to the development agreement for the parcel. Other pieces of Gilbert Regional Park are already open and drawing crowds.
What to watch: whether the town lines up a replacement operator or reworks what goes on that parcel. Details.
Around Gilbert
🗝️ A 14-year-old has the key to the town. Royal Cothrun found a 75-year-old woman with dementia lost in triple-digit heat and got her into shade. The town honored him for it. Worth remembering on a week the thermometer hits 112. Details.
🏠 The median sale price in Gilbert is $579,000, down 1% from a year ago. Homes are taking a median of 46 days to sell, with 381 new listings and 351 sales in the most recent period. Details.
🍕 Rosati's Pizza is opening on Ellsworth Road. The Chicago-style chain is taking a spot between Johnson Ranch and Power Ranch, just over the line in Queen Creek and an easy run for anyone on the Power Rd side of town. Details.
🗳️ The LD13 legislative debate is Monday. Gilbert Sun News is forecasting a heated one. Details.
The week
Monday
- 💻 Computer basics: operating systems. 11 AM, Southeast Regional Library. Adults, registration required. Details.
Tuesday
- 🌾 Agritopia farm tour. Noon at the Johnston family's 11-acre working farm at Higley and Ray. A staff member walks the fields and explains how the place is farmed. Details.
- 📚 Historical fiction book club. 2 PM, Southeast Regional Library. Adults, registration required. Details.
- 🎬 Movie and craft for adults: Troop Beverly Hills. 6 PM, Southeast Regional Library. Details.
Wednesday
- 🎹 High Key Wednesdays. Cactus Keys runs a dueling-pianos night at Backyard Gilbert. Details.
- 🍺 Beer Barn Bingo. Bingo with Leslie, 7 PM, every Wednesday. Details.
- 🎥 Tasting room movie night. 7 PM at Arizona Wilderness Brewing's Gilbert Brewhub. Details.
- 🍿 Reel Talk film club: Clue (1985). 6 PM, Southeast Regional Library. Adults, no registration. Details.
- 🎤 A Tribute to Woodstock 1969. 6:30 PM at Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W Page Ave in the Heritage District. Running 12 dates. Details.
Thursday
- 🚚 Gilbert Food Truck Thursday. Finley Mesquite Park, dinner and dessert. Details.
- 🤠 She's Country Ladies Night. Line dancing starts at 6 PM. Details.
- 🎙️ Powerful Voices open mic. Music, comedy, and poetry. Details.
- 🧶 Yarn and Yammer. 2 PM, Southeast Regional Library. Registration required. Details.
- 🧊 Cube Club. 5:30 PM at Perry Library, for tweens and teens. Details.
- 👶 Toddler playdate. 10:15 AM at Perry Library, 18 to 36 months. Details.
Friday
From the schools
🏈 Williams Field HS football practice runs Monday at 3:30 PM at the stadium practice field. Williams Field is part of Higley Unified (HUSD, the district covering southeast Gilbert). Details.
🐼 The Gilbert HS choir boosters have a restaurant night at Panda Express Tuesday. Gilbert HS is part of Gilbert Public Schools (GPS, the district covering most of the town). Details.
🎓 Higley HS holds a senior assembly Thursday at 9:40 AM, and Mesquite HS runs its senior sunrise breakfast Friday at 5 AM. Two senior-class milestones in the same week, one in each district. Details.
📖 Highland HS has a dual enrollment parent meeting Thursday at 5 PM in the Commons. For families weighing college credit during high school. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth leaving Gilbert for this week.
⚽ Phoenix Rising FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Wednesday, 7:30 PM at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium. The closest thing the Valley has to a pro soccer atmosphere on a weeknight. Tickets.
🎸 The Guess Who: Takin' It Back Tour. Monday night at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix. Tickets.
🎤 Benson Boone: Wanted Man Tour. Monday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. An arena show on a Monday is unusual. Tickets.
🎧 Jacquees and K Camp: Us Over Dem. Monday at The Van Buren. A good room for an R&B; co-bill. Tickets.