The Russo Team would like to wish everyone a happy Independence Day on Friday! If you're looking for fun events to attend, fireworks, and good times, we have included a list of various events around the Valley and Arizona  for all of your celebratory needs from the Arizona Republic.

Phoenix

Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth: 6-9:35 p.m. July 4. Kids rides, food court, scheduled events and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Free. 602-534-3378. phoenix.gov. | Map it

Fourth of July: Friday and Saturday, July 4-5. Featuring poolside activities for kids, spa and golf for adults, and an evening poolside movie of Ratatouille on July 4 and National Treasure: Book of Secrets on July 5. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. $199 per night; for guests only. 480-293-5000. desertridgeresort.com. | Map it

Scottsdale

Grand Ol' Fashioned Picnic: 5-7:30 p.m. July 4. Celebrate with old-fashioned games, patriotic arts and crafts, and watermelon, chili and pie-eating contests. Bring your homemade chili to be judged. Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-312-2771. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events.asp. | Map it

July Fourth Celebration: 5-8 p.m. July 4. Tug-of-war, live music and crafts, watermelon eating contest and more. No fireworks. Eldorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale. Free. 480-312-2771. | Map it

Independance Day Bounce: 9-11 a.m. July 4. Flags, balloons and bouncing to celebrate the Fourth of July. BounceU, 8970 E. Bahia Drive, Suite 104, Scottsdale. $6.95 for first child; $5.95 for each sibling. 480-502-0210. www.bounceu.com. | Map it

Freedom Parade: 8:30 a.m. July 4. Decorate your strollers, bicycles, skateboards, horses, pets, golf carts or wagons and participate in the parade, or go to watch. Mescal Park, 11015 N. 68th St., Scottsdale. Free. 480-991-7955 or 602-570-0303. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Parks/neighborhood/mescal.asp. | Map it

East Valley

CBS5 July Fourth Tempe Town Lake Festival: 4-11 p.m. July 4. Seven hours of live music, inflatable village for all ages, and fireworks. Tempe Town Lake, Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue, Tempe. $6; age 12 and younger are free. 480-350-8625. www.tempe4th.com. | Map it

Hot Dog Theme Day: 1-3 p.m. July 4. Get a free hot dog to celebrate Independence Day. Kiwanis Park Wave Pool, 6111 S. All-America Way, Tempe. $6; $3 for age 2-12. 480-350-5740. www.tempe.gov/kiwanis. | Map it

Mesa's Fourth of July Celebration: 6 p.m. July 4. Entertainment and kiddie rides ending with fireworks at 9 p.m. Also offers food and drink for purchase. No bags, backpacks, coolers, fanny-packs or alcoholic beverages. Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. $5 for parking and admission; $1 for admission if not parking on campus. 480-461-7000. www.mc.maricopa.edu. | Map it

Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular: 4 p.m. July 4. In addition to fireworks at 9:30 p.m., the event features live music, a kids carnival and a bike parade. Activities include a 35-foot waterslide, 24-foot rock-climbing wall, a dunk tank and water games. Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler. Free. 480-782-2735. www.chandleraz.gov. | Map it

Red, White and Boom: 5:30 p.m. July 4. Features live music, a cowboy costume contest, a barbecue, decorated buggy rides, face painting and balloon sculpturing. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler. $3-$65. 480-753-7676. www.rawhide.com. | Map it

Fourth of July Celebration and Anniversary Party: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 4. Families enjoy carnival games, prizes every 15 minutes, live music by the Weezul Brothers from 6-10 p.m. and hotdogs and hamburgers grilled outdoors. Benefits The Choir Boys of Arizona. Red, White & Brew, 4850 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler. Free. 480-305-6993. www.rwbaz.com. www.azchoirboys.org. | Map it

Miss Chinese Environmental Contest: 4 p.m. July 4. Chinese community celebrates the fourth of July and a Miss Chinese Environmental contest with dinner. Contest begins at 5:30 p.m. Phoenix Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St., Phoenix. $6 includes dinner. 602-321-1898. | Map it

West Valley

Fourth of July Celebration: 7 p.m. July 4. Celebration includes swimming, water slides, food, music, a patriotic program, a F-16 flyover by a Luke Fighter Squadron and fireworks. Free swimming at GCC pool begins at 1 p.m.; doors open for night events at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 8:40 p.m. Glendale Community College Community Pool, Glendale Community College 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale. Free. 623-930-2299. www.glendaleaz.com/events. | Map it

All-American Festival: 5-10 p.m. July 4. Kids zone, concessions, two stages of live music, fireworks and water activities. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. No alcohol or glass containers are permitted. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. $5 for ages 13 and older. 623-773-7198. www.peoriaaz/specialevents. | Map it

Road Racers 3: 6:30 a.m. July 4. 5K run and walk. Registration required. Rio Vista Community Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria. $12. 602-954-8341. www.arizonaroadracers.com. | Map it

Surprise's Fourth of July Celebration: 6-8:30 p.m. July 4. Enjoy live music, water zone and food. Surprise Recreation Campus, 15850 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise. $5 for children; $10 for adults. 623-266-4500. www.surpriseaz.com. | Map it

Fourth of July Celebration: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 4. Splash Bash, food, music, F-16 flyover and fireworks. Litchfield Park, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park. Small fee for the Splash Bash. 623-935-5033. az-litchfieldpark.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=106. | Map it

Star Spangled Arts and Crafts Booth: 6:30-8 p.m. July 4. Ages 2-12 celebrate the holiday making bug-themed arts and crafts. Goodyear Branch Library, Goodyear City Hall 190 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. Free. 602-652-3000. www.mcldaz.org. | Map it

Star-Spangled Fourth: 6:30-10 p.m. July 4. Live music from Billy's Gone and Shallow Water. Food, beer garden, kids zone, and water rides. Fireworks at 9:35 p.m. Goodyear Community Park, 3151 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear. $10 all you can ride kids' wristbands. Event is free. 623-882-7534. www.goodyearaz.gov. | Map it

Valley-wide

Fourth of July Buffet: 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Brunch features champagne mimosas, eggs Benedict, a waffle station, posole bar and chilequilles. Signature Grill, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson. $22; $11 for children. 520-792-3500. | Map it

Freedompalooza: 6 p.m. July 4. Event includes two stages with 10 bands, and a barbecue. Club Congress, Hotel Congress 311 E. Congress St., Tucson. $5. 520-622-8848. www.hotelcongress.com/club. | Map it

Sidewalk Egg-Fry Competition: noon July 4. Fry two eggs on a piece of aluminum foil on the sidewalk. Various prizes given. The event begins with the Ghostrider Gunfighters and takes place on Route 66. Oatman Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 423, Oatman. Free. www.oatmangoldroad.com/events.htm. | Map it

Old-Fashioned Fourth: 10 a.m.-noon July 4. Children enjoy games such as cake-walks, sack races, hula hoops, and rubber-duck ring toss. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, 1 Burruel St., Tubac. Free. 520-398-2704. www.tubacaz.com. | Map it

Fourth of July: 4 p.m. July 4. Bring a blanket or chair for a fireworks display. Food and beverage available. Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, 1 Otero Road, Tubac. $65 for VIP ticket, which includes special meal, seating and parking; $5 for parking. 520-398-3522 or 520-398-2704. www.tubacaz.com. | Map it

July Fourth Celebration: 9 a.m.-9:15 p.m. July 4. Parade starts at Fifth Street to Gila to Seventh Street, which is followed by a water fight at Lions Park. Entertainment and music continues all day with fireworks at 8:45 p.m. Benson, Benson. Free. 520-586-4293. www.bensonvisitorcenter.com. | Map it

Fourth of July: 9 a.m. July 4. Coaster races down Tombstone Canyon begins the event. Between heats, the Bisbee Iron- Man Mile footrace starts at the Iron Man statue. A parade at 11 a.m. is in the Warren section. The contest of the traditional mining activities of mucking begins at 2 p.m. and hard-rock drilling at 4 p.m. at Brewery Gulch. Fireworks are at dark at Vista Park in Warren. Bisbee, Bisbee. Free. 520-432-6016. www.discoverbisbee.com. | Map it

Fourth of July Softball Tournament: 9 a.m. July 4. Enjoy food and street entertainment after the tournament. Watch fireworks at dusk. Medigovich Field, Mountain View Road north of Arizona 80, Tombstone. Free. 520-457-3994. | Map it

Fire Over the Water: 4 p.m. July 4. Information, exhibits, kids activities, souvenirs, and raffle. Rubber duck race begins at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Lyman Lake State Park, 11 miles south of St. Johns on U.S. 191, St. Johns. Free. 928-337-4441. www.pr.state.az.us. | Map it

July Fourth Celebration: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4. Clarkdale celebrates its Fourth of July with a parade at 10 a.m., a barbecue at the Verde Valley Railroad station at 11 a.m., and music by a Dixieland band at 12:30 p.m. Clarkdale, $7 for barbecue. 800-320-0718. | Map it

Firecracker Express: 1-5 p.m. July 4. Enjoy a patriotic train ride through the Verde Canyon. Verde Canyon Railroad, 300 N. Broadway Road, Clarkdale. $34.95-$79.95. 800-320-0718. www.verdecanyonrr.com. | Map it

Rockets Over the River: 9 p.m. July 4. Fireworks over the Colorado River. Best viewing is along the river, south of the Laughlin Bridge. Bullhead City, Free. 702-298-2214. www.bullheadchamber.com/calendar.htm. | Map it

Fourth of July Family Day: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 4. Activities and games during open swim for all ages. Palm Island Family Aquatics Park, Carr-McNatt Park 1115 N. Brown Ave., Casa Grande. $1; 50 cents for age 17 and younger. 520-421-8650. | Map it

Fourth of July Family Day: 5 p.m. July 4. Old-fashioned celebration with food, games and live entertainment. Fireworks at 8 p.m. Paul Mason Sportsplex, 2525 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande. Free. 520-421-8677. www.cir.org/seasonal-fourth.html. | Map it

Prescott Rodeo Days Fine Arts and Crafts Show: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Showcases more than 150 artists. On the lawn outside of the courthouse. Courthouse Square, Montezuma and Gurley streets, Prescott. Free. 928-443-5200. www.prescottdowntown.com. | Map it

July Fourth at the Fort: 2 p.m. July 4. Event features kids zone, food-eating contests, limbo, and entertainment. Event for all ages, however contest participants must be age 21 and older. Fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Fort McDowell Casino, 10424 N. Fort McDowell Road, Fort McDowell Reservation. Free. 800-THE-FORT or 480-837-1424. www.fortmcdowellcasino.com. | Map it

Red, White and Boom: 5-10 p.m. July 4. Fun booths, vendors, food, beer garden, music and fireworks. Old Home Manor Fields, 2100 Old Home Manor Drive, Chino Valley. Free. 928-636-9780. www.cv4th.com. | Map it

Freedom Fest: 10 a.m. July 4. Start the day in the pool for open swim and water games before forming teams for the Mud Volleyball tournament. Also participate in the horseshoe tournament, and country-singing contest. A parade will begin at 6:45 p.m. Fireworks start at 8:30 p.m. Heritage Park, 600 N. Main St., Florence. $30 per volleyball team; $10 per horseshoe team; other events free. 520-868-7589. www.town.florence.az.us. | Map it

Star-Spangled Spectacular: 6-11 p.m. July 4. Inflatable games, face painting, food, arts and crafts booth, and watermelon-eating contests. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road, Marana. Free. 520-382-1950. www.marana.com. | Map it

Patagonia's Fourth of July: 11 a.m. July 4. Begin the day with a parade and hanging of Grand Marshall at the Town Gazebo. Also enjoy music, food and vendors in the park. Fireworks start at 8 p.m. at Patagonia High School. Omitted, Free. 888-794-0060. www.patagoniaaz.com. | Map it

Independence Day Celebration: 6 p.m. July 4. Includes hot dogs, watermelon, a waterslide and music. Fireworks start with an F-16 flyover at 7:30 p.m. Tolleson Veterans Park, 8601 W. Van Buren Ave., Tolleson. Free. 623-936-7111. www.tollesonaz.org. | Map it

Clint Black: 7:30 p.m. July 4. The country singer performs with Amy Scruggs. Held at the Stargazer Pavilion. Doors open at 6 p.m. Cliff Castle Casino, 555 W. Middle Verde Road, Yavapai-Apache Reservation. $35. 928-567-7999. www.cliffcastlecasino.net. | Map it

Fourth of July: noon July 4. Dive for soda, candy and money in the pool. Activities include arts and crafts, bouncers, games and a DJ. Food available. Fireworks begin between 9-9:30 p.m. Kenilworth Sports Complex, 671 E. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge. Free. 520-723-4551. www.coolidgeaz.com. | Map it

Fourth of July Weekend Side Trip: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 4-6. Experience a barbecue with dishes from various nations, including Korea, Spain and Thailand. Served from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. San Dominique Winery, Interstate 17 and Arizona 169, Camp Verde. $6.75; $4.75 for children. 602-549-9787. | Map it

Old-Fashioned Fourth: noon-9 p.m. July 4. Food, dunk tank, bouncy house, rock climbing wall and live bands. Fireworks start at dark over Green Valley Lake. Green Valley Park, 600 N. Green Valley Parkway, Payson. Food ranges in price from $1-$5. 928-474-5242, ext. 7. www.paysonrimcountry.com. | Map it

July Fourth Block Party: 4 p.m. July 4. Art and antique walk, classic car displays, magician at Deming History Park, food, watermelon eating and seed-spitting contest and carnival games at Presbyterian Church and live bands. Main Street, between Meadow and South Mclane, Payson. Free. www.paysonrimcountry.com. | Map it

Celebrate Freedom: 10 a.m.-midnight July 5. Family activities during the day followed by musical performances and fireworks in the evening. Marks the kick-off of the two-month Miller Lite/Harley Davidson anniversary giveaway. Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson. $16.95; $10.95 for age 4-11. 520-883-0100. www.oldtucson.com. | Map it

All-American Independence Day Festival: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 5. Activities include a go-cart rally, an obstacle course, a duck race, a silent auction, a barbecue, face painting and contests. Benefits Firewise East Verde Park. East Verde Park, Arizona 87 and East Verde Turnoff, Payson. Free admission; prices vary for events. 928-474-3883. www.eastverdepark.com. | Map it

 

 

 

An article from The Arizona Republic reports that group seeking to ban any new tax on the sale or transfer of Arizona property is one step closer to putting a constitutional amendment before voters this fall.

The Protect Our Homes committee, led by the Arizona Association of Realtors, filed roughly 372,000 signatures with the secretary of state's office Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 303,614 for an initiative. More than 230,000 certified signatures are needed to qualify the measure for the Nov. 4 ballot.

"What that shows is the overwhelming support that we have from Arizonans who want to protect their homes from double taxation," said Frank Dickens, the group's chairman who emphasized that homeowners already pay an annual property tax.

Currently, property in Arizona is not taxed when it is sold or transferred, but the idea has been floated before.

A citizens commission, appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano, considered a possible real-estate transfer tax in 2003. And last year, two Democrats introduced a bill that would have allowed counties to levy such a tax.

The initiative, also backed by the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, would prevent the state and any other levels of government from imposing a tax when a home or other property is bought, sold, or transferred into a legal trust or to a family member.

Protect Our Homes was the second initiative campaign to file signatures ahead of the July 3 deadline.

For access to the article, please click here . 

For more information about the real estate transfer tax, please visit The Russo Team's blog entry here .

Please visit the Protect Our Homes website here for more information. 

Remember: On November 4^th, 2008, voting "YES" on the Protect Our Homes Initiative, brought to the ballot by Arizona's registered voters, would prevent Arizona's state or local governments from EVER targeting our homes or property with a real estate transfer tax.  

A "YES" vote will actually mean NO to: 

• Double Taxation on our home and property.
• Reducing the equity in our homes and property
• Hurting lower income families through increased purchasing costs.
• Slowing down even further a real estate market that is already negatively impacting  many Arizona families. 
• Punishing homeowners by damaging the most important investment that many of us will ever make in our lifetime and the "nest egg" of our future and our children's future.

Two out of three Americans are expected to live in just 20 "megapolitan" areas in about 30 years, and one of these megapolitans - the Sun Corridor - is in Arizona.

Arizona already is one of the most urban and fastest-growing states, and much of its projected growth is expected to be in the Sun Corridor, which stretches from Santa Cruz and Cochise counties to the center of Yavapai
County.

A report released in May by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at ASU found here , is the first comprehensive analysis of this new geography. The Morrison Institute's Grady Gammage Jr., Rob Melnick and Nancy Welch wrote the report, along with ASU's John Stuart Hall and Robert E. Lang of Virginia Tech.

People have predicted for the past 50 years that Phoenix and Tucson would grow together into one giant desert conglomerate. A diverse pattern of land ownership in central and southern Arizona most likely will prevent that. But what is happening now, according to the report, is that the economies of metropolitan Phoenix and metropolitan Tucson are merging.

Poised to double in population from 5 million to 10 million by 2050, the region will grapple with the environmental challenges of accommodating rapid population growth in a fragile desert environment. There are few models for sustainable urban form in a desert environment. With temperatures frequently soaring to the 100s, mitigating "extreme heat" is a big challenge. Most people come to Arizona for its incomparable natural beauty and high quality of life. If these assets cannot be maintained, it will stop being a desirable place to live.

How the Sun Corridor will change in the short term, the report notes, depends largely on choices made in five crucial areas: global connections; governance; the "trillion-dollar questions" related to residential and commercial development; water; and quality of life.

The report concludes with a critical question: "Do you want to live in the Sun Corridor?"

Adds Gammage: "The future of the Sun Corridor isn't inevitably either rosy or bleak. It is what we make it. What can we do collectively to make the Sun Corridor somewhere we want to stay?"

The report is available for download at the Morrison Institute's website here .