Trico Outage Notification
If you are away during the summer and want to be notified about power outages that may impact your home, you can sign up for Trico's outage notification at www.trico.coop. Trico will notify you by email or text message if there is an outage in the area.

Please Vote
Reminder that there's still time to vote in the Periodico's photo of the year contest. Go to our website esperanzaestates.net to see the choices. Send your vote to droessle@mac.com. Our resident photographers appreciate your support for their efforts.

AUTHOR AUTHOR!
From Sandy Reed: "Are you a short story writer who wants to get published? Here is a sure chance. Several years ago Esperanza Estates published a book of 23 love stories written by residents of our community. It made little money for our HOA, but gave pleasure to many and added to the reputation of Esperanza as an innovative and creative place.
We now propose to publish another collection of short stories, written by residents, on any subject. We have a wealth of interesting experiences, careers, and ideas in Esperanza. Many have appeared in the Periodico, but there are still many to go. Let's get them in book form that others can enjoy."
Sandy Reed, who edited the love story collection, has offered to be Editor once more. For those who are reluctant to write up their ideas, Sandy will be glad to talk to you. He will then create a factual or fictional story, based on the conversation. You will edit this for final use.
Sandy can be contacted at areed56@cox.net or 520-393-1427 or 520-648-0334.

Pool Passes
Facilities Director, Tom Cooke, reports that Pima County conducts two annual health inspections of our pool. The two most recent were in July 2012 and February 2013. We received a passing rating both times, and expect the same at the next inspection later this month.

Leash Law
The Pima County leash law requires that dogs be on a leash less than six feet in length and under the owner's control when out in public.  In our environment this protects the dog as well as the public. Rover may not fare too well after an encounter with a snake, toad or cactus.
When on your property, Fido can roam free within your lot's enclosure, but you may want to do a perimeter check to ensure that harmful critters are not in your yard. Staking your pet (tying the dog to an object) is also a "No No."  A tangled rope could result in a dog being left out in the punishing sun without shade or water.
Pima County regulations prohibit pets from the pool. No pets are allowed in the EE pool enclosure. A quick jump into the pool by a playful pooch could result in pool closure. So, please, leave your pet happy and safe at home when you head for the pool.

We All Scream for Ice Cream
There are many reasons to love summer, not the least of which is National Ice Cream Day, celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of July (this year, July 21.)  It's the perfect excuse to indulge in the irresistible pleasure of a big scoop of ice cream sitting atop a crunchy cone. National Ice Cream Day has been celebrated ever since President Reagan declared it so in 1984. The date generally coincides with the invention of the ice cream cone at the St. Louis World's Fair on July 23, 1904.
You will not be celebrating Ice Cream Day at the Green Valley Dairy Queen, however. Our local Dairy Queen, as well as the adjoining Texaco station and convenience store, have been closed and boarded up.

EE Food Bank Contributions
The Green Valley-Sahuarita Food Bank sent a letter informing us that EE donated 175 pounds of food for the second quarter of 2013. We have a bin in the Ramada kitchen where you can place items to donate. Please make a donation if you can. Our help is needed and greatly appreciated. Thanks to the Bjorgmans for periodically picking up our donations and bringing them to the Food Bank.

Hawk Haven
EE's resident Cooper's hawks are visible these days. A juvenile female and a juvenile male--the female being the larger of the two--frequent the trees in the Ensalmo area. These young ones are basically brown with brown streaked breasts. Adults have a peach streaked breast with dark gray wings, back and head. Doves and finches beware! These birds are looking for lunch. Hummingbirds are safe. They're little more than a toothpick in the hawk world and not worth the effort.

You Know It's Summer in Green Valley When...
plump Golden Barrel Cacti are so full of summer rain that they look like chocoholics waddling home from the EE dessert buffet.