Arizoniques

ARIZO TONTO NATIONAL FOREST AMERICA'S FAVORITE FOREST

Arizona's Tonto National Forest, 2,874,500 acres of desert and pine country sprawling northeast of Phoenix, reigns as the nation's favorite forest with more than six million visitors per year. What attracts all the outdoorsey types? It's the variety of recreational opportunities available during every season. The Tonto encompasses the dramatic dessert of the Superstition Mountains, the Salt and Verde rivers flowing year-round, six large lakes, plus miles of ponderosa pine country, and cool trout streams roaring down off the Mogollon Rim.

FASTEST GROWING STATE

According to the latest findings, Arizona will be the fastest-growing state in the country. Experts predict 4.5 million people will live here by the year 2000. The population currently is slightly over three million. That's a growth rate three times the national average.

KERR CULTURE

A twenty-five-year-old adobe home in Scottsdale reigns as one of Arizona's more familiar and favored gathering places for musicians, singers, composers, and their audience. Once the residence and studio of Louise Lincoln Kerr, a respected musi cian with the Cleveland, Pasadena, and Phoenix symphonies, the Louise Lincoln Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 North Scottsdale Road, is the birthplace of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society and the Arizona Cello Society. Today the 300-seat studio also is used for meetings of other musical organizations, and hosts weekly chamber music, jazz, dance, and theater perfor mances.

The Center, now owned and adminis tered by Arizona State University, has what many say are the best acoustics for cham ber music in the Phoenix area because of its unique combination of wood, adobe, and rare tile. For schedules and additional information, telephone: 948-6424. -By Kimberly Johnson

HARK! THE HARRIS' HAWKS HATCH

For the first time in three decades, Har ris' hawks hatched in the lower Colorado River Valley. Flocks of hundreds soared above the river around the turn of the century, but by the mid-1950s they were declared extinct in the area. Last spring, as a result of a six year effort by the Bureau of Land Management, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Yuma Audubon Society, and six other agencies and organi zations, two baby chicks, offspring of two Harris' hawks released in the area more than a year ago by the agencies, hatched and later took flight. When fully grown, the birds will be predominantly black with chestnut patches on their shoulders and thighs, a flashy white rump and a white band at the tip of their tails. An adult Harris' hawk has a wingspan of four feet and weighs around two pounds. Birders estimate there are half as many Harris' hawks in the U.S. as bald eagles. The Har ris' hawks' habitat, however, appears to be less threatened.

A FLOOD OF INFORMATION

Ironically, in the state of Arizona, with its vast sections of dry desert, the greatest number of weather-related deaths are from drowning. Since 1950 at least ninety people have drowned in flash floodswhich either trapped them in narrow can yons or caught them while crossing rain swollen washes and streambeds. These statistics and literally thousands of weather facts are the subject of a recent compila tion titled Arizona Climate: The First Hundred years, available from the Insti tute of Atmospheric Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.For a more complete calendar, free of charge, please write the Arizona Office of Tourism, Department CE, 1480 East Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. All telephone numbers are within area code 602.

RADAR COMES TO THE CANYON

Grand Canyon Airport recently received free of charge a new state-of-the-art radar system. The $700,000 device, developed by Marconi Electronics Inc. of Chelmsford, England, will soon be standard equipment at many airports, but for now, it is the first of its kind operating in the United States. Marconi is completing the system's final stages of testing at the Canyon. The Federal Aviation Administration has operated a tower at Grand Canyon Airport since 1975, but this is its first radar unit.

NIQUES

to places, events, and people unique to Arizona and the Southwest.

AMICABLE AJO

The welcome mat is out for winter visitors to sunny Ajo, 110 miles southwest of Phoenix on State Route 85. "We welcome people with open arms," says Chamber of Commerce President Gabrielle David Barton. There's plenty of room for your home away from home. Hundreds of recreational vehicles flock to the Coyote Howls Park (no amenities) at nearby Why. A new RV park (scheduled to open this autumn), with amenities, is located in Ajo proper. Mobile home parks, four motels, and rental homes also are available.

Ajo, hometown of 3000 people, has suffered since Phelps Dodge closed its copper mining operation. So it's searching for new ways to make money and demonstrate its hospitality.

There's so much to see and do: Phelps Dodge's open pit mine, a museum, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, the Papa go Indian Reservation, and the beach at Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico, 100 miles to the south.

Ajo also offers guests cookouts, concerts, and socials. The annual Old-Time Fiddling Contest is held each February. With all that plus what residents call the "perfect climate," you have an ideal spot for this winter's getaway. "We have everything Yuma has except overcrowding," says David-Barton. "We love winter visitors as people." For information, telephone the Ajo Chamber of Commerce: 387-7742.

-By George J. Bauer

A FLASHY FIRST

Arizona has two of the nations top three targets for lightning, making the state the national leader in number of lightning strikes per year. The high risk spots are two 100 square mile sections, one between Bisbee and the Arizona-Mexico border, and another surrounding the San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff.

THE YEAR OF THE ARIZONA WOMAN

People all over the state are celebrating 1985 as the "Year for All Arizona Women." Organizing the celebration is a nonprofit group, The Arizona Women's Partnership, which sponsors major events, promotes the overall theme, and selects and honors twelve women in six categories of achievement: women who communicate, govern, create, educate, care, and work. More than 500 nominations have poured in from all parts of Arizona. Governor Babbitt will recognize and award the total seventy-two finalists on December 7. Six major events featuring distinguished women mark each category of achievement. Already Shirley Chisholm, author and stateswoman has appeared in Women Who Communicate; Sandra Day O'Connor, Supreme Court Justice, in Women Who Govern; the play, "The Quilters" in Women Who Create; and K. Patricia Cross, Ph.D., Harvard University professor, in Women Who Educate.

In November, Candy Lightner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, will speak on Women Who Care and Women Who Work.

Other festivities are still on the horizon to help celebrate Arizona's women. For information, call: 261-8242.

-By Kimberly Johnson

OCTOBER WEEKEND ADVENTURING

October 4 through 6: Kingman. Andy Devine Days. A professional rodeo, softball tournament, arts and crafts show, ten kilometer run, gem show, carnival, chili cookoff, and barbecue keep Kingman hopping all weekend long. Telephone: 753-6106.

October 5 and 6: Yuma Bathtub Races. Custom-made fiberglass bathtubs powered by five and seven-horsepower outboard motors zip around Martinez Lake north of Yuma in series of races each day. The weekend also features a barbecue, dances, and other entertainment. Telephone the Martinez Lake Resort for details: 783-9589.

October 11: Phoenix. The Phoenix Press Club's Annual Front Page Ball. The Press Club hosts its annual fundraiser at the elegant Point Tapatio Cliffs this year with the theme "The Way We Were," recognizing the 100th anniversaries of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. All collegiate loyalties are welcome at this dinner and dance; and guests are encouraged to wear costumes reminiscent of their college years. For information, call 252-9280.

October 18 through November 13: Phoenix. Arizona State Fair. Livestock, prize-winning crops, a huge midway, and nationally known entertainers performing nightly will draw nearly a million fairgoers this year to the fairgrounds at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.