Things I Love About Living In Phoenix

Like every city, there are both upsides and downsides to living in Phoenix. Personally, I feel the benefits greatly outweigh the costs. Lots of other people must feel the same way, since Phoenix keeps growing larger and larger each year.

Here are some of my favorite things about living in Phoenix:

• Arizona does not participate in any Daylight Savings Time nonsense (excluding the Navajo Nation, which observes it)



• Arizona uses the Public Land Survey System, which is an absolutely brilliant way to survey land.

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Protect Yourself from Metal Theft

With unemployment levels in Arizona climbing to record highs, many Phoenix residents are desperately searching for ways to make money. Sadly, some have turned to crimes such as burglary and theft. One crime that has become extremely popular in recent years is metal theft.

Metal theft occurs when thieves take raw materials from construction sites, homes, and vehicles and sell it to a scrap recycler for profit. Precious metals such as copper, silver, brass, bronze, platinum, aluminum, and steel are in high demand and recyclers are paying high premiums for every pound of metal recovered.

Theft of precious metal is a citywide epidemic according to statistics published by the Phoenix Police Department, which reported a 430% increase from 2003 to 2007 according to an Aug 16, 2008 article in the Arizona Republic. Based on my own research for this article, I have compiled a list of "high risk" places where metal is often reported missing:

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What's Good About Goodwill

When was the last time you stopped by a Goodwill store? If you haven't been to one lately, I would recommend checking it out. With over 40 locations in Arizona, chances are there is a Goodwill store near you!

What makes Goodwill such an interesting place to visit? All of the merchandise for sale is donated by people just like you. In addition to clothes, they also have housewares, tools, furniture, electronics, sporting goods, books, and much more! You never know what you might find. It's a great place to look for antiques, collectibles, and other vintage goods not found in traditional retail stores.

It may surprise you to learn that Goodwill of Central Arizona is more than just a chain of secondhand stores. In fact, Goodwill provides a lot to Phoenix and to Phoenix residents. They have job placement and job training programs to help people looking for work. They provide a safe working environment for at-risk teens as well as senior citizens. One way or another, they put people to work!

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Phoenix News You Can Use

Finding a reliable and reputable source for news can be a hassle. With so many frivolous stories in newspapers and on television, where do you turn for the latest news from Phoenix? Here are some of my favorite websites that carry news about Phoenix and other news from around Arizona:

Arizona Republic www.azcentral.com
Phoenix New Times www.phoenixnewtimes.com
Arizona Daily Sun azdailysun.com
Arizona Daily Star tucson.com
Phoenix Business Journal bizjournals.com/phoenix/

Weekend Fun in the East Valley

If you're looking to get outdoors and enjoy the weather this weekend, the East Valley is the place to be. Bring the family and your friends to Apache Junction, where the Lost Dutchman Days and the Arizona Renaissance Fair will be in full swing.

Lost Dutchman Days
When: Feb. 27, 27, and Mar. 1st
The town of Apache Junction is located along US 60 at the base of the Superstition Mountains. It is here that the "Lost Dutchman" Jacob Waltz is said to have hidden his legendary cache of gold, which to this day remains one of the most sought-after claims in the Southwest.

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