Grand Opening Nov 6 > New Business

Pole Barn @ 56 S Center Street across the street from Mesa Arts Center and slightly north of First Avenue is having an opening 6-9 p.m. featuring Primitives.
Antiques
Country Wares
Outdoor Décor
Vintage Goods

Mesa Living Green? Fake Christmas Tree! Oh My!

Santa Claus will be freakin' out about this goofy idea
Get real
If the city wants to go "artificial"
Why not just light up that "Cone" at the Center Street Station?
Who's bad idea is this?
Some call it a "one-time" investment ...

Retailers and others want the border retail zone expanded

Fast Promo > Matt Pinfield speaks about Mesa Music Festival

Update on Veterans Day Parade + Events

New route for East Valley Veterans Parade in Mesa

Post Date: 11/04/2015 2:09 PM
Estimates of over 40,000 people will be arriving in downtown Mesa for this annual parade. Recent changes with details were made today by the Public Information & Communications Office
http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/628/

The East Valley Veterans Parade returns to downtown Mesa on Veterans Day, Wednesday Nov. 11. The parade route has been changed in an effort to improve the areas available for spectators to view the event. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Center Street and University Drive and will travel south on Center Street and turn west on First Street. The parade will continue on First Street to Robson where it will end. This route offers wide, tree-lined streets for the entire length of the parade and will be easily accessible for all.
. . . The City of Mesa will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. The closure includes libraries and recreation centers. Trash and recycle barrels will be on the normal collection schedule. Residents should have their containers out no later than 6 a.m. The Mesa Arts Center is open with several events taking place including the benefit concert at 12:30 p.m. While the box office will be open, the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, The Store and administrative offices will be closed. The Arizona Museum of Natural History and Arizona Museum for Youth will also be closed. The Dobson Ranch Golf Course will be open and the Kino Aquatic Center and Skyline Aquatic Center will be open for adult lap swimming. All bus and light rail routes will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule.

Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov

Today: DaVita Partners Group Volunteers Filling-In Mesa Urban Garden

Very few people were out on the streets today, but 50 or more DPG volunteer pitched in on and shoveled many cubic feet of soil into the raised plant beds on a day of service in the new Urban Downtown Mesa.
Here in the image to the left you can see Davita Partners Group Arizona regional manager with a group looking at plantings of Milkweed in a butterfly garden.

Here's a  quick shot of the whole group getting ready to shout out - hope to get a video of this to add to this post.

During an outdoor lunch provided by Republica Empanada a generous donation of $1,000 was gratefully received and acknowledged.
Members of the MUG Board - shall we call them "Muggles"?? - are shown with Ryan Winkle and Donna DiFrancesco liaison with the City of Mesa Living Green

If you want to find out what's happening in here come and see + take a walk around all the new fall garden plantings: it's a new garden season!







See the November newsletter in this link http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=eb5c18d28b8ba18f9d16b362b&id=2fc01ee8b3&e=9d9382c8a4

Boeing Rolls Out New AH-64E Apache Guardian Helicopters For South Korea

Nothing reported in local news about this - it's a big deal, a very big deal worth $1.6 BILLION DOLLARS.
It was noted here with other reports from United Press International, ExecutiveBiz, and Stars & Stripes.
A report [hit underlined link]
in ExecutiveBiz has this to say: South Korea intends to procure a variant of the Boeing-built AH-64 Apache attack helicopter for its military to defend the country against threats from North Korea, United Press International reported Monday.
Previously on August 27, 2015 Aerospace & Defense News reported  United Kingdom - AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN Attack Helicopters
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for AH-64E APACHE GUARDIAN Attack Helicopters and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $3.00 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 26, 2015...The United Kingdom will use the Apache helicopters to conduct various missions, including counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations. The materiel and services under this program will enable the United Kingdom to become a more capable defensive force and will also provide key elements required for interoperability with U.S. forces. . . This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
Elizabeth Shim writes Boeing unveiled its AH-64E platform during a ceremony held Monday at the company’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, and attended by South Korean government officials.
Stars and Stripes reported a South Korean defense official said the government could place orders for the helicopters between the first half of 2016 and early 2017.
The U.S. Army has used the AH-64E to support tactical missions in Afghanistan last year and has recorded more than 3.9 million flight hours for its Apache fleet since 1984.
Boeing designed its Apache helicopters to carry Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and Stinger air-to-air missiles as well as 30-millimeter or 1.18-inch M230 automatic cannons.
 A press release dated Wednesday, November 4, 2015 @ 01:40 PM
The Republic of Korea DAPA signed a US$1.6 billion contract with the U.S. in a Foreign Military Sales program in 2013 to buy 36 AH-64Es, an upgraded model of the AH-64D Longbow.
The AH-64E[seen in the image to the left] is a heavily armed helicopter featuring more powerful, fuel-efficient engines and enhanced rotor blade technology, as well as improved aircraft handling, performance and agility at higher altitudes.

It is also equipped with improved systems for pilots' situational awareness and strikes on smaller targets.
Read more >> http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14505/Boeing_Rolls_Out_New_AH_64_Apache_Helicopter_For_South_Korea#.VjoImJVdFjo

Residents and visitors in Mesa can see a bronze sculpture of two kids playing Boeing's Apache combat helicopter in  front of City Hall Plaza   AH-64E Apache Guardian advanced attack helicopters were unveiled in the United States, Monday, months before their delivery to the ROK Army, the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) said Tuesday. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/11/116_190121.html DAPA said Boeing, the manufacturer of the helicopters, held a rollout ceremony in Mesa, Arizona, attended by some 50 officials from the nation's arms procurement agency, Army and defense firms. A total of 36 Apache Guardians will be delivered to the ROK Army beginning in the middle of next year after first being delivered to the U.S. Army, DAPA said. DAPA said the Guardian, the upgraded model of the AH-64D Longbow, is considered the best attack helicopter available with state-of-the-art fire control equipment, more powerful, fuel-efficient engines and improved systems for pilots' situational awareness and strikes on smaller targets.   Related News: US Army’s Apache helicopters Will Fire Laser Guided Rockets In Afghan, Iraq Ops Source : http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14298/US_Army___s_Apache_helicopters_Will_Fire_Laser_Guided_Rockets_In_Afghan__Iraq_Ops#.VjoQtpVdFjo