Bits and Pieces

Town has no proof that TAC was to blame for Franke resignation

Last month, we wrote about the Tourism Advisory Commission(TAC) Then, earlier this month we reported that the Town Council had voted to dissolve it. One point we wanted to examine further was the assertion by Town Manager Jeff Wilkins and Mayor Joe Winfield that Crystal Franke, the Town’s former tourism and marketing manager, resigned to take another position because of her experience with the TAC. We had asked Franke directly, and she neither affirmed nor denied that assertion. So we specifically asked the Town for documentation showing that Franke herself had identified TAC as a reason for leaving. The Town could not provide such documentation. All it provided was an email from Wilkins to the Council attributing Franke’s resignation to TAC. We then asked a second time and were told that the town had provided all information it had on the matter. Our conclusion: Saying something is so does not make it so.

Wall Street Journal features Oro Valley as a great place to retire

A recent Wall Street Journal article on retirees moving to lower-tax states featured Oro Valley residents Earl and Pat Vittitoe, who moved here from Illinois. They chose Oro Valley after visiting Earl’s aunt and were attracted by a 55-plus community with pools, golf, Arizona’s climate and the area’s outdoor lifestyle. Earl told the Journal that they have never had second thoughts about the move. The article also profiled retirees who relocated to Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Henderson, Nevada. Oro Valley was one of the communities highlighted as offering retirees a combination of lifestyle and financial advantages. (Source: Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2026.)

Town releases simplified 2027 town budget guide

The Town of Oro Valley has released its FY 2026/27 Know Your Town’s Budget summary, a resident-friendly guide intended to make the Town’s finances easier to understand. The guide explains how the budget works, how Town funds support services and facilities, and key facts such as Oro Valley not having a municipal property tax. Town Manager Jeff Wilkins said the summary is intended to improve transparency and help residents better understand how public dollars are used. (Source:  Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Amphi implements barrier between CDO and the Aquatic Center parking lots...creates a problem with parking for shared events
The Amphitheater School District has closed the stairway connecting the Canyon del Oro High School east parking lot with the Town’s Aquatic Center parking lot at James D. Kriegh Park. For years, with District permission, the Town has used the school lot for overflow parking during major Aquatic Center events as well as other events. Closing the stairway means visitors who park in the east lot must now walk around the school property and enter the park from Calle Concordia, a considerably longer route that will be especially difficult for people with physical limitations. The stairs have also long provided a direct route to school for students living nearby. As the panel shows, the access has now been blocked by substantial fencing. It is welded to the railing. We do not yet know why the District closed the stairway or whether the decision was coordinated with the Town. LOVE will investigate.

Aquatic Center late afternoon parking problem getting harder to ignore
Parking at the Aquatic Center is becoming increasingly difficult in the late afternoon and evening, particularly when CDO Little League is using much of Kriegh Park. During these times, the Aquatic Center lot can fill completely, forcing Aquatic Center users to compete for limited nearby parking [see panel left]. The recent closure of the stairway from the CDO High School east parking lot has made the problem worse by eliminating an overflow parking access point that had been used for years. The Town needs to address this parking problem so Aquatic Center users have reasonable and reliable access to the facility.

HallOVeen Spooktacular returns October 17
Oro Valley Parks and Recreation will hold its free HallOVeen Spooktacular on Saturday, October 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at James D. Kriegh Park, 23 W. Calle Concordia. The family-friendly event will include a Trunk-or-Treat hosted by local businesses, music, jumping castles, food trucks, kids’ crafts and other activities.

Friday Night Concerts at Steam Pump Ranch return tonight
Oro Valley’s free Friday Night Concert series returns to Steam Pump Ranch beginning tonight. The concert features Rainy Daze. It runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Additional concert dates are October 2, October 23 and November 6, featuring Your Money’s Worth, Good Trouble and Ones All Band. Residents can bring a chair or blanket and their own food, while food trucks will also be available. Admission and parking are free; outside alcohol is not permitted.

Tourism consultant named Oro Valley destination marketing manager
Kevin “Addy” Coleman is Oro Valley’s new Destination Marketing Manager. Coleman brings more than 25 years of tourism marketing consulting experience, much of it with Tucson-based Madden Media, a Tucson-based marketing agency specializing in travel, tourism and destination marketing. There, Coleman worked as a consultant to destinations around the country, specializing in destination strategy, digital marketing and measuring results. The Oro Valley position is a significant change for Madden.  Rather than advising tourism organizations from the outside, Coleman will be responsible for delivering results. (Source: OV Edge September 2026, Linkedin)
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