June - July 2023

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Manager's Corner

Hello friends and neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying summertime in Pine Lakes. With so many awesome events and activities, there is always something going on in our wonderful community, downtown, and in surrounding areas. If you haven’t been to the World’s Oldest Rodeo, you should make plans to attend all the events involved with the rodeo. With so much to do, your summer will be memorable.

Your safety is always top of mind so please make sure that you have a plan for monsoons and fire season. If you are not on the One Call Now system, please register today at the office. Please also consider signing up for alertYAVAPAI at the Yavapai County website. https://member.everbridge.net/337829242601768/new

As always, our door is always open, so drop by anytime. Enjoy your summer in paradise.

Rob Bartlett
Community Manager

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Sales Update

The Pine Lakes Sales Team is here to serve you. Summer has historically been the busy season for buying and selling homes here in Pine Lakes. Should the need arise, we are committed to selling your home quickly, professionally, and for what it’s worth.

Hometown America is licensed, insured, and motivated to earn your business. Call Pat Flack or Rob Bartlett at 928-445-8950 or stop by our Sales/Manager’s Office for more information. Thank you!

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Resident Spotlight
 

After almost five decades in Alaska, Dave and Nancy Harbour moved to Pine Lakes last year just in time to attend the July 4 rodeo and community barbecue!

Before retiring and relocating, the couple was deeply involved in the 49th State’s history. Nancy served as president of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts for nearly 40 years and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Alaska State Council on the Arts. She was an Athena Award recipient and chaired numerous non-profit organizations.

Dave retired as commissioner of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska after serving as director of the Anchorage Parking Authority, president of Action Security, Inc., government relations director of Atlantic Richfield Co., and public affairs director of the Arctic Gas Pipeline Consortium. He founded and led numerous educational and business non-profit organizations. Before arriving in Alaska in 1971, Dave served as an Army infantry officer in Korea, Idaho, and Washington, DC.

Dave and Nancy have three grown sons, Todd, Ben, and Billy.

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Restaurant Review

Bistro St. Michael is a restored 1901 restaurant in the Hotel St. Michael. Here’s a review of just a few of their offerings.

Brisket & eggs: The brisket was uniform thickly sliced, each about 3/8 thick, and very moist. The smoked aroma was distinctive, and the product included both point and flat (moist and lean in BBQ parlance). The breakfast potatoes were crispy and well-seasoned, a perfect complement to the very smokey and moist brisket. The smoke ring was not visible, and the bark was soft, likely from hot storage, but the flavor was great. The rub was, at a guess, traditional salt/pepper/garlic and present in enough quantity to taste, but not overpowering.

The only thing wrong with the sausage gravy is that it came in a bowl, not in a bathtub! Thick, chunky with sausage bits, and sinfully rich. If you're a gravy person, you'll want to take a bath in this. It is that good. Rich is a criminal understatement. The biscuit appears homemade and is split and grilled toasted, served open-face with gravy on the side. Very light and flavorful biscuit.

The breakfast wrap was ham, eggs, potatoes, onions, and poblano. No heat from the poblano due to the roasting, just that deep rich flavor perfectly melded with the other ingredients. The side salsa is a fresh house-made, fine grind and very cilantro flavored for that brisket fresh pico without a ton of onion flavor. No heat, just a cold crisp, almost gazpacho, flavor.

Give Bistro St. Michael a try if you haven’t already. Hopefully, you will enjoy your experience as much as we did. They are currently only open for breakfast and lunch but hope to have dinner service soon.

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The Gift of Experience

As you grow older, you probably won’t remember or value the material items you once wanted, but memories only grow in value as the years pass. Of course certain items hold a special place in our hearts, but sharing experiences with our loved ones is truly priceless.

Whether it’s horseback riding or an art supplies kit, giving the gift of a memorable activity will be sure to make a positive impact on your friends and family. This list of awesome experience gift ideas contains countless great gifts to consider giving the next time you have someone to celebrate. Consider gifting the thrill-seeker in your life tickets to indoor skydiving, or the fashionista a membership to a clothing rental service—the possibilities are endless!

One great idea to find unique experience gifts in your area is to check out Groupon, a marketplace for savings on fun activities and events. No matter where you are located, chances are there’s an escape room, sporting event, or another fun experience just waiting to be had.

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Sweet Sweet Summertime

Finally, warmer weather is upon us and we’re able to spend more time outdoors enjoying the beautiful sunshine. There are so many fun activities to do in summer, and you don’t need to spend tons of money to live life to the fullest this season.

From watching the sunrise to visiting a local farmers market, there’s countless activities to bring some summertime fun into your life. Read this list of everyday summer activities you can do to make the most out of these warmer months.

If it feels like the seasons just fly by these days, you’re not alone. In order to have a great summer filled with fun and productivity, read these tips on making this summer your most productive yet. You can set reasonable goals looking ahead to the rest of the year, and get ahead of planning for everything from family vacations to family meals.