December 2018

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

7
pg

HISTORYOF
MORRISON
RANCH pg
8
12
pg
MERRY
MORRISON
RANCH 5K
CHRISTIMAS
ON COMSTOCK
12.4.18
83827 LC QP Morrison Ranch_Living Mag Home for the Holidays Ad.indd 1 11/8/18 9:59 AM
THE EHLEN TEAM

SOLUTIONS
THE EHLEN TEAM

SOLUTIONS

THE EHLEN TEAM

THE EHLEN TEAM
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS
 TABLEOFCONTENTS MR
December 2018

Registration required for 5K run MERRY MORRISON RANCH 5K | DECEMBER 15

MANAGER’S MESSAGE 6
HISTORY OF MORRISON RANCH 7

Morrison Ranch CURB APPEAL AWARD 7

Farm Bureau Building

6
325 S. Higley Road #110 | Gilbert, AZ 85296
MANAGER’S MESSAGE
P: 480-892-2267
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Website: mymorrisonranch.org

Instagram.com/morrisonranch_gilbertaz LIFESTYLE UPDATE 8

facebook.com/MorrisonRanchGilbert COVENANTS CORNER 9
LANDSCAPE UPDATE 9

COVENANTS CORNER
9

REFLECTIONS 10
® COMMUNITY WITH CHARACTER 11
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12

Email: Salesaz@p2opublishing.com
COMMUNITY WITH CHARACTER
10
Phone: 480.648.4859
www.p2oPublishing.com

Reproduction in whole or in part of any text,

photographs or illustrations without written
permission from the publisher is prohibited.
Trademarks, logos and content provided
by advertisers, sponsors and partners are
TOWN OF GILBERT 13
owned by the respective companies and
all rights are reserved by them. The views, IMPORTANT NUMBERS 14
statements and claims of advertisers or
other Morrison Ranch Living contributors TRASH AND BULK TRASH SCHEDULE 14
do not necessarily represent those of
the Print2order®, Morrison Ranch Master
Association, CCMC or their employees.
Printed in the USA ©2018 Morrison Ranch
Living. All rights reserved. Please Recycle.
TOWN OF GILBERT
13

4 | MRLIVING
MORRISON RANCH
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TEAM

DAWNIE HOWARD
STEWART MORRISON
Board of Board of
Directors Directors

SCOTT DON
MORRISON TOMPKINS
Board of Landscape
Directors Architect

JUSTIN
STEWART
IWDD Manager

MORRISON RANCH
COMMUNITY COUNCIL Advertise in
STAFF

CHERYL MILLER
Community Manager
cmiller@ccmcnet.com

WINTER SPECIAL
PATRICIA HOOD GOING ON NOW
Operations Manager
phood@ccmcnet.com

480.648.4859
TASHA FINK SalesAZ@p2opublishing.com
Lifestyle Director
tfink@ccmcnet.com

EMERGENCYNUMBER
5pm - 8am & Weekends
(602) 234-9288
MANAGER’SMESSAGE

PET RULES FOR Cheryl Miller

HOA HARMONY Community Manager

Morrison Ranch is proud to be pet-friendly, and we’re happy

your four-legged family members are part of our community.
Of course, like any good neighbor, it’s important that these pets
don’t create an unpleasant environment for everyone else. To
avoid unnecessary disputes and potential rule violations, here
are some guidelines owners should follow to ensure their furry
friends continue to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Read the Rules: While we welcome pets in our association, we
have a few rules and requirements. Residential CC&R’s section
4.2 …All pets permitted under this Section shall be confined to
an Owner’s Lot, except that a dog may be permitted to leave an
Owner’s Lot if such dog is at all times kept on a leash not to
exceed six feet (6’) in length and is not permitted to enter upon
any other Lot. Any person bringing a dog onto the Common
Area shall immediately remove any feces deposited on the
Common Area by the dog. No pet permitted under this Section
shall be allowed to make an unreasonable amount of noise or
to become a nuisance…
Keep it Clean: No one wants to see, smell or accidentally step in
the “gift” your dog left on the grassy common area. So when your
dog needs to go, be sure to properly dispose of it, preferably in
a pet waste disposal can. Not only will this keep our community
looking better, but it will help keep ground water clean and
help prevent the spread of fecal-borne diseases.
Quiet Down: Pets will be noisy from time to time. However, when
loud barking or meowing becomes annoying to neighbors, it’s
time to help your pet become less talkative. First, try to find
out what causes your pets to get vocal: Do they get noisy when
they’ve been alone and bored all day and need some playtime?
Have they gone through a stressful change in environment
recently? Are they suffering from health issues? Do they simply
like saying “hello” to every squirrel, person or car that passes
by? When you’ve identified the cause, take remedial actions
such as confining them to an area where they feel calm while
you’re away, removing or blocking as many stimuli as possible,
exercising them more and spending more time with them.
Additionally, there are multiple products on the market to help
train your dog to stop barking; electric shock collar, a spray bark
collar, ultrasonic dog silencer, and more. Training is always a
top recommendation for any behavioral problem. Training not
only helps your dog, you’ll be surprised how much it helps you,
too. You may get some insight into why your dog barks so much,
or what it is trying to communicate.
No Wandering: For the safety of your pets as well as all
residents, please do not allow your pets to roam unattended
outside. Along with helping protect your pets, leashing your dog
is the law.

6 | MRLIVING
 HISTORYOFMR MR MR

CURB
Howard Morrison APPEAL
Board Member
AWARD
THE
REST IS D EC E M B ER
HISTORY

This is one of our favorite early photos of Morrison Farms.

2018
This was taken obviously from the top of the grain tanks
looking north possibly around 1970. It may be hard to see
many details, but Red Mountain is in the background center.
2878 E. PINTO DR.
The only single family homes (other than the farmstead)
that can just be seen here are the large lot ranchettes that CONGRATULATIONS!
set just north of Higley Groves, just north of the SRP power
lines. Who knew that one day one of those homes would be THANK YOU FOR ADDING VALUE TO
on TV in a home-make-over show! MORRISON RANCH.

The complex in the center left is the site of Hugh Nichols’

home. This is where the red brick home still stands just
east of the Bashas’ center. Hugh Nichols is our generation’s
Great Uncle. He was our Grandmother’s, Leatha Nichols
Morrison, brother. In a sense he is to blame for the
Morrisons staying in Gilbert.
After a brief stint in the area, our Grandfather, Howard C.
Morrison, went to California. After an unsuccessful try at
dairy farming, he came back through Arizona. Hugh Nichols
invited him to stay and farm with him, and the rest, is as
we say, history!
Hugh Nichols was quite the character. He was a farmer,
inventor, and miner. He created a bird sanctuary on the
home site. He had a pen of white deer next to his front yard
that attracted a great deal of attention from local tourists
and there were always peacocks roaming the place. He
even built a plane that had engines that could rotate
for it to take off vertically. We wish we had
many more pictures of his home place. The “Curb Appeal” Award is Morrison Ranch’s
Yard of the Month. Winners are awarded a
small token of our appreciation for taking
pride in their yard and representing Morrison
Ranch by maintaining their property, giving it
excellent curb appeal.

Do you have a neighbor that you think

deserves the Curb Appeal Award?

Please send nominations to: Tasha Fink at

tfink@ccmcnet.com.

Those who nominate their neighbors will

also be put into a drawing for a prize.

mymorrisonranch.org | 7
LIFESTYLEUPDATE
COMMUNITYWITHCHARACTER
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Tasha Fink
Lifestyle Director
Ho ho ho! Thank you to everyone who came out to our Mrs.
Claus event! Our annual neighborhood holiday party is always
such a blast and this year was no exception! The renowned
lights of Christmas on Comstock are the perfect backdrop
to this event and we are so grateful to the neighbors who
pour so much time and energy into decking our streets and
opening up their driveways for this signature Morrison Ranch
event! If you weren’t already in the holiday spirit, hopefully
you are now.
After a fall full of fun events, we are giving you, (and me)
a break for the month of January. We know you’ll be busy
spending time with your families and friends and we will be
doing the same with ours! But, come February, it’s ON!
On Saturday, February 9th you’ll want to come out to Elliot
Groves Amphitheater for Bike-A-Palooza.
BMX pros (and former X-Games participants) from StuntMasters
will be putting on a half-pipe ramp show featuring high-
flying flips, crazy stunts, and extreme entertainment just for
Morrison Ranch!
We will be raffling off a new bike and a helmet just for
registering! We highly encourage everyone to grab their bikes
and meet us at Elliot Grove Amphitheater for this fantastic
event!
We hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your
families and loved ones this year!
It’s the time of year when we tend to think about all of the
things we are grateful for, and at Morrison Ranch, we are
thankful for you. The true heartbeat of our community lies
within the residents that live here, so thank you, for all the
little things you do to make our community unlike any other
place to live on earth.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our Morrison Ranch
family to yours!
Make sure to visit our website MyMorrisonRanch.org for a
complete list of all upcoming events and to register.
8 | MRLIVING
Morrison Ranch is full of good
neighbors whose kind acts make this
community such a wonderful place to
live. That’s why Morrison Ranch and
Print2order® are happy to offer this
refined Community With Character
program, to recognize our neighbors
and share the stories of their selfless
acts of kindness.
As a resident of Morrison Ranch, we
are asking you to share the stories
about your neighbors who went above
and beyond the normal neighborly
duties. There is no act too small or
insignificant; communities are built
one kind act at a time.
Each month we will select one story to
share in Morrison Ranch Living and in
the spirit of giving back, Print2order®
will pay $100.00 towards the master
assessment for both the winner and
the neighbor who shared their story.
Please submit your name and
contact information, along with the
resident’s name, address, and the
reason you are nominating them.
Winners are selected every month
from the previous nominations. Show
your neighbors you appreciate them
today by submitting a nomination to,
tfink@ccmcnet.com.
Thank you.
A winner will be announced in next
months issue.
COVENANTSCORNER MR

LANDSCAPE UPDATE

December is a month to enjoy outside in

the desert. Funny thing is there’s not a lot
to do in the landscape. Plants have settled
into their winter slumber. You don’t need to
prune or worry too much. Let mother nature
do her thing. So with that I’d like to invite
Patricia Hood you to read one of my favorite poems about
Operations Manager
Trees....Have a wonderful Holiday season!
HELP YOUR
LANDSCAPE DURING TREES
THE WINTER SEASON By Joyce Kimer

I think that I shall never see

The winter season is always a busy time of year, so it can be easy to let things like A poem lovely as a tree.
landscaping get lost in the shuffle. But as temperatures cool down and night time
lows dip below the freezing point, plants and trees become especially vulnerable to A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
damage. A little bit of knowledge and preparation for the chilly nights ahead can go Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
a long way in helping to protect your landscaping from damage. Here are a few tips
for helping your landscape weather the winter temps. A tree that looks at God all day,
When is Frost Season? And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

The Southwest can experience frost from mid-November through February. However, A tree that may in Summer wear
the frequency and intensity of frost can vary quite a bit due to factors such as A nest of robins in her hair;
elevation and population density. IIf Morrison Ranch does get frost, you’ll be able to
recognize frost-damaged plants by blackish-brown leaves and shriveled shoots and Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
stems. Who intimately lives with rain.
How can Frost Damage be Prevented?
Poems are made by fools like me,
• Common non-native plants susceptible to frost include Bougainvillea, Lantana, But only God can make a tree.
Cape Honeysuckle and others.
• Select Good Planting Locations. If you do decide to install frost-sensitive plants,
select western- and southern-exposure planting areas where they’ll be more
protected. Planting them near block walls, rocks and patios can also help; the Mick Williamson
hard surfaces absorb heat from the sun and maintain a warmer temperature
through the night.
• Cover Bare Soil with grass or granite. This creates a barrier between the frost and
your planting areas.
• Cover Plants Susceptible to Frost Damage. The evening before frost is predicted,
cover susceptible plants with cloth towels, blankets, sheets or paper/cardboard
boxes to insulate them. Plastic is not recommended for plant cover. Drape the
cover all the way to the ground to help trap heat radiating from the ground under
the cover. Remove the cover after sunrise each morning.
• Water Plants the Night Before. Well-hydrated plants actually stay warmer.
Dehydrated plants are more susceptible to frost damage.
What should be done to frost-damaged plants?
• Wait until the end of frost season to prune. Pruning away frost damage too early
can result in additional damage if the plant is hit by frost again. Avoid any type of
pruning to newly planted shrubs and ground cover during frost season; they are
more susceptible to permanent damage and could be lost due to cold weather.
However, well-established plants can handle minimal pruning for aesthetic
reasons throughout frost season.
• Prune frost-damaged trees after new growth has emerged. This way you are
able to better prune and balance the tree since you can identify where growth
is occurring and where the tree may be suffering from frost damage. Removing
these damaged areas should stimulate new plant growth.
Frost in the Southwest Desert is almost a guarantee. But waking up to shriveled and
brown plants and trees does not have to happen. A few preventative steps and a little
bit of foresight can help make sure that your landscaping stays healthy until spring.
mymorrisonranch.org | 9
REFLECTIONS
Photo Credit Captured by CJ

MORRISON RANCH
HERITAGE DAY
NOV. 17, 2018

10 | MRLIVING
 COMMUNITYWITHCHARACTER MR

EACH MONTH WE RECOGNIZE NEIGHBORS

WHO EXEMPLIFY WHY WE ARE A
“COMMUNITY WITH CHARACTER.”
The Morrison Ranch, December, Community with
Character Award goes to resident

HEIDI DUFFY

“The act of giving without expectation of something in return is the

definition of true kindness.” A very special form of giving takes the
form of small, personal acts of kindness. There could be no truer
words to describe Heidi Duffy.
Each year, in November, Heidi collects blankets and coats for those
who have no shelter or relief from our chilly winter nights. This all
started with a service project that her children were a part of, which
took brown bag meals to the streets of down town Phoenix. After
meeting and getting to know these people, as a family, they decided
they wanted to do something more. She says: ‘We knew there wasn’t
much we could do to fix their situation but we wanted to aide them
in the best way we knew how. To think of anyone out in the cold
freezing at night is something that just weighs on me during the
cold months. So each fall we head to the area just east of the
Capitol Building downtown where a lot of the homeless population
congregates and hand out hot coffee, snacks, blankets and coats
until we run out.” In most recent years, Heidi has gathered many
coats and blankets from residents here in Morrison Ranch. This year
she will be heading down town on December 23 to once again, bless
those in need. If you, or anyone you know would like to contribute,
please contact the association office and we can put you in touch
with her.
Thank you, Heidi for inspiring us all to give more this Holiday Season.
You are a shining example of what our Morrison Ranch Community
with Character award is all about.

WE KNOW YOU KNOW SOMEONE!

Do you have a neighbor you’d like to nominate for our
community with character award? Email your nominations to
tfink@ccmcnet.com.

Print2order® is proud sponsor the COMMUNITY WITH CHARACTER and will

pay $100.00 towards the winners association assessments. Find out more
information about this program on page 8.

mymorrisonranch.org | 11
CALENDAROFEVENTS

DECEMBER2018
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
PLEASE VISIT WWW.MYMORRISONRANCH.ORG TO

THURSDAY
REGISTER FOR ALL UPCOMING EVENTS.
FRIDAY SATURDAY
25 26 27 28 29 30 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MRS. CLAUS
HOLIDAY PARTY
5:00 -8:00 PM

9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Merry Morrison
Ranch 5K
9:00-11:00AM
(Registration
Required)

16 17 18 19 20 21 22
SNOW DAY
Bulk Trash Pick
up Items out by 12:00PM
(registration
5:00AM required)

23 24 25 26 27 28 29
CHRISTMAS EVE
CHRISTMAS DAY
30 31 NYE

JANUARY2019
30 31 1 2 3 4 5

NEW YEARS DAY

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

MARTIN LUTHER KING

JR DAY

27 28 29 30 31 1 2

EVENTS HEADED YOUR WAY

S AV E T H E DAT E
SATURDAY | FEBRUARY 9
BIKE-A-PALOOZA
Mrs Claus
HOLIDAY PARTY
TUESDAY DECEMBER 4 SATURDAY DECEMBER 15
5:00 - 8:00 pm 9:00 - 11:00 am

12 | MRLIVING
 MR

THETOWNOFGILBERT

ELECTION RESULTS SHOW VOTERS

APPROVE BOND TO BUILD NEW
PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING FACILITY
Initial election results are showing that Gilbert, Arizona
residents have voted to approve Question 1 during the
November 6th General Election which authorizes the
additional funding needed to build a Public Safety Training
Facility in Gilbert. Final election results will be released
next week.
“I would like to personally thank the community for putting
public safety first,” said Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels. “This
facility will give our police and fire personnel the tools and
training they need in order to ensure that Gilbert remains
one of the safest cities well into the future.”
The design of the facility is anticipated to be completed by
December and construction is scheduled to begin by June
2019. Construction is expected to take nearly two years to
complete.
To learn more about Gilbert’s Public Safety Training Facility,
visit www.gilbertaz.gov/TrainingFacility.

Gilbert Road will remain open for travel, however, traffic

will be restricted to two lanes in each direction between
Guadalupe and Baseline Roads. Left turns may also be
restricted near the work zone. Access to businesses in the
area will be maintained.
This project is expected to be completed in Fall 2019. For
more information regarding ST168 please visit www.gilbertaz.
gov/cip or call the Project Hotline at (480) 898-4090.

mymorrisonranch.org | 13
 IMPORTANT
PHONE NUMBERS

EMERGENCY / CRIME 911

GILBERT POLICE NON-EMERGENCY 480-503-6500
FIRE NON-EMERGENCY 480-503-6350
MARICOPA ANIMAL CONTROL 602-506-7387
MORRISON RANCH COMMUNITY COUNCIL 480-892-2267
MRCC AFTER HOURS 602-234-9288
TOWN OF GILBERT 480-503-6098
TOWN OF GILBERT BULK TRASH 480-503-6432
GILBERT PARKS AND REC. 480-503-6200
RECYCLING/TRASH 480-503-6400
SOUTHWEST GAS 602-861-1999
SRP ELECTRICITY 602-236-8888
MVD 602-255-0072
POST OFFICE 800-275-8777
GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOLS 480-497-3300
TRASH&RECYCLING:
MONDAY
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY 480-832-3034
GREENFIELD ELEMENTARY 480-892-2801
GREENFIELD JUNIOR HIGH 480-813-1770
GILBERT CLASSICAL ACADEMY 480-497-4034
SAN TAN CHARTER SCHOOL 480-222-0811 BULK TRASH PICK UP SCHEDULE
GILBERT HOSPITAL 480-984-2000 PLACEMENT COLLECTION
MONTH BEGINS ON BEGINS WEEK OF
MERCY GILBERT HOSPITAL 480-728-8000
BANNER GATEWAY HOSPITAL 480-543-2000 December 15 17
January 26 28
2019
SUBSCRIBING TO OUR EMAIL
IS QUICK AND SIMPLE! March 2 4

Just send your email Helpful Tips:

address by text message: • Place BOTH trash and recycling containers at the
TEXT current designated pick up location by 5:00 AM
MRNEWS on your collection day.
TO 22828 TO GET STARTED.
Message and data rates June apply.
• Recycle containers should only be placed out for
pick up when full.
• Place all acceptable bulk items in the street
against the curb no earlier than the Saturday
prior to your collection week and no later than
5:00 AM on Monday of your collection week.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
FOLLOW US!
@morrisonranch_gilbertaz

@morrisonranchgilbert

14 | MRLIVING
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 ADVERTISE IN

WINTER SPECIAL
GOING ON NOW
480.648.4859
SalesAZ@p2opublishing.com
®