It’s the Weekend, RJ Hamster!

Thursday ‍, 10/15/2026 ‍

It’s the Weekend, Pahovis ‍!

It is Friday, and the weekend is almost here. We have gathered what is happening around San Tan Valley so you can see it all in one place.

Maybe you want something fun to do with your family, a look at the latest local news, a new business to try, or a way to stay connected with your neighbors. It is all below.

Scroll through, make a few plans, support local when you can – and have a great weekend, Pahovis‍! 😊

‍Did You Know?

You can add your own event to the SanTanValley.com community calendar. It is free, it takes a couple of minutes, and you do not need an account.

If your church, school, club or group has something coming up, put it where your neighbors will see it.

Click the button below to add your event! 👇

→ Submit an Event

‍ News You May Have Missed

San Tan Valley Area Teachers Can Apply for $1,500 SRP Classroom Grants

K-12 teachers in the San Tan Valley area have until Nov. 30 to apply for a $1,500 classroom grant from Salt River Project, which is giving the money out with the Arizona Educational Foundation.

SRP…

More DUI Patrols Planned in Pinal County Around Halloween and Other Holidays

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office will put extra deputies on DUI patrol around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays, using a $40,000 state grant it announced Sept. 30.

The money comes…

Carbon Monoxide Awareness: What San Tan Valley Area Residents Should Know

A quick check of natural gas appliances can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, according to City of Mesa Gas, which provides natural gas service throughout the San Tan Valley area. The utility…

Town Planners Say No to a Small Shopping Center on Gantzel Road

The Town of San Tan Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 on Sept. 28 to recommend that the Town Council deny commercial zoning for 3.3 acres at the southwest corner of Gantzel Road and…

Five New Graduates at Combs Center for Success, With Enrollment Open Year-Round

Combs Center for Success is celebrating five new high school graduates, and its students completed 361 classes in the first quarter of this school year, according to the school.

The campus is the J.O…

Warehouse Store and Gas Station Move a Step Closer on Hunt Highway

A large warehouse-style store with a gas station is one step closer to being built on nearly 28 vacant acres along Hunt Highway, on the north edge of the Solera neighborhood at Johnson Ranch.

The Town…

County Ends Building Permits and Inspections in Town Limits Nov. 1

Pinal County will stop handling building plan review, permits and inspections for properties in the Town of San Tan Valley on Nov. 1, the county’s Development Services department announced Oct. 1…

Federal Flood Insurance Now Open to Town of San Tan Valley Properties

Homes and businesses inside Town of San Tan Valley limits can now be covered by flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, the federal program run by FEMA.

FEMA approved the town to…

Town Approves Ambulance Contract With a 10-Minute Response Standard

The Town of San Tan Valley approved a three-year contract Oct. 7 that requires American Medical Response, known as AMR, to reach 90 percent of lights-and-siren ambulance calls inside town limits…

Town Adopts Development Fees That Come to Zero for Most New Buildings

The Town of San Tan Valley adopted development impact fees Oct. 7, and for single-family homes, apartments, stores, offices and hotels the amount owed works out to zero.

An impact fee is a one-time…

Click Here to Read More News

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‍🤣Friday Funnies🤣

This week’s Dad Joke brought to you by Elias Castillo!

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➡️ Reply back and your joke just might be featured next wek!

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‍‍Looking for things to do in the upcoming week? Here are a few highlights from our events calendar. Don’t forget to check out the full events calendar at https://santanvalley.com/events to make sure you’re not missing out on anything.😀

‍ UPCOMING EVENTS

👉 Click to See More Events 👈 

Chair YogaDateFriday, 16 October 2026 9:00 amLocationSan Tan Valley Library – Bronze Room

Yarn CraftersDateFriday, 16 October 2026 9:45 amLocationSan Tan Valley Library – Bronze Room

From Joy to Jubilation – Joyful GatheringsDateFriday, 16 October 2026 10:00 amLocationSan Tan Valley Veteran’s Center

NAMI Connection Recovery Support GroupDateFriday, 16 October 2026 6:30 pmLocationMagma Ranch Veterans Park

AA Meeting at the Veterans CenterDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 8:00 amLocationSan Tan Valley Veteran’s Center

Discovery Station: 100 Miles in 100 Days ChallengeDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 10:00 amLocationSan Tan Mountain Regional Park

Family Game TimeDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 1:00 pmLocationSan Tan Valley Veteran’s Center

Family Game TimeDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 1:00 pmLocationSan Tan Valley Veteran’s Center

Master Gardeners of STVDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 1:30 pmLocationSan Tan Valley Library – Bronze Room

San Tan FeastivalDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 5:30 pmLocationWalmart

Scorpion Safari at San Tan Mountain Regional ParkDateSaturday, 17 October 2026 6:00 pmLocationSan Tan Mountain Regional Park

Free Dog and Cat Food BankDateSunday, 18 October 2026 8:00 amLocationUrban Livestock and Equine Vet

Heritage Lutheran Church – Sunday WorshipDateSunday, 18 October 2026 10:00 amLocationWalker Butte K-8

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What’s Building in San Tan Valley?

Please Support our 

Local Area Businesses

‍Hello, San Tan Valley! Let’s rally behind our local businesses – our friends, neighbors, and the heart of our community. 

Every dollar spent locally creates a ripple of growth, and job support, and strengthens our economy.

Discover and support our local businesses in the

⭐ San Tan Valley Business Directory⭐  
👇Here’s a few👇

805 transport & landscape materials

Reckon Tattoo

Calvary Chapel Desert Streams

P&R Financial services

85140 Handyman

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Click Here to Shop Local

‍Helpful Resources

San Tan Valley Maps

Government Resources for San Tan Valley

Do I Live in San Tan Valley?

Schools & Family in the San Tan Valley Area

Town of San Tan Valley Sales Tax: What Businesses Need to Do

San Tan Valley Library: Hours, Location and How to Get a Card

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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