Circle the City Tea with 2025 Arizona Historymaker Sister Adele O'Sullivan

Historical League members Jolynn Clarke, Diane Smith and Mary Parker were at the Tea to celebrate Sister Adele O'Sullivan and all she does for her charity Circle the City. 

Jolynn describes the pictures she took, "You’ll see Sister Adele O’Sullivan, 2025 Historymaker speaking and then a picture of her that was taken at the Historymakers Celebration. They spoke about how honored she was to be in the company of such illustrious Historymaker company. It was thrilling to have the Historical League called out."

The event was held at "Scottdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. There was a really big silent auction and there were some independent artisans selling their products. The proceeds go towards funding Circle the City and they are in the middle of a capital campaign to build a third medical respite center."

Listen to Sister Adele tell her story: https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/sister-adele-osullivan-csj-m-d/

 Circle the City’s 18th Annual Garden Tea & Silent Auction: 

 

The Garden Tea is a fundraising event rooted in compassion and community, supporting Circle the City’s mission to provide healthcare to individuals facing homelessness in Maricopa County. The event features a Silent Auction, Local Craftsman Corner, Boutique Shopping, a Wine Pull, and a Raffle. 

 Why it matters: 

Homelessness in Arizona has increased by 60% since 2017, with the East Valley experiencing a 238% surge. Many individuals are discharged from hospitals with nowhere safe to heal. 

 Where the funds go: 

All proceeds from the Garden Tea will directly support the development of Mesa’s first East Valley Medical Respite Center, an 85-bed facility that will provide medical care, supportive services, and a path to stability, all while reducing hospital readmissions and easing strain on emergency services.

 Every dollar raised helps ensure recovery happens with dignity and hope.

Picture of Sister Adele taken at 2025 Historymaker event was on the big screen.

League President Jolynn Clarke and Historymaker Co-Chair Diane Smith

Historymaker Co-Chair Diane Smith and past Historymaker Co-Chair Mary Parker

Sister Adele is very eloquent at the podium

National History Day Arizona West Regional Competition

West Regional Competition for NHDAZ has concluded. The National History Day Arizona West Regional competition has concluded!

We appreciate all the students, educators, and families who helped make today’s event such a success!

Congratulations to the students whose projects earned top recognition today!

Thank you to the Historical League for their continued partnership and support of National History Day Arizona.

Next up: NHDAZ North on March 21st.

We’re excited to continue celebrating outstanding historical research and creativity.

Mrs. Elizabeth White's story continues to be told

 Dining darlings: These are our 6 favorite classic restaurants (AND Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe is one of the six. Listen to Mrs. White's story at https://historicalleague.org/historyma.../elizabeth-j-white/)

Bahar Anooshahr, Meredith G. White, Michael Salerno, Eddie Fontanez, Bill Goodykoontz and Reia Li. Arizona Republic | USA TODAY NETWORK 3/8/2026.

Metro Phoenix is rich with classic restaurants that have defined the Valley’s food culture for generations and still serve mouth-watering cuisine, landing them on The Republic’s 100 Essential Restaurants list.

Across Phoenix, Scottsdale and the surrounding cities, these longstanding eateries offer a true taste of Arizona’s dining history. Here, you’ll find everything from old-world Italian specialties and historic soul food dishes to Native fry bread, New Mexican comfort plates and towering deli sandwiches inspired by East Coast traditions. Known for their decades of family ownership, loyal regulars and enduring recipes, these nostalgic spots showcase the heart of heritage dining in Arizona.

For anyone looking to experience true metro Phoenix classics, these time- honored restaurants are essential stops.

Delgadillo's Snow Cap is No. 11 best restaurant along Route 66

 BEST restaurants along Route 66. Congrats to No. 11: Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In, Seligman. (Angel Delgadillo was honored as 2023 AZ Historymaker. He continues to promote Route 66.)

Michael Salerno/ Arizona Republic reports:

The place where Route 66 travelers can fulfill their "cheeseburger with cheese" and "dead chicken" cravings, Delgadillo's Snow Cap is an icon of Route 66 for its kitschy appearance. Built from scrap lumber in 1953 by its founder Juan Delgadillo and his wife, Mary, people come to the Snow Cap for the burgers, hot dogs, chicken, tacos and milkshakes and stay for the nostalgic Americana, including the decorated 1936 Chevrolet parked in front of the restaurant. 301 W. Chino Ave., Seligman. 928-422-3291.

Marshall Trimble featured in March Foothills Magazine

 The March Foothills Magazine interview showcases Marshall Trimble's remarkable story. He was honored as an Arizona Historymaker in 2014, a testament to his invaluable contributions. He continues to inspire us about the State of Arizona.

The Historical League contributed four photos for the article and is glad to be a source that promotes our Historymaker program and Arizona History. Listen to him tell his story https://historicalleague.org/historymakers/marshall-trimble/

Bruce Babbitt Guest Columnist The Arizona Republic 3/4/2026 on Water Rights

Two bills give away our water, and they must be voted down

Your turn Bruce Babbitt | Guest columnist The Arizona Republic 3/4/2026

Two bills now pending in the Arizona Legislature are poised to grant the New York hedge fund Water Asset Management (WAM) control over water transfers from all of western Arizona. The bills, if enacted, will have a profound, lasting, negative impact on both rural and urban Arizona.

In 1991 the legislature designated three groundwater basins in western Arizona – the Harquahala Valley, McMullen Valley and Butler Valley – for future groundwater transfers to Phoenix and urban areas in Central Arizona.

Thirty-five years later, the rush to open these three groundwater basins is underway. In the Harquahala Valley a WAM affiliate has obtained water rights from individual farms and become the controlling seller. To date WAM has sold a 100-year package of these transfer rights to the city of Buckeye for $80 million and another to Queen Creek for $285 million.

Bills would grant hedge fund all of western Arizona’s groundwater.

The other two transfer basins in McMullen Valley and Butler Valley have not yet been developed. These two basins are the subject of pending legislation that would effectively extend WAM control to all of western Arizona’s groundwater.

In the McMullen Valley a WAM affiliate has recently purchased the majority of the private farms, more than 12,000 acres, for a reported price of $100 million.

However, the 1991 law limited transfer rights to owners who purchased farmland before Jan. 1, 1988. A narrow exception for public agencies does not apply to private purchasers. WAM therefore has a “water ranch” that cannot transfer water.
In January, Reps. Gail Griffin and Walt Blackman introduced House Bill 2758 that would rescue WAM by adding a new section to the Groundwater Code authorizing land owners in the McMullen Valley to sell and transfer water into the Phoenix Active Management Area.

Value of water giveaway could approach $1 billion.

The value of this impending legislative giveaway can be estimated by comparing the recent WAM sale of a 12,000-acre feet 100-year package of water to Queen Creek for $285 million. HB 2758 would grant WAM a right to sell 36,000-acre feet of 100-year water packages which would yield nearly a billion dollars in sales.

A companion bill, HB 2757, deals with the third basin, the Butler Valley. This bill would eliminate competition by preventing water exports from the Butler Valley to the Phoenix Active Management Area. With Butler Valley effectively closed to transfers and WAM controlling the McMullen Valley, WAM would gain effective control of all groundwater transfers from western Arizona.

These bills will not benefit either urban or rural areas of our state. They would bring exorbitant water prices to urban communities and taxpayers in the Phoenix Active Management Area.

Passage of these bills would also send a message that Arizona is wide open to speculators seeking control of our future. HB 2757 and HB 2758 should be withdrawn or voted down.

Bruce Babbitt served as Arizona governor from 1978-87 and as secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton from 1993-2001.

March Historical League Meeting

 President Jolynn Clarke conducted an information-filled March meeting. AHS updates with Dr. Breeckner (Legislature, museum construction), Vincent Bradley (Capital Campaign), Leonard Moody (NHDAZ), Emily Hahn (3rd grade postcard contest). Dr. Rex beamed in via video of the postcard winners.

Thanks to Sandy Loeffler for Luck of the Irish decor

yummy food (especially the Tomato Bisque) from Creations by Sergio

  

Greg McNamee presented a program about the Gila River, with plenty of pictures. He is the author of Gila: The Life and Death of an American River; The Ancient Southwest; Tortillas, Tiswin & T-Bones: A Food History of the Southwest; The University of Arizona: A History in 100 Stories; and The Desert Reader.