4 DECEMBER 2024 EDITOR’S NOTE It’s that magical time of year when the air is filled with the scent of cinnamon, pine and apples, the glow of twinkling lights fills every home, and there’s the unmistakable sound of someone – me – yelling at the cat to leave the ornaments alone. It’s been a continuous struggle to get Pubbins interested in something else, but these moments almost make almost make almost the season more fun and definitely memorable. December is one of our favorite editions of the year, because we get to highlight some of the fun goings- on happening around the Valley (including holiday pop-ups and New Year’s Eve fun) – along with all the good news our neighborhood has to share. The Spirit of Arcadia Marching Band has their sights set on heading to the Happiest Place on Earth and are enlisting the help of the community with their Disneyland fundraiser. Hopi Elementary channeled their artistic abilities in creating book-themed tissue boxes for their fellow students at Ingleside. St. Thomas is making progress on a $20 million renovation that will bring the 75-year-old school a more modern approach to classrooms, labs, and more. Fall sports have finished up their seasons, so we’re highlighting all the accomplishments our high school teams made in 2024, too! We hope your December is filled with all the love, laughter and joy – happy holidays, and thank you for reading Arcadia News. See you next year! – Mallory Gleich UPCOMING THEMES: No one has better coverage in the areas of Arcadia, Biltmore and the Camelback Corridor. Promote your business to 45,000 loyal Arcadia News readers. For more: 602-840-6379 or email ads@arcadianews.com .                 1. This is Freyja ! She’s a three-year- old German Shorthair Pointer that has endless amounts of energy. We got her from First Point Gun Dogs in Whitman, AZ. She loves going for bike rides on the canal or to drop her best friend off at school. – Matt S. 3. Franco Harris , our four-year-old white French bulldog, is named after Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris, who played in the 1970s. Franco Harris enjoys long walks in Arcadia, sleeping under the Christmas tree, and rooting for – you guessed it – the Steelers! – Lauren N. 2. Cocoa Puff , our five-year-old 2. Cocoa Puff , our five-year-old 2. Cocoa Puff chocolate cat, is a handful of furry fun. He plays fetch and catch like a dog and is such a warm and sweet boy. He’s smart, adventurous and likes to take walks on a leash. Here he is clowning around with Santa! – JD T. 4. Teddy and Molly are both age 4. We’ve had at least one Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) in our home, along with various rescues over the years, since 1994. We love them all and this picture is from our recent trip to Newport Beach. – Karolina D. 1 3 4 2 ARCADIA 'S PETS Would you like to share your pet? Send a photo and a description (50 words max) of your pet to editor@arcadianews.com . Include your pet’s name and age, along with any fun facts about them you’d like to share. All animals are welcome! • RELACING & REPAIRS • CLEANING & CONDITIONING • GLOVE & MITT BREAK-IN • NEW & USED GLOVES FOR SALE FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED Complete care for your baseball & softball gloves @azglovelab | TheGloveLab.com | chris@theglovelab.com Arcadia News Meet & Greet Kick off 2025 with your neighborhood newspaper! Stop by Scooptacular ice cream shop to say hello and pick up a copy of the January edition. We’d love to meet our readers! Monday, January 6 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

5 DECEMBER 2024 By Mallory Gleich S am Lowe lived a life as intriguing and captivating as the stories he told. Raised in the small towns of Wimbledon (population 176), Kensal (population 147), and Jamestown (population 15,000), North Dakota, Sam found his calling in the journalism world, a path that would span more than four decades and take him around the globe. His career, filled with humor, tutelage, and unique experiences, made him a beloved figure in Arizona journalism – and a treasured part of the Arcadia News. In 1955, Sam started writing at The Jamestown Sun as the sports editor. But the bitter North Dakota winters left him longing for a change. Tired of shoveling snow, he moved to Arizona in 1969, taking a job at the Scottsdale Progress . It was in Arizona that Sam would find his home, discover his passion for travel, and meet the love of his life, Lyn. He wrote daily columns for the Phoenix Gazette for 22 years, blending humor and insightful reporting. He worked a brief stint as the managing editor of the Lake Havasu Herald and also spent some time reporting the weather for the Gazette . When the publication merged with The Arizona Republic in 1996, Sam moved to the morning paper and continued his work there until retiring in 1999. He continued on as a freelance travel writer, and it was in 2019 when Arcadia News had the pleasure of meeting the wordsmith for the first time. Sam introduced himself as a neighbor and frequent reader of the paper – and told us he would love to share his prose with our neighborhood. For over five years, Sam penned more than 60 columns for Arcadia News. His monthly column, “On the Lowe Road,” was a reader favorite that won multiple national awards for the publication. Sam also participated in the Arcadia News podcast, sharing his experiences and behind-the- scenes stories from his childhood and throughout his career. Sam’s life was full of adventures, many of which he shared through his writing – and through an obituary that he penned for himself before his death. In that obit, Sam mentions walking on the wings of a plane mid-flight, portraying a wax dummy, serving as a Christmas elf, acting as a circus clown, and even impersonating an English king. He rubbed elbows with music legends Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings and Western film star Lash LaRue. He met three of the Kennedy brothers: John, Bobby, and Ted. He was nearly stranded on a train after a discussion about boxing – a discussion that happened to take place with Muhammad Ali. Sam crossed paths with political figures Prince Philip, Menachem Begin, and Chiang Kai-Shek. He visited iconic landmarks like the Great Wall of China and the Western Wall in Jerusalem and even reported from the Egyptian desert at the end of a war. He also judged Dolly Parton and Buck Owens look-alike contests, participated in chili and margarita competitions and judged a whiskey tasting where he and a colleague ended up going home with more than a few bottles to enjoy. He interviewed a wide range of celebrities, including Linda Lovelace, Western heroes like Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger, and captured images of political figures such as Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, and astronaut Alan Shepard. He educated readers on architecture in Arizona and beyond, of sculptures and art, historical figures – even the time he sang on a CD and was horrified to find out that he sounded nothing like Frank Sinatra. Sam did, however, sing with the Orpheus Male Chorus off and on for 33 years. During this time, he also made several international tours with Masterworks Chorale – and it was here that he and Lyn crossed paths for the first time. “He was actually dating someone else, but there was just something about him,” Lyn said. “Sam went on an international tour and when he returned to the states, I gathered up the courage to ask him out. It was the first time I’d ever asked a man out!” The pair attended a symphony and halfway through, realized they were both bored and decided to head out to a jazz lounge instead. They were married in a civil ceremony in 1987 and moved to their home in Arcadia. Lyn said that Sam kept a binder with photos of each well-known figure he met – and while those interviews were surely memorable, his favorite way to make memories was to travel. His quest to visit every country in the world fell short, but Sam made it to 47, and each was an experience to remember. Arcadia News readers lived vicariously through his stories of trips to Russia with Orpheus, to Italy, kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland, Germany, China, and across the U.S. “Sam had so many exciting adventures. One time, he almost got stuck in Zambia while delivering books to children,” Lyn said. Throughout his career, Sam wrote over 3,500 stories and columns. In 1988, he was named Humor Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He wrote 14 books, many of which chronicled his travel experiences, and his articles appeared in publications like Arizona Highways , Sunset Magazine , the Robb Report and airline in-flight magazines. Despite his many accomplishments, Sam often spoke most fondly of Lyn. In his self-written obituary, Sam described her as his “inspiration, true love, guide through life’s journeys, and a constant companion through whatever transpired.” Sam’s life was a celebration of living – of seeking new experiences, telling captivating stories, and connecting with others. His legacy continues through the countless stories he shared with the world. Sam closed his obituary with a simple statement: “He lived a good life and left it no regrets.” A LIFE WELL-REPORTED: Arcadia News columnist passes away at 91 His journalistic expeditions saw Sam becoming a clown in the circus, impersonating a king and walking on the wing of an airplane. After the circus “expedition,” Sam came home with two full sized billboards announcing the show. One was at Sam’s first house, and the second went up in the family garage – but only after Sam convinced Lyn to let him put it there! Sam had a woodworking studio that boasted pictures of himself with famous faces like Johnny Cash and Linda Lovelace. He also started taking painting classes at a Scottsdale senior center – above is his first completed piece.