20 MAY 2025 I t’s not often that you know all of your customers by name or even where they live, but Manuel Lopez knows this about his clients – and more. This is because he visits them at their home every week. Manuel owns WM Landscaping, a lawn care and landscaping business he started five years ago. Today, Manuel has 100-plus customers scattered throughout the Valley, with nearly a third of them residing in Arcadia. “When people ask me about my work, I tell them to go look for themselves and ask the people,” Manuel said. “They are very impressed, and that makes me proud. I love my work and making things look beautiful.” Manuel is one of seven children, and he moved to the United States in 2000. He began working for an established lawn maintenance company and ultimately became their top crew leader. Over 16 years, he learned all aspects of the business, including how to manage people, and began thinking about going out on his own. “My boss encouraged me and helped me in getting started. He taught me well and then said it was time,” Manuel said. He initially considered renovating and selling houses but realized that he enjoyed landscaping too much to give it up. Manuel started his company a year into the pandemic, and oddly enough, that helped him flourish. “When my competitors pulled back, we continued to work and serve customers, and they appreciated that. We grew quickly. Today, I have six employees,” Manuel said. When asked for client references, Manuel provided a lengthy list, including long-time Arcadia resident Bill Herndon. “Manuel’s knowledge of plants and trees and what keeps them healthy and happy is nothing short of amazing. He acts as though he is the owner of your lawn and shrubs,” Herndon said. Manuel has two teenage children, Melanie and Edwin, and said the hardest part about running his own business is the time it takes him away from his family. When he isn’t working – usually 12 hours a day, six days a week – he spends all his waking hours with his children. “I love my kids so much and want to work hard to make a good life for them,” he said. “They are my top priority.” Lopez is a man of faith and says that has carried him through a painful divorce. He is reminded of a time when his daughter asked if God was real. “I told her God holds onto us and keeps us, and He is love.” He is teaching his children to be their own person and not be influenced by what they see others doing. “Your decision is your decision, and it will determine who you become,” Manuel said. Though he has little time for hobbies, Manuel enjoys ballroom dancing and listening to music. He is also an avid runner and loves jogging on the canals. Going forward, Manuel hopes to continue growing his business and developing his employees so that they might also start their own businesses one day – a selfless gift paying it forward. Manuel Lopez I love my work, and making things look beautiful. Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning • Leadership Programs PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music • “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available WE’RE PROUD OF OUR GR ADUATING 8TH GR ADERS! 97% OF THOSE THAT APPLIED TO PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS WERE ACCEPTED! CONGR ATULATIONS! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL CHRISTIAN VALUES. QUALITY EDUCATION. Preschool through Grade 8

21 MAY 2025 By Sherry Sklar Jessica Helgeson and her mom, Terri, share a mother- daughter bond rooted in a love of delicious flavors and food. Their finishing salt company, SEE SALT, was born from that culinary passion and helped build a bond between generations. Little did they know it would take them on a decade-long journey, gathering devotees and supporters stretching from the Sonoran Desert to the salt marshes of western France. Jessica believes the hand- harvested French finishing salt, fleur de sel, is more than a final flourish to a dish. To her, it’s an everyday luxury that brings joy to the table. “Fleur de sel brings out the beauty in food,” she said. “I love that something so small can elevate a dish and a moment at the same time.” SEE SALT began modestly with the mother-and-daughter team, a home kitchen, and a handful of family recipes. “I hadn’t been married long, and I saw it as a chance to learn from my mom and share what we loved,” Jessica explained. “We started a YouTube channel, cooking together and sharing family recipes and new creations.” They used finishing salt in their recipes and soon began receiving comments from viewers. “People were asking what we were sprinkling on our food, how to use finishing salt, and to explain its purpose. We found that many were not familiar with it. It wasn’t a common ingredient ten years ago,” Jessica said. This opportunity to educate sparked the ambition to launch their product line. Jessica and Terri researched salts from around the world but ultimately came full circle, choosing the salt they’d always used and the one Jessica grew up with: fleur de sel. They focused exclusively on one high-quality French salt from Île de Ré, an island off the Atlantic coast. With the help of a French-speaking friend, they contacted the producer directly to source the salt. SEE SALT offers its signature seasoning and infused varieties such as rosemary, espresso, habanero, and lavender. Its popular French Butter flavor combines fleur de sel with powdered organic butter from Wisconsin. Unlike mined salts, which are chipped away from mountains using explosives and heavy tools, fleur de sel undergoes a gentle harvest. The salt is captured when it rises to the surface of the saltwater marshes. The result is the thin, white layer that forms at the top, dried by the wind and whitened by the summer sun from June through September. The salt is raked and hand-harvested, preserving its minerals and nutrients. The duo built the company through grassroots promotion, attending farmers markets and events and hosting demos at supermarkets and shops. “Everything is relationship-based and driven by a desire to help others, whether it’s our customers or other small businesses,” Jessica said. She plans to expand through retailers and a subscription program on the website, which will roll out in May. A longtime Arcadia resident and mom of four, Jessica’s children attend Christ Lutheran and have grown up as part of the business. “They’re now 12, 10, and 8, and they’re all in it with me,” she said. “They come to the farmers markets. My oldest daughter can practically run a booth on her own.” From market mornings to kitchen experiments, SEE SALT has become part of their family fabric. For Jessica and Terri, it’s always been about more than flavor – it’s about creating something meaningful in the kitchen, no matter your skill level. “We aren’t all experts, but we want to cook something at home that we’re proud of,” Terri said. “The simplicity of adding a pinch of fleur de sel will instantly take all the flavors of your kitchen to the next level.” Readers can enjoy 15 percent off their entire purchase until May 31 with the code ARCADIA15. seesalt.com SEE SALT brings a finishing touch to the Valley food scene Small-batch and hand-packed, SEE SALT blends tradition with a modern twist. Jessica Helgeson and Terri Mapel. PHOTOS: RYAN CORDWELL CHARLES SIDI 480.330.6506 www.CharlesSidi.com Charles@TheBrokery.com l o v e a r c a d i a l i v i n g ™ Adding Value Built on Experience Value comes from timing, insight, and execution. Whether you’re buying, selling, or developing, it’s the ability to see what others overlook that can make all the difference in your success. Understanding zoning potential, layout flexibility, and how renovations impact resale is what drives smart, profitable decisions . Sometimes it’s spotting untapped square footage. Other times, it’s recognizing a subtle design shift that can transform buyer perception and price. Details matter because they shape outcomes. If you are interested in finding hidden value in your home, reach out today.