4 JANUARY 2026 EDITOR’S NOTE Have you ever loved something so much that you would attempt anything to be closer to whatever – or whoever – that may be? I haven’t, but the same can’t be said for some fans of Elvis… did you know there were multiple people who supposedly attempted to dig a tunnel to Graceland? There was even a young woman who literally packed herself into a crate and attempted to mail herself to Elvis. A freight company actually picked up the package but the higher-ups wouldn’t accept it, until the teen emerged to let them know she was inside. Guess what? Elvis was so amused that he actually met with the fan after realizing what she’d done. Don’t get me wrong – there are a lot of things in life to love and enjoy… but to mail yourself somewhere? I’d rather take a plane! January 2026 kicks off with our fitness features – we’ve got a story on Taoist Tai Chi’s new location (opening this month!) and a story on my attempt to conquer lagree - a high- intensity, low-impact workout executed on a megaformer. The name comes from Sebastien Lagree, a French fitness trainer who developed the method. If you don’t mind going slow, this workout might just be for you. We’ve also featured stories on our students: high school golf teams finished their seasons and basketball has begun. Tavan spent its holidays participating in the annual Turkey Bowl and Jingle Jog, and SUSD celebrated the brand-new athletic facility built for the public to enjoy. Happiest of New Years to you, dear readers. We hope 2026 treats you well, and thank you for reading the Arcadia News! – Mallory Gleich – 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: call/text 602-840-6379 or email ads@arcadianews.com .       1. Chicken is a three-year-old mutt that we adopted from the Arizona Humane Society. He loves to play fetch all day long. He has a big bark but is a chicken about things, like…he loves and protects his human sister, but won’t let her close enough to pet him. His first toy at the adoption center was a plush chicken – that’s part of how he got his name! – Riley and Vivian H. 3. Please meet Sabrina , an 11-month old German Shepherd. She loves walks, playing ball, car rides, and following us everywhere we go. She always greets us with unbridled enthusiasm and takes her security job duties very seriously. To sum it up: she is large and in charge. – Kathy and Al C. 2. Jack is a seven-year-old Pointer- German Shepherd mix rescued from Telluride. He has a remarkably human-like personality, is quirky, and is wonderfully particular about his meals. Jack showers his family of five with love every single day and can often be seen enjoying life with his head out the car window. – Rebecca H. 4. We have a very handsome Siamese cat named Bocephus (Bo for short). His pastimes include opening up cabinets and collecting hair ties. Bo is three years old and has been a member of our family for two years. We adopted him from the Arizona Animal Welfare League, and boy did we luck out! – Nicole P. 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 or text it to 602.840.6379 . Include your pet’s name and age, along with any fun facts about them you’d like to share. All animals are welcome!      Serving the Arcadia area since 1958 | D O G S | CATS | B I R DS | EXOTI C S | MEDI CAL • DENTAL • SU RG ERY • BOARDI NG • O B EDI EN C E TRAI N I NG Member Since 1959 4855 E Thomas Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 | ingleside.com HOSPITAL 602-840-3446 BRIAN A. SERBIN, DVM • FELICITY GESINA, DVM • MOLLY R. KLEIN, DVM HEBAH MOHAMED, DVM • EMMA SMITH, DVM • ASHLEY BROWN, DVM We ALWAYS accept new clients! OPEN 7 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

5 JANUARY 2026 By Rachael Bouley The Spirit of Arcadia Marching Band brought home state glory, dazzling judges and audiences with their epic performance at the ABODA (Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association) State Championships. Competing in Division IV, the band claimed first place, along with special caption awards for Music Performance, Visual Performance, and General Effect. Nate Conell, Director of Instrumental Music, composed and arranged all original music for the occasion and guided the students through an intense schedule: eight hours of practice a week, including early morning and evening rehearsals, on top of performances at home football games. Their hard work culminated in a spectacular production titled “Life on the High Seas,” following the adventures of a pirate crew. “We had three parts to the production. First, we sailed off to sea, then there was a sea shanty section with a sword fight, then finally we braved a major storm and landed safely on shore,” Conell said. With 18 bands competing in the division, Spirit of Arcadia’s win was an exhilarating achievement. “We weren’t even sure we would make the top cut for finals, so ending up in first place was an amazing honor and a testament to the hard work the students put in,” Conell explained. This year’s marching band consisted of 31 students – nine freshmen, seven sophomores, four juniors, and 11 seniors – performing on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, mellophone, baritone, tuba, percussion, and color guard with flags, rifles, and sabres. Students and staff are excited to build on this success, including collaborations with other schools during winter concerts to encourage continued musical growth. “The most rewarding part of leading them is watching them come in as strangers and leave having made lifelong friendships,” Conell said. “That is why I believe this activity is so special.” “It felt surreal. I couldn’t believe that we made it so far and that all of our hard work paid off,” junior saxophonist Mar Lopez said. Sophomore clarinet player Sean Bump- Reagan agreed: “I loved working and playing with all these incredible people. It was great to see how hard everyone worked, which eventually led to our State Championship. I will never stop playing, because I’m having such a great time right now.” The victory is a celebration of teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. With their sights set on next season, the Spirit of Arcadia Marching Band is already composing the next chapter of their musical adventure. Titan spirit soars to first place at State Championship ABODA President Jennifer Howard with color guard member Val Escalante, drum major David Toscano, and color guard member Emma Ganser. PHOTO COURTESY OF ABODA Ending up in first place was an amazing honor and a testament to the hard work the students put in.